Thermal convection in a cylindrical annulus under a combined effect of the radial and vertical gravity

The stability of the flow of a dielectric fluid confined in a cylindrical annulus submitted to a radial temperature gradient and a radial electric field is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The radial temperature gradient induces a vertical Archimedean buoyancy and a radial dielectrophoretic buoyancy. These two forces intervene simultaneously in the destabilization of the flow, leading to the occurrence of four types of modes depending on the relative intensity of these two buoyancies and on the fluid's properties: hydrodynamic and thermal modes that are axisymmetric and oscillatory, stationary columnar modes and electric modes which are stationary and non-axisymmetric modes. Experiments performed in a parabolic flight show the existence of non-axisymmetric modes that should be either columnar or helicoidal vortices.