Fluid circulation in an enclosure generated by electrohydrodynamic conduction phenomenon

Fluid circulation/mixing inside an enclosure, nonmechanically, is of significant importance in various applications. This study investigates, theoretically, the circulation of an isothermal dielectric liquid inside an enclosure based on the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) conduction phenomenon. The theoretical model and the numerical solutions are presented in dimensionless forms to illustrate the effects of the controlling parameters on the induced flow. The EHD induced flow, based on the conduction phenomenon, is associated with the process of dissociation of the neutral electrolytic species and recombination of the generated ions. The charges generated by dissociation are redistributed in the region by the applied electric field resulting in heterocharge layers in the immediate vicinity of the electrodes. The Coulombic attraction between a given electrode and the charges within the corresponding heterocharge layer induces a fluid motion near that electrode. With a proper electrode design, a significant flow circulation/mixing can be achieved within an enclosure based on the conduction phenomenon.