Dynamique non-linéaire d'instabilités de surface : gouttes et colonnes liquides formées par ruissellement de films

The destabilization of a thin film by gravity is of central importance in many industrial devices, especially those involved in Thermics (film boiling, heat exchangers). In the simplest case of a liquid film hanging below a solid ceiling, spatial structures are forced by the destabilizing action of gravity (Rayleigh-Taylor instability): one observes regular lattices of pendant drops, that in turn become instable by coalescences and falling of the drops. When the film is supplied with liquid at a constant rate, other flow regimes are observed: periodic emission of drops, formation of regular arrays of liquid columns, liquid sheet. Liquid columns exhibit a collective dynamics that is typical of non-linear systems: modulations of their spatial periodicity, diffusion of the perturbations, self-sustained oscillations, propagation of solitary dilation waves, coalescences and nucleations of the columns, etc.     

Transition to spatiotemporal chaos in a two-dimensional hydrodynamic system

We study the transition to spatiotemporal chaos in a two-dimensional hydrodynamic experiment where liquid columns take place in the gravity induced instability of a liquid film. The film is formed below a plane grid which is used as a porous media and is continuously supplied with a controlled flow rate. This system can be either ordered (on a hexagonal structure) or disordered depending on the flow rate. We observe, for the first time in an initially structured state, a subcritical transition to spatiotemporal disorder which arises through spatiotemporal intermittency. Statistics of numbers, creations, and fusions of columns are investigated. We exhibit a critical behavior close to the directed percolation one.     

Evolution of the initially ordered structure in a magnetic fluid film during a thermal cycle

A hexagonal ordered structure of magnetic columns, which results from an agglomeration of magnetic particles, is obtained in a magnetic fluid film when a magnetic field is applied perpendicularly to the film surface. The evolution of the initially ordered structure in the magnetic fluid film during the heating and cooling process is investigated under a given magnetic field. For the heating process, the columns remain unchanged until the temperature exceeds a critical temperature. As the temperature is further increased, column particles start to disperse into the liquid carrier. As a result, portions of columns disappear. As the temperature continue to rise, the ordered structure changes to a disordered column state, or even a monodispersed state. On the other hand, when the temperature is lowered, the magnetic particles in the carrier condense out of solution and finally an ordered structure of columns is achieved. However, this structural evolution during a thermal cycle is irreversible.Received: 28 August 2004, Published online: 21 October 2004PACS: 75.50.Mm Magnetic liquids - 64.75. + g Solubility, segregation, and mixing; phase separation - 68.60.Dv Thermal stability; thermal effects     

Stabilization of discotic liquid organic thin films by ITO surface treatment

Discotic liquid crystals (LCs) are promising materials in the field of electronic components and, in particular, to make efficient photovoltaic cells due to their good charge transport properties. These materials generally exhibit a mesophase in which the disk-shaped molecules can self-assemble into columns, which favorize charge displacement, and may align themselves uniformly on surfaces to form well-oriented thin films. In order to orientate such a columnar thin film on an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate, the film is heated up to the temperature range of the isotropic liquid phase and subsequently cooled down again. This treatment may lead not only to the desired alignment, but also to dewetting, which leads to an appreciable inhomogeneity in film thickness and to short circuits during the realization of photovoltaic cells. In this article, we describe how this dewetting and the film morphology can be influenced by ITO surface treatments. The chemical modifications of the surface by these treatments were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Such ITO treatments are shown to be efficient to prevent thin film dewetting when combined with rapid cooling through the isotropic-to-LC phase transition.     

