Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Capillary Phenomena Between Plates from Statics to Dynamics Under Microgravity

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

Abstract

Plate type surface tension tanks have been widely used in satellites. Capillary phenomena between plates is an important part of liquid behaviour in space. Capillary phenomena between plates with varying width and distance under microgravity are analyzed in detail in this paper. A second-order differential equation for the meniscus height is derived and it can be solved by using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. To ensure the model’s accuracy during the entire flow process, the influences of the dynamic angle, the friction force, the convective pressure loss and the liquid meniscus in the reservoir are all considered. For a long time period of flow, the convective pressure loss can be neglected and the equation is simplified. This equation is valid for flows between plates with small varying aspect ratios. Theoretical results are in good agreement with numerical results. Besides, influences of the variation of width or distance of plates are discussed. The flow speed won’t vary monotonically as the distance between plates varies parabolically. The optimized flow channel is possible to be obtained based on this equation.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of Data and Material

The data of this article can be obtained by contacting the corresponding author.

References

  • Akbari, M., Sinton, D., Bahrami, M.: Laminar Fully Developed Flow in Periodically Converging-Diverging Microtubes. Heat Transfer Eng. 31(8), 628–634 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bullard, J.W., Garboczi, E.J.: Capillary rise between planar surfaces. Phys. Rev. E 79(1), 1539–3755 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charpentier, J.B., Brändle de Motta, J.C., Ménard, T.: Capillary phenomena in assemblies of parallel cylindrical fibers: from statics to dynamics. Int. J. Multiphase Flow 129, 103304 (2020)

  • Chen, Y.K., Weislogel, M.M., Nardin, C.L.: Capillary driven flows along rounded interior corners. J. Fluid Mech. 556, 235–271 (2006)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S.T., Duan, L., Kang, Q.: Study on propellant management device in plate surface tension tanks. Acta Mech. Sinica 37(10), 1501–1511 (2021a)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S.T., Ye, Z.J., Duan, L., Kang, Q.: Capillary driven flow in oval tubes under microgravity. Phys. Fluids 33(2), 032111 (2021b)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dreyer, M., Delgado, A., Rath, H.J.: Capillary rise of liquid between parallel plates under microgravity. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 163, 158–168 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Figliuzzi, B., Buie, C.R.: Rise in optimized capillary channels. J. Fluid Mech. 731, 142–161 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fries, N., Dreyer, M.: Dimensionless scaling methods for capillary rise. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 338(2), 514–518 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higuera, F.J., Medina, A., Linan, A.: Capillary rise of a liquid between two vertical plates making a small angle. Phys. Fluids 20, 102102–102111 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, T.S., Oh, S.G., Slattery, J.C.: Correlation for dynamic contact angle. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 69, 74–77 (1979)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klatte, J., Haake, D., Weislogel, M.M., et al.: A fast numerical procedure for steady capillary flow in open channels. Acta Mech. 201, 269–276 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, S., Reed, P., Watson, E.J., Neale, G.: A theory of the rate of rise of a liquid in a capillary. Colloid Interface Sci. 3, 403–419 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lei, J., Xu, Z., Xin, F., et al.: Dynamics of capillary flow in an undulated tube. Phys. Fluids 33(5), 052109 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y.Q., Hu, M.Z., Liu, L., et al.: Study of capillary driven flow in an interior corner of rounded wall under microgravity. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 27, 193–205 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liou, W.W., Peng, Y.Q., Parker, P.E.: Analytical modeling of capillary flow in tubes of nonuniform cross section. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 333, 389–399 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, R.: Rate of capillary ascension of liquids. Kolloid Z. 23(7), 15–22 (1918)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stange, M., Dreyer, M., Rath, H.: Capillary driven flow in circular cylindrical tubes. Phys. Fluids 15, 2587–2601 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian, Y., Jiang, Y., Zhou, J.J., et al.: Dynamics of Taylor Rising. Langmuir 35, 5183–5190 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Q.G., Li, L., Gu, J.P., et al.: A dynamic model for the oscillatory regime of liquid rise in capillaries. Chem. Eng. Sci. 209, 115220 (2019)

  • Washburn, E.W.: The dynamics of capillary flow. Phys. Rev. 17, 273–283 (1921)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weng, N., Wang, Q.G., Li, J.D., et al.: Liquid penetration in metal wire mesh between parallel plates under normal gravity and microgravity conditions. Appl. Therm. Eng. 167, 114722 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weislogel, M.M., Lichter, S.: Capillary flow in an interior corner. J. Fluid Mech. 373, 349–378 (1998)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Weislogel, M.M., Nardin, C.L.: Capillary driven flow along interior corners formed by planar walls of varying wettability. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 17(3), 45–55 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Z.Y., Huang, Y.Y., Chen, X.Q., et al.: Capillary driven flows along curved interior corners. Int. J. Multiphase Flow 109, 14–25 (2018)

  • Wolf, F., Santos, L., Phillippi, P.: Capillary rise between plates under dynamic conditions. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 344, 171–179 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, J.J., Doi, M.: Universality of capillary rising in corners. J. Fluid Mech. 900, A29 (2020)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research was funded by the China Manned Space Engineering Program (Fluid Physics Experimental Rack and the Priority Research Program of Space Station), and the Natural Science Foundation Project (No. 12032020).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Institute of Control Engineering, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing, 100094, China

    Shangtong Chen, Yong Li, Fenglin Ding, Jintao Liu & Wen Li

  2. Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Li Duan

  3. College of Engineering and Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Li Duan

Authors
  1. Shangtong Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Li Duan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fenglin Ding
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jintao Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wen Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Shangtong Chen wrote the manuscript text. Li Duan and Wen Li offered guidance and support. Yong Li, Fenglin Ding and Jintao Liu helped to revise this paper and offered guidance.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wen Li.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval

Not applicable.

Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, S., Duan, L., Li, Y. et al. Capillary Phenomena Between Plates from Statics to Dynamics Under Microgravity. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 34, 70 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-022-09983-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-022-09983-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation