Numerical simulation of thermo-solutal Marangoni convection in a full floating zone with radiative heat transfer under zero gravity

