Convection triggered by an electric field in a fluid heated from above

TL;DR

This paper investigates how an electric field can induce convection in a dielectric fluid heated from above, revealing that electric potential differences can destabilize the fluid layer and trigger convection.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical analysis of electric field-induced convection in heated dielectric fluids, highlighting conditions for instability and potential triggers.

Findings

Electric potential differences of a few hundred volts can induce convection in water.

Electric field can destabilize a fluid layer heated from above under certain conditions.

Analysis suggests electric fields can trigger convection, but does not fully explain some experimental phenomena.

Abstract

I consider a dielectric fluid heated from above and subjected to an electric potential difference between its top and bottom. I show that for a suitably chosen electric potential difference, the layer of fluid can become unstable. For the case of a strongly polar fluid like pure water, an electric potential difference of a few hundreds of volts can trigger convection. Although the analysis in this paper cannot explain the phenomenon described in [Gross & Porter(1966)], it could be because of unavailability of accurate physical parameters of the fluid used in the experiment.