ISSN:
1089-7666
Quelle:
AIP Digital Archive
Thema:
Physik
Notizen:
The effect of the buoyancy-driven convection on the separation of the two constituents of a binary mixture in a long cylindrical cell is considered. This cell is designed to measure the thermal diffusion (Soret) coefficient of that mixture in a spatial (microgravity) environment. Such a cell, heated from the ends, is subjected to a nearly constant axial temperature gradient that generally presents some inclination with respect to the gravity vector, giving rise to low but three-dimensional motions. In space applications this inclination (with respect to residual gravity) is generally not known a priori. A three-dimensional simulation based on a false transient scheme with finite difference techniques is carried out in order to study the influence of the cell inclination on low convective motions. Two small values of a Grashof number, relevant for space applications (Gr=1 and Gr=3), and three values of the Soret parameter (S=−0.5, S=0, and S=0.5) have been considered. Characteristics of the flow and of its influence on the separation of constituents are given for several inclinations. Particularly interesting results are discussed for the vertical situations. Attention is focused on a molten (AgI–KI) mixture with a Prandtl number of 0.6 and a Schmidt number of 60, contained in a cylinder with an aspect ratio of 6.
Materialart:
Digitale Medien
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.866230
