Thermocapillary breakdown of a horizontal spot-heated liquid layer

• Main Authors: Spesivtsev Serafim, Lyulin Yuriy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2016-01-01
• Series: MATEC Web of Conferences
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/20168400038

Thermocapillary breakdown of thin (0.3–0.7 mm) horizontal layers of liquid (ethanol) when heated from a localized hot spot was investigated experimentally. The effects of layer thickness and the surface properties of the substrates on the breakdown dynamics were studied. Visualization and control of the liquid layer were carried out using schlieren and shadowgraphy techniques. Main steps of the breakdown process were determined and average velocity of the dry spot formation was measured. Significant influence of the substrate properties on breakdown dynamics has been found. It was shown that one of the main factors affecting the dynamics of layer breakdown and the formation of dry spots in the heating area besides the thermocapillary effect is evaporation.