Review of fluid transmission and heat transfer enhancement by EHD pumps under DC electric fields: recent developments and applications

This review systematically examines fluid transmission and heat transfer enhancement under direct current (DC) electric fields. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pumping technology has garnered significant attention due to its unique advantages, including high energy efficiency, structural simplicity, controllability, and the absence of moving parts, enabling flexible fluid transport and efficient thermal management through electric field modulation. The core mechanisms and theoretical frameworks of EHD pumps are first clarified, and numerical simulation methodologies and advancements are critically reviewed. Key experimental findings concerning fluid transmission via EHD pumping are then summarized, encompassing the transmission characteristics of single-phase and two-phase fluids, flow visualization studies, and fluid transport within flexible devices. Additionally, the heat transfer enhancement mechanisms and application performance of EHD pumping are analyzed in detail for single-phase systems, multiphase and phase-change systems, and microgravity space environments. By integrating theoretical modeling, numerical simulations, experimental validation, and technological applications, this review provides critical insights for optimizing EHD pump technology within advanced thermal management systems and precision fluid transmission. It offers significant reference for the further development of innovative control strategies utilizing EHD pumping in next-generation space technologies and flexible electronic devices.