The effects of a non-uniform, radial D.C. electric field on the natural convection and nucleate boiling regimes in saturated pool boiling and on the peak heat flux phenomenon were determined for trichlorotrifluoroethane, carbon tetrachloride, dichloromonofluoromethane and chloroform using as a heat transfer surface a 0.02 inch diameter platinum wire.
Bubble departure diameters for the nucleate boiling region were measured by photographic means as a function of the electric field intensity at the heat transfer surface.
The application of an electric field was found to have a significant effect on the natural convection mode of heat transfer and also the peak heat flux phenomenon. Three fold increases in the peak heat flux are not uncommon. The high dielectric constant fluids exhibit a greater increase in heat transfer per unit electric stress.
The experimental increases in the peak heat flux phenomenon were quantitatively and mechanistically explained by the model of an electrically stabilized Helmholtz-Taylor hydrodynamic condition.
The use of an equivalent electric field postulation was found to be useful for interpreting data obtained using non-uniform electric fields.
Complete boiling curves were obtained for the four fluids as a function of the electric field intensity at the heat transfer surface