Spreading of a viscous liquid film over the corrugated surface and the heat and mass transfer calculations

There are a lot of industrial applications of structured packing. Distillation columns are one of the examples where the liquid flows over the corrugated surface as a thin film to provide a good mass-transfer surface between the liquid and vapor phase. The purpose of the present paper is to study the hydrodynamics and the heat-mass transfer of the liquid film spreading down the corrugated surfaces when the corrugation amplitude is comparable with Nusselt’s film thickness (the amplitude corresponds to a small texture of the structured packing). As a result, a nonlinear type diffusion equation is obtained to describe the evolution of the film thickness profile. The nonlinear diffusion coefficient is obtained for three cases: a smooth inclined plate, a corrugated plate with large ribs, and an inclined corrugated plate with small ribs. The equations are solved numerically. As a result, it has been obtained that the small texture significantly increases the rate of the film thickness evolution in comparison with a smooth plate. To obtain the nonlinear diffusion coefficient in the case of a small texture, the hydrodynamics of the film flow over an inclined corrugated surface are studied. The viscosity, inertia, and surface tension forces are taken into account. The calculations were carried out on the basis of the Navier-Stokes equations. The influence of the microcorrugations on both the heat transfer from the wall and the mass transfer through the free surface was investigated.     

Ordering classification of columnar lattices formed in magnetic fluid subjected to perpendicular fields

When the thin film of high-quality magnetic fluid is subjected to a perpendicular magnetic field, a separation of particles from the liquid matrix will occur, leading to a phase transition with a phase that is concentrated in particles separating from a dilute phase. The concentrated phase makes up the cylindrical columns that can form two-dimensional lattices. We have explored the field-induced lattices with optical microscopy, digital imaging and computer-video techniques in this study, to classify the ordering property in terms of bond-orientation order.     

Hydrocarbons imbibition for geometrical characterization of porous media through the effective radius approach

Surface energetic characterization of porous solids usually requires the determination of the contact angle. This quantity is deduced by imbibition experiments carried out in such media with high surface tension liquids. Now then, this methodology needs the geometrical characterization of the porous medium by means of the deduction of its effective radius. Normally, this is made by imbibition experiments with n-alkanes, liquids whose surface tension is low enough as to suppose their contact angles with the solid surface are null. However, this last procedure is not free from some criticisms. Among them, the possible influence of the imbibition velocity on the contact angle, the effect of the precursor liquid film ahead the advancing liquid front on the driving force that gives rise to the movement, or the dependence of the effective radius on the length of the hydrocarbon chain of the n-alkanes. In an attempt of going deeply in these questions, imbibition experiments with n-alkanes have been carried out in porous columns of powdered calcium fluoride. These experiments have consisted of the measurement of the increase in the weight of the columns caused by the migration of the liquids through their interstices. The analysis of their results has been carried out by means of a new procedure based on the study of the velocity profile associated to the weight increase. This analysis has permitted us to conclude that, at least in the calcium fluoride columns, the contact angle of the n-alkane is not influenced by the capillary rise velocity, it taking in fact a null value during the process. On the other hand, it has been also proved that the driving force of the movement is caused by the replacement of the solid-vapour interface by the solid-liquid interface that happens during the imbibition, which means that only the Laplace's pressure, and not the precursor liquid film, contributes to the development of the phenomenon. Finally, it has been compared the values of the effective radius associated to each n-alkane, similar values being found independently from the particular liquid employed in the experiments, fact that indicates that the porous solid can be considered as a bunch of cylindrical and parallel capillaries of the same radius.     

利用线性液膜的红外热像测定YBCO的湿法化学刻蚀启动时长

提出了一种测定YBCO(YBa2Cu3O7-x)高温超导薄膜湿法腐蚀启动时长的红外热像新方法。该方法的实质是利用YBCO腐蚀时必然有化学热吸收或释放,从而引起YBCO表面液膜温度变化这一特点,通过红外热像实时监测系统,采集液膜温度变化过程的红外热像,从而判断反应启动时长。理论分析和实验结果均表明,YBCO表面2 mm宽线性液膜是较为理想的监测对象,因其同时具备温度变化信息和空间分布信息,可以将线性液膜中心作为理想的观测特征点;由滑动腐蚀液滴形成残留线性液膜具有温度变化灵敏度高的特点,YBCO(衬底为LaAlO3)竖直放置,可以表面避免液膜重力对启动时长的影响,获得更为准确的监测数据。由线性液膜的横向剖面灰度变化得到在本实验条件下YBCO薄膜与体积比H3PO4∶H2O=1∶300腐蚀液的反应启动时长介于0.3~0.4 s之间。     

