Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NUMERICAL METHODS FOR HEAT & FLUID FLOW
Volume 31, Issue 4, Pages 1124-1143Publisher
EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD
DOI: 10.1108/HFF-05-2020-0266
Keywords
Long-wave evolution model; Self-rewetting fluid; Surface tension gradient; Thermocapillary evaporation
Funding
- Ministry of Education, Malaysia [FRGS/1/2018/STG02/MUSM/02/3]
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This study investigates the inverse thermocapillary effect in an evaporating thin liquid film of self-rewetting fluid, where positive surface tension gradients induce inverse-thermocapillary flow and significantly enhance evaporation rates.
Purpose The present study aims to investigate the inverse-thermocapillary effect in an evaporating thin liquid film of self-rewetting fluid, which is a dilute aqueous solution (DAS) of long-chain alcohol. Design/methodology/approach A long-wave evolution model modified for self-rewetting fluids is used to study the inverse thermocapillary characteristics of an evaporating thin liquid film. The flow attributed to the inverse thermocapillary action is manifested through the streamline plots and the evaporative heat transfer characteristics are quantified and analyzed. Findings The thermocapillary flow induced by the negative surface tension gradient drives the liquid from a low-surface-tension (high temperature) region to a high-surface-tension (low temperature) region, retarding the liquid circulation and the evaporation strength. The positive surface tension gradients of self-rewetting fluids induce inverse-thermocapillary flow. The results of different working fluids, namely, water, heptanol and DAS of heptanol, are examined and compared. The thermocapillary characteristic of a working fluid is significantly affected by the sign of the surface tension gradient and the inverse effect is profound at a high excess temperature. The inverse thermocapillary effect significantly enhances evaporation rates. Originality/value The current investigation on the inverse thermocapillary effect in a self-rewetting evaporating thin film liquid has not been attempted previously. This study provides insights on the hydrodynamic and thermal characteristics of thermocapillary evaporation of self-rewetting liquid, which give rise to significant thermal enhancement of the microscale phase-change heat transfer devices.
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