Asymptotic solution of thermocapillary convection in thin annular two-layer system with upper free surface

Abstract

The steady laminar two-dimensional thermocapillary convection in the thin annular two superposed horizontal liquid layers with one free surface, one liquid/liquid interface subjected to a radial temperature gradient was investigated using asymptotical analysis. The pool is heated from the outer cylindrical wall and cooled at the inner wall. Bottom and top surfaces are adiabatic. The asymptotic solution is obtained in the core region in the limit as the aspect ratio, which is defined as the ratio of the lower layer thickness to the gap width, goes to zero. The numerical experiments are also carried out to compare with the asymptotic solution of the steady two-dimensional thermocapillary convection. The asymptotic results indicate that the expressions of velocity and temperature fields in the core region are valid in the limit of the small aspect ratio.