Behaviour of spherical and cylindrical particles in an insulating liquid subjected to a DC uniform field

The author presents a theoretical and experimental investigation of the dynamics of single conducting particles (sphere, cylinder) between horizontal plane parallel electrodes subjected to a DC voltage. For the three possible hydrodynamic regimes depending on the particle Reynolds number (viscous, intermediate, inertial), the velocity laws and the current-voltage relationships are established. Particle charges and velocities deducted from the measured lifting fields and currents are in good agreement with the predicted values.