Numerical study of electrically induced flow by conduction mechanism in a blade-plane configuration

Abstract

In this study a full 3D numerical simulation of the flow induced by the dissociation of neutral molecules in a weakly conductive liquid between a blade shaped electrode and a vertical plane electrode is undertaken. It turns out that even in the conduction situation where neutral molecule dissociate into ions, although the flow is expected to be directed from the plane to the blade a reversed flow occurs after a transition when some circumstances are met. To the best knowledge of the authors, this intriguing phenomenon has never been reported. In this study, this unexpected behavior is analyzed, and an explanation is proposed. The conditions leading to this particular flow inversion pattern are examined and highlighted.