Analytical evaluation of the electro-dielectrophoretic forces acting on spherical impurity particles in dielectric fluids

Abstract

The theory of electro-dielectrophoretic force and torque acting on a spherical impurity particle embedded in a dielectric fluid and subjected to an unrestricted time-varying electric field is developed under linear conditions. It takes into account the combined effects of conduction and polarization of both the liquid and the particle, and is valid under general transient conditions. On the basis of the above theory, a computer model of impurity particle motion in the bulk of a dielectric fluid is developed, which takes into account all the forces acting on the particle once suitable initial values of particle position, velocity and superficial charge density are provided. Examples of trajectories showing the influence of some of the involved parameters are given, and the features of the model are briefly discussed.