Abstract
IF a non-uniform electric field is applied to an inhomogeneous dielectric medium, regions of lower dielectric constant will experience a force directed towards regions of lower field strength. This force is proportional to the difference in dielectric constants and to the gradient of the square of the electric field strength. If there is a decrease in the dielectric constant as a result of heating, and if this occurs in a region of high field strength, the heated fluid will be forced into regions of lower field strength. Watson1 has demonstrated the effect of this force on the natural convection process from a horizontal wire. In all cases the effect of the field was to increase heat transfer rates from the wire, the results being virtually identical for d.c. fields of negative and positive polarity. Unfortunately, results using a.c. fields were not reported.
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References
Watson, P. K., Nature, 189, 563 (1961).
Bénard, H., Rev. Gen. Sci. Pures et Appl., 11, 1261 (1900).
Schmidt, R. J., and Saunders, O. A., Proc. Roy. Soc. A, 165, 216 (1938).
Gross, M. J., Nato. Adv. Study Inst. Newcastle upon Tyne, March, 1966 (to be published).
Brown, D. R., Nature, 202, 868 (1964).
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GROSS, M., PORTER, J. Electrically Induced Convection in Dielectric Liquids. Nature 212, 1343–1345 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/2121343a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2121343a0
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