NUMERICAL-ANALYSIS OF THERMOCAPILLARY CONVECTION IN AXISYMMETRICAL LIQUID ENCAPSULATED INBI

This numerical modelling study is an effort to simulate the liquid enc apsulated melt zone (LEMZ) technique. A two-dimensional axisymmetric l iquid column model is developed to obtain a quantitative estimate of t he thermocapillary convection velocities in three samples of InBi enca psulated in three organic liquids (glycerin, silicone oil and Krytox) and one argon filled control sample. All simulations for the micrograv ity case are done using the finite element technique. The flow model i s Newtonian, incompressible and steady, and interfacial tension gradie nts are linear. interfacial deformation as a function of the temperatu re difference caused by the competing effects of fluid dynamic pressur e and capillary pressure is reported for each sample, and the effect o f encapsulant on this phenomenon is studied. The liquid column is more stable in the presence of an encapsulant, and glycerin is the most su itable encapsulant, out of the three studied, which produces the least interfacial deformation and lowest thermocapillary convection velocit ies.