Thermal Homogenization in Spherical Reservoir by Electrohydrodynamic Conduction Phenomenon

Abstract

Effect of electric conduction phenomenon on the mixing mechanism is studied numerically to thermally homogenize a dielectric liquid with an initial nonuniform temperature distribution. The fluid is stored in a spherical reservoir, and the electrodes are embedded on the reservoir surface such that the resultant local electric body forces mix the fluid. The electric field and electric body force distributions along with the resultant velocity field at the final steady-state condition are presented. The mixing mechanism is illustrated by the time evolution of temperature distribution inside the reservoir. The effects of primary dimensionless numbers on the mixing time are studied.