On the theory of heat transfer from a wire in an electric field

Summary If an electric field is applied between a horizontal heated wire and a concentric cylinder filled with gas, then, as first shown experimentally by Senftleben and Braun, the heat transfer from the wire is increased due to the electrostrictive forces which modify the circulation current of free convection. In analogy with the characteristic number of Grashof a new electrical characteristic number is introduced which makes it possible to represent the measurements of Senftleben and Braun in a single graph. From this graph the extra heat loss caused by an electric field of cylindrical symmetry around any horizontal wire in an arbitrary gas can be read off directly.