Numerical analysis of the electric field effect on mass transfer through a moist object

In this paper, a two-dimensional numerical approach is used to study the mass transfer in drying process of a moist object affected by electric field in a smooth channel. Finite volume method is used to solve governing equations of electric, flow, temperature, and the concentration fields in flow phase, as well as the temperature and the moisture fields in the moist object. The computational methodology includes the use of a structured, non-uniform quadrilateral grid, and the Standard K-ɛ model was adopted as the turbulence model. The initial temperature of moist object is equal to the air temperature. In this study, firstly, the computed results are compared with the experimental data and the results agree very well. Secondly, the effect of Reynolds number, applied voltage and the position of the emitting electrode on the drying rate of moist object is evaluated. The numerical results show that the drying rate of moist object with increment Reynolds number enhances without the electric field. Also, in presence of electric field, in constant Reynolds the influence of EHD phenomenon on the drying rate increases with increment of applied voltage. In addition, the results show that as the electrode position is established toward the leading edge of moist object, the maximum moisture evaporation reaches.