微液膜动力学特性与稳定性实验研究

气-液两相流设备的性能受限于临界热流密度,开展流动微液膜动力学特性及其稳定性的相关研究是深入理解沸腾危机及临界热流密度机理的关键。采用光学玻璃制成的矩形通道作为实验段,使用微流量齿轮泵驱动去离子水,使其在实验通道入口处与在其上部流动的压缩空气接触形成同向流动的分层流。利用共轭光学探测器对流动微液膜的厚度进行了测量,利用高速摄像机对气-液两相分层流波动特性进行了可视化观测。研究表明,在绝热情况下,当液速一定时,液膜的平均厚度随着气速增加而减小,当气速增加到某一阈值时会导致液膜破裂。     

多孔铝镶嵌8-羟基喹啉铝荧光光谱研究

利用多孔铝非常高的孔隙率,将8羟基喹啉铝(Alq3)镶嵌到多孔铝中,得到多孔铝Alq3镶嵌膜.研究了镶嵌膜的荧光光谱,并与Alq3在溶液状态下的荧光光谱进行比较,发现其荧光光谱与Alq3在乙醇溶液中的光谱相似,呈现单分子的发光特征,并且光谱线形更加对称.实验表明,多孔介质有机镶嵌膜有可能成为进一步发展Alq3在电致发光器件方面应用的新途径. 关键词： 多孔铝 8-羟基喹啉铝 光致发光光谱     

液滴撞击液膜过程的格子Boltzmann方法模拟

本文采用格子Boltzmann方法对液滴撞击液膜过程进行了研究, 主要考察了雷诺数(Re)、韦伯数(We)、相对液膜厚度 (h) 以及表面张力 (σ) 等物理参数对界面运动过程的影响. 首先, 随着Re数和We数的增加, 可以明显观察到液滴撞击液膜过程中形成的皇冠状水花以及卷吸现象; 当Re数较大时, 液体会发生飞溅, 由液体飞溅形成的小液滴则会继续下落, 并与液膜再次发生碰撞. 其次, 当相对液膜厚度较小时, 液滴撞击液膜并最终导致液膜断裂; 然而随着相对液膜厚度的增大, 尽管撞击过程溅起的液体会越来越多, 但是液膜并不会发生断裂. 再次, 随着表面张力的增大, 界面变形阻力增大, 撞击过程中产生的界面形变也逐渐减弱. 最后还发现皇冠(由液滴溅起形成)半径r 随时间满足r/(2R) ≈ α√Ut/(2R), 这一结果与已有结论是一致的.     

表面弹性对含可溶性活性剂垂直液膜排液的影响

针对含可溶性活性剂的垂直液膜排液过程,在考虑表面弹性作用的基础上,采用润滑理论建立了液膜厚度、表面速度、表面和内部活性剂浓度的演化方程组,通过数值计算分析了表面弹性和活性剂溶解度耦合作用下的液膜演化特征.结果表明：表面弹性是影响可溶性活性剂垂直液膜排液过程中必不可少的因素.排液初期,随表面弹性增加,液膜初始厚度增大,表面更趋于刚性化.随排液进行,弹性不同的液膜呈现不同的典型排液特征：当弹性较小时,液膜上部表面张力高,下部表面张力低,产生正向的马兰戈尼效应,与重力作用相抗衡.当弹性较大时,膜上部表面张力低,下部表面张力高,产生逆向的马兰戈尼效应,促使液膜排液加速,更易发生失稳.活性剂溶解度通过控制液膜表面的活性剂分子吸附量,进而影响表面弹性：当活性剂溶解度较大时,液膜厚度较小,很快发生破断;随溶解度降低,液膜稳定性增加,初始表面弹性也随之增大,并随液膜变薄逐渐接近极限膨胀弹性值.     

