Duan Li, Yin Yongli, Wang Jia, Kang Qi, Wu Di, Jiang Huan, Zhang Pu, Hu Liang
National Microgravity Laboratory, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; School of Engineering Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
J Vis Exp. 2020 Mar 11(157). doi: 10.3791/59998.
Thermocapillary convection is an important research subject in microgravity fluid physics. The experimental study on surface waves of thermocapillary convection in an annular liquid pool is one of the 19 scientific experimental projects on the SJ-10 recoverable satellite. Presented is a design for a payload for space experimental study on thermocapillary convection that includes the experimental model, measurement system, and control system. The specifics for the construction of an experimental model of an annular liquid pool with variable volume ratios is provided. The fluid temperatures are recorded by six thermocouples with a high sensitivity of 0.05 °C at different points. The temperature distributions on the liquid free surface are captured by means of an infrared thermal camera. The free surface deformation is detected by a displacement sensor with a high accuracy of 1 µm. The experimental process is fully automated. The research is focused on thermocapillary oscillation phenomena on the liquid-free surface and convective pattern transitions through analyses of experimental data and images. This research will be helpful to understand the mechanism of thermocapillary convection and will offer further insights into the nonlinear characteristics, flow instability, and bifurcation transitions of thermocapillary convection.
热毛细对流是微重力流体物理中的一个重要研究课题。环形液池内热毛细对流表面波的实验研究是实践十号返回式卫星的19项科学实验项目之一。本文介绍了一种用于热毛细对流空间实验研究的有效载荷设计，包括实验模型、测量系统和控制系统。给出了具有可变体积比的环形液池实验模型的构建细节。通过六个灵敏度高达0.05°C的热电偶记录不同点处的流体温度。利用红外热像仪获取液体自由表面的温度分布。通过精度高达1 µm的位移传感器检测自由表面变形。实验过程完全自动化。通过对实验数据和图像的分析，研究聚焦于无液表面上的热毛细振荡现象以及对流模式转变。该研究将有助于理解热毛细对流的机制，并为热毛细对流的非线性特性、流动不稳定性和分岔转变提供进一步的见解。
