Open Access

ARTICLE

A Unified Theory for Interphase Transport Phenomena with Interfacial Velocity and Surface Tension Gradients: Applications to Single Crystal Growth and Microgravity Sciences

Akira Hirata¹

1 Waseda University, Tokyo, 169-8555 Japan. Professor A. Hirata passed away on April 13, 2007.

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2007, 3(3), 203-230. https://doi.org/10.3970/fdmp.2007.003.203

Abstract

This article is a summary of author's typical research works (over the last four decades) on interphase transport phenomena in the presence of interfacial fluid motion and surface tension gradients on liquid-fluid interfaces, and related applications to single crystal growth and microgravity sciences. A unified theory for momentum, heat and mass transfer on liquid-fluid and solid-fluid interfaces is proposed, which takes into account interface mobility. It is shown that interface contamination and turbulence can be well explained, respectively, by suppression and enhancement of the interfacial velocity induced by surface tension gradients. Transport phenomena on solid spheres, liquid drops and gas bubbles are also treated within the context of the proposed theory. This theory is then extended to the case of crystal-melt and melt-fluid interfaces. Results provided by microgravity experiments performed with drop shafts, parabolic flights, sounding rockets and the space shuttle are used as a relevant means for further elaboration and validation of the proposed theoretical framework.

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Keywords

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