Numerical investigation for the effect of the liquid film volume on thermocapillary flow direction in a thin circular liquid film

NASA Astronaut Dr. Pettit carried out a thermocapillary flow experiment onboard the International Space Station in 2003. In this experiment a thin water film containing milk powder was formed in a stainless-steel wire ring. Heating a section of the ring by a soldering iron induced in the water film a thermocapillary flow towards the heated section of the ring (outward flow: cold to hot). This flow was in the opposite direction of the usually observed thermocapillary flows (inward flow: hot to cold). To shed light on this interesting phenomenon observed in the space experiment, we have conducted a three-dimensional numerical simulation study. Simulation results showed that the film geometry of the water film is a key factor determining flow direction and flow strength. When the liquid film free surfaces are convex, i.e., the water film volume is larger than that when the free surfaces are flat, an outward flow develops in the film as observed in the space experiment. However, when the free surfaces are concave, the simulation predicts an inward flow. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.