The effect of an electrostatic field on film flow down an inclined plane

Abstract

A study of the interaction of an electrostatic field with a thin liquid film flowing under gravity down an inclined plane is presented. First, the effect of the electric field on the stability of the film flow is examined. Next, several limits of the equations of motion are investigated analytically, and then compared with an explicit numerical calculation of the equations of motion. Also, applications of these calculations to a proposed electrostatic liquid film space radiator are discussed.