Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Wetting and coalescence prevention of drops in a liquid matrix. Ground and parabolic flight results

  • Published:
Microgravity - Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An experimental and numerical analysis of the behavior of drops in a liquid matrix, in presence of temperature differences, is carried out in preparation for a MAXUS sounding rocket flight to study wetting and coalescence prevention induced by thermal Marangoni effect. On-ground experimentation has been carried out using micro zone apparatus. Different pairs of liquids (drop and matrix) have been analyzed; wetting prevention has been observed with drops of different diameter and critical temperature differences have been measured for each pair. To avoid buoyancy effects similar experiments have been carried out during the 30th ESA parabolic flight campaign. The main objective of the experiments is facility tests in a parabolic flight for the MAXUS flight. During the parabolic flight a hanging drop of Silicone oil 10 mm diameter has been injected in a matrix of Fluorinert and in air; wetting prevention has been observed in presence of a temperature difference between the drop and the lower surface. The theoretical-numerical study of the problem has been carried out with a thermofluidynamic model based on the assumption of the existence of a fluid film between the drop and the lower surface.

After the campaign, the video images of the experiment have been analyzed and velocity measurements have been obtained analyzing the motion of tracers. Measured and computed velocities are in sufficient agreement, in particular for the Silicone oil/Fluorinert configuration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ϕ:

disk diameter [m]

Δ P:

pressure difference across the drop interface [N/m2]

ρ:

density [Kg/m3]

h:

cylinder length [m]

ν:

kinematic viscosity [m2/s]

n:

normal coordinate [m]

P:

pressure [Pa]

R:

drop radius [m]

s:

tangential coordinate [m]

T:

temperature [K]

V:

velocity [m/s]

Δ Tc :

critical temperature difference [K]

Δ T:

temperature difference [K]

Δ ρ:

density difference [Kg/m3]

μ:

dynamic viscosity [Kg/m/s]

σ:

interface tension [N/m]

τ:

viscous shear stress [N/m2]

References

  1. Monti, R., Dell’Aversana, P.: Microgravity experimentation in non coale scing systems, Microgravity Quarterly vol.4, No. 2, pp. 123–133 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dell’Aversana, P., Monti, R., Gaeta, F.S.: Marangoni flow and coalescen ce phenomena in microgravity, Adv. Space Research vol. 16, pp. 95–103 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Alterio, G.: Experiments on the phenomenon of the non coalescence of two drops of Silicone oil in presence of Marangoni flow, Thesis in Aeronautical Engineering, The University of Naples (1994)

  4. Lamanna, G.: Numerical simulation of the Marangoni flow in the non coa lescence of two drops in microgravity conditions and correlation with expe rimental results, Thesis in Aeronautical Engineering, The University of Naples (1994)

  5. Monti, R., Savino, R., Cicala A.: Surface tension-driven flow in non coale scing liquid drops. Acta Astronautica vol. 38, No.12, pp. 937–946 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Monti, R., Savino, R., Tempesta, S.: Wetting prevention by thermal Marangoni effect. Experimental and numerical simulation, European Journal of Mechanics B/Fluids vol. 17, No.1, pp. 51–77 (1998).

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Monti, R., Savino, R., Lappa, M., Tempesta, S.: Behavior of drops in con tact with pool surfaces of different liquids, Physics of Fluids vol. 10, No. 11, pp. 2786–2796 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Dell’Aversana, P., Banavar, J.R., Koplik, J.: Suppression of coalescence by shear and temperature gradients, Phys. Fluids vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 15–27 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Dell’Aversana P., Tontodonato, V., Carotenuto, L.: Suppression of coale scence and wetting: the shape of the interstitial film, Phys. Fluids vol. 9, No. 9, pp. 2475–2485 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Dell’Aversana, P., Neitzel, P.: When liquids stay dry, Phys. Today, Vol. 51, pp. 38–41 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ambrose J.C., Nicholas M.G., Stoneham A.M.: Dynamics of braze sprea ding. Acta Met. Mat. vol. 40, pp. 2483–2490 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Yost F.G., Hosking F.M., Frear D.R.: Introduction: the mechanics of solder alloy wetting and spreading, in The Mechanics of Solder Alloy Wetting and Spreading, edited by Yost F.G. (1993)

  13. Monti, R., Savino, R.: Inverse Calefaction. Naturwissenschaften vol. 88, pp. 46–48 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Monti, R., Savino, R.: Numerical model of non coalescing liquid drops and correlation with experimental results, Microgravity Quarterly vol. 6, No. 2–3, pp. 102–106 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Monti, R., Savino, R.: Correlation between experimental results and nume rical solutions of the Navier-Stokes problem for non coalescing liquid drops with Marangoni effects, Physics of Fluids vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 260–263 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Savino, R., Monti, R.: Modelling of non coalescing liquid drops in presen ce of thermocapillary convection, MECCANICA vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 115–133 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienza e Ingegneria dello Spazio "Luigi G. Napolitano", Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II, P.le V.Tecchio 80, 80125, Napoli, Italy

    R. Savino

Authors
  1. R. Savino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Nota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Fico
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Savino, R., Nota, F. & Fico, S. Wetting and coalescence prevention of drops in a liquid matrix. Ground and parabolic flight results. Microgravity Sci. Technol 14, 3–12 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02870938

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02870938

Keywords

Search

Navigation