The state-of-the-art of electrohydrodynamic in multi-phase heat transfer systems – A review of application opportunities, fundamental physics and numerical models

Abstract

Electrohydrodynamics (EHD) describes the interaction between electric fields and fluids, where induced electro-convection drives fluid motion and enhances heat transfer. This active mechanism enables efficient thermal management, fluid pumping, and phase change control without mechanical components, offering advantages in compact, low-power systems. This review examines the fundamental physics and governing models of EHD with emphasis on its application to multi-phase heat transfer and latent heat thermal storage systems.

In phase change materials (PCM), EHD improves melting and solidification by generating electro-convective instabilities that thin boundary layers, enhance fluid circulation, and extract solid dendrites, leading to faster and more uniform melting. In two-phase regimes such as condensation and boiling, applied electric fields can promote droplet motion, alter flow patterns, and induce film destabilization, significantly increasing heat transfer coefficients. The ability to modulate voltage, waveform, and frequency provides intelligent control over flow patterns and heat transfer rates, making EHD uniquely adaptable across operating conditions.

Despite these advances, practical deployment remains limited by challenges in modeling charge injection, field-enhanced dissociation, and multiphase interfacial dynamics. Future progress requires improved numerical techniques capable of resolving transient interfaces, advanced diagnostics for charge and flow visualization, and integration of EHD with complementary enhancement methods. Overall, EHD continues to emerge as a powerful technique for controllable, efficient heat and mass transfer, with promising potential in next-generation multi-phase and thermal energy storage systems.

This paper presents a review of the current state of the art regarding EHD applications and a discussion regarding the future of the field in transition from scientific exploration to practical and commercial applications.