Spray impingement wall film breakup by wave entrainment

Fuel spray impingement on engine wall and piston in the spark-ignition direct-injection (SIDI) setting has been considered a major concern in the aspect of engine emission and combustion efficiency. Excess wall film will result in deterioration of engine friction, incomplete combustion, and substantial cycle-to-cycle variations. These effects are more pronounced during engine cold-start process. Therefore, the formation of wall film on engine wall/piston and the dynamic process of the wall film interacting with impinging spray and spray-induced gas flow are of great significance for reducing wall film mass. However, the dynamic process of wall film was not investigated thoroughly in existing literatures. This work will present a high-speed, simultaneous measurement of a single-hole spray structure, as well as wall film geometry and thickness, via Mie scattering and volumetric laser-induced fluorescence, respectively. Quantitative film thickness measurement was achieved via fluorescence intensity signal calibration with a known, wedge-shape liquid film apparatus. Remarkable wall film droplet entrainment at the leading edge of the liquid film waves was revealed in the measurement, which has not been adequately depicted or analyzed in existing spray impingement studies. A considerable amount of liquid droplets detaches from the liquid film via liquid film fingering, during which process the quantity of liquid mass on the wall is decreased. Quantitative analysis of such phenomenon is performed and we estimated that a liquid mass equivalent to 30–40% of the residual liquid film mass is detached from the liquid film via wave entrainment. Furthermore, through the comparative study of the side view of the spray and the liquid film caused by spray impingement, it is shown that non-uniform spray structure is likely the cause of liquid film wavy motions. These observations suggest that wave entrainment should be considered by numerical models and experimental designs to accurately predict spray impingement phenomenon.     

A Thin Liquid Film and Its Effects in an Atomic Force Microscopy Measurement

Recently, it has been observed that a liquid film spreading on a sample surface will significantly distort atomic force microscopy （AFM） measurements. In order to elaborate on the effect, we establish an equation governing the deformation of liquid film under its interaction with the AFM tip and substrate. A key issue is the critical liquid bump height yoc, at which the liquid film jumps to contact the AFM tip. It is found that there are three distinct regimes in the variation of yoc with film thickness H, depending on Hamaker constants of tip, sample and liquid. Noticeably, there is a characteristic thickness H^＊ physically defining what a thin film is; namely, once the film thickness H is the same order as H^＊, the effect of film thickness should be taken into account. The value of H^＊ is dependent on Hamaker constants and liquid surface tension as well as tip radius.     

Effect of viscosity on thermocapillary breakdown of a falling liquid film

Thermocapillary breakdown of a liquid film flowing due to gravity over a vertical plate with a heater of 150×150 mm is studied in a wide range of liquid properties (in particular, dynamic viscosity at the initial temperature varies from 0.91·10^-3 to 16.9·10^-3 Pa·s) and film Reynolds number (Re = 0.15-53.5). It is found that liquid viscosity has a significant effect on the threshold heat flux corresponding to film breakdown. To take into account the effect of liquid properties, the breakdown criterion traditionally used in literature was modified. This allowed successful generalization of all data obtained.     

On a moving liquid film and its instability on textured surfaces

Recently, two regimes of viscous friction on textured surfaces were proposed in the context of penetration of liquid film into the texture (EPL 79, 56005 (2007)): the Poiseuille and Stokes regimes. With this idea on viscous friction, we theoretically discuss instabilities on a liquid film on textured surfaces when the film is forced to move with external forces. When a film recedes due to a pressure drop, we find scaling laws for instabilities to be checked in future experiments. When a circular film expands due to centrifugal force we find that the expanding film is stable against rim fluctuations (within the linear stability analysis) with its radius determined by a simple equation. Our discussion sheds light on the curvature of the front of the moving liquid film on textured surfaces and how the film thickness is kept fixed to the texture height on textured surfaces, aspects which have not been discussed in previous studies.     

Numerical Simulation of Vapor Bubble Growth and Heat Transfer in a Thin Liquid Film

A mathematical model is developed to investigate the dynamics of vapor bubble growth in a thin fiquid film, movement of the interface between two fluids and the surface heat transfer characteristics. The model takes into account the effects of phase change between the vapor and liquid, gravity, surface tension and viscosity. The details of the multiphase flow and heat transfer are discussed for two cases： （1） when a water micro-droplet impacts a thin liquid film with a vapor bubble growing and （2） when the vapor bubble grows and merges with the vapor layer above the liquid film without the droplet impacting. The development trend of the interface between the vapor and liquid is coincident qualitatively with the available literature, mostly at the first stage. We also provide an important method to better understand the mechanism of nucleate spray cooling.     

Assessment of external heat transfer coefficient during oocyte vitrification in liquid and slush nitrogen using numerical simulations to determine cooling rates

In oocyte vitrification, plunging directly into liquid nitrogen favor film boiling and strong nitrogen vaporization. A survey of literature values of heat transfer coefficients (h) for film boiling of small metal objects with different geometries plunged in liquid nitrogen revealed values between 125 to 1000 W per per square m per K. These h values were used in a numerical simulation of cooling rates of two oocyte vitrification devices (open-pulled straw and Cryotop), plunged in liquid and slush nitrogen conditions. Heat conduction equation with convective boundary condition was considered a linear mathematical problem and was solved using the finite element method applying the variational formulation. COMSOL Multiphysics was used to simulate the cooling process of the systems. Predicted cooling rates for OPS and Cryotop when cooled at -196 degree C (liquid nitrogen) or -207 degree C (average for slush nitrogen) for heat transfer coefficients estimated to be representative of film boiling, indicated lowering the cooling temperature produces only a maximum 10 percent increase in cooling rates; confirming the main benefit of plunging in slush over liquid nitrogen does not arise from their temperature difference. Numerical simulations also demonstrated that a hypothetical four-fold increase in the cooling rate of vitrification devices when plunging in slush nitrogen would be explained by an increase in heat transfer coefficient. This improvement in heat transfer (i.e., high cooling rates) in slush nitrogen is attributed to less or null film boiling when a sample is placed in slush (mixture of liquid and solid nitrogen) because it first melts the solid nitrogen before causing the liquid to boil and form a film.     

方波电泳电场驱动下液膜马达的电致流动特征

液膜马达作为一种新颖的实验装置在基础研究和技术应用方面都将会发挥着重要的作用, 深入研究各种条件下液膜马达的电致流动特征是非常有意义的. 本文从理论上研究了均匀恒定外电场中的液膜马达在方波电泳电场驱动下的动力学特征, 解析地给出了液膜转动的线速度随时空变化的规律. 理论结果表明, 液膜会随着电泳电场频率的增大由对称性往复转动逐渐转变为振动, 这不仅有助于从理论上认识液膜马达振动的物理根源, 也为在实际应用中设计液膜搅拌机提供了一种新思路.     

双液滴撞击平面液膜的流动与传热特性

采用耦合的水平集-体积分数法(CLSVOF)对双液滴连续撞击恒定壁温壁面上的热液膜的流动和换热特性进行了数值模拟及分析,得到了双液滴撞击热液膜后形态演变的过程.分析了液滴垂直间距、撞击速度、液膜厚度以及液滴直径对双液滴撞击液膜后的流动与传热特性的影响,结果显示,壁面平均热流密度随液滴撞击速度的增大而增大,液滴垂直间距、液膜厚度和液滴直径对平均热流密度的影响较小,但会对热流密度在撞击区域和交界区的分布产生重要影响.