Characterization of the increase in heat transfer in a dielectric liquid layer under unipolar injection of electric charge.

Characterization of the increase in heat transfer in a dielectric liquid layer under unipolar injection of electric charge. The electro-thermo-convective flow in a horizontal dielectric liquid layer placed between two electrodes and subjected to an injection of electric charges from one of the electrodes and at the same time to a thermal gradient is studied numerically. We consider the case of a strong charge injection in order to only take into account the Coulomb force disregarding the dielectric forces, from above and below the layer. The effect of the action of both electric and thermal fields on the dielectric liquid layer is analyzed and the behavior of the flow when these fields compete or cooperate is studied. It is demonstrated that the electrically induced convection enhances the heat transfer. To cite this article: Ph. Traore et al., C R. Mecanique 337 (2009). (C) 2009 Academie des sciences. Publie par Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.