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arXiv · 1203.4799

Effect of an electric field on a Leidenfrost droplet

Franck Celestini·G. Kirstetter
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Abstract

We experimentally investigate the effect of an electric field applied between a Leidenfrost droplet and the heated substrate on which it is levitating. We quantify the electro-Leidenfrost effect by imaging the interference fringes between the liquid-vapour and vapour-substrate interfaces. The increase of the voltage induces a decrease of the vapour layer thickness. Above a certain critical voltage the Leidenfrost effect is suppressed and the drop starts boiling. Our study characterizes this way to control and/or to avoid the Leidenfrost effect that is undesirable in many domains such as metallurgy or nuclear reactor safety.

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Franck Celestini, G. Kirstetter. 2012-03-21. Effect of an electric field on a Leidenfrost droplet. https://arxiv.org/abs/1203.4799

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