No abstract

In this paper, the ability of a pair of triangular electrodes to generate the steady dielectrophoresis-driven thermal convection of a dielectric liquid in a differentially heated cavity is investigated in microgravity conditions. A non-uniform electric field is created on purpose, which, together with a temperature gradient, gives rise to an internal convective flow essentially based on the presence of a pair of counter-rotating vortices. A numerical study is developed to investigate the subsequent benefits on heat transfers. The results seem to be in agreement with a background scaling analysis and demonstrate a significant increase in the Nusselt number for increasing voltages, provided that the dielectric liquid of interest is characterized by a moderate-to-large Prandtl number. The triangular electrodes yield a significant heat transfer enhancement when the same voltage is being used, by comparison with planar electrodes. This benefit is essentially due to jet impingement heat transfers that take place within the cavity.