Influence of an Electric Field upon the Heat Transfer from a Hot Wire to an Insulating Liquid

Abstract

IF a non-uniform electric field is applied to a medium of dielectric constant K ₁, containing a region of lower dielectric constant K ₂, the latter will experience a force directed towards the region of lower field strength. This force is proportional to the difference between the two dielectric constants and the gradient of the square of the electric field. Now, when a liquid is heated, and expands, there is a resultant fall in dielectric constant, so that if the heating occurs in a region of high field, the heated liquid should be forced into regions of lower field strength.