Numerical evaluation of heat transfer enhancement due to annular electroconvection induced by injection in a dielectric liquid

Abstract

Two-dimensional numerical simulations are carried out to evaluate the enhancement of natural convection heat transfer in a dielectric liquid resulting from injection induced annular electro-convection. The liquid is confined between two concentric horizontal cylinders and subjected to the simultaneous actions of a direct current electric field and a thermal gradient. A unipolar injection from the inner cylinder introduces free space charges into the liquid. Numerical results are presented for the configuration of inner to outer diameter ratio of 0.5 and silicon oil as the working medium. It is found that the charge injection may induce a strong radial fluid motion, which consequently augments the heat transfer rate. Due to the linear stability nature of electro-convection, there exists a threshold value of the electric driving parameter, above which the electrical enhancement becomes manifest. In addition, when the electric driving parameter is sufficiently high, the flow is fully dominated by the Coulomb force, and thus heat transfer becomes independent of the thermal driving parameter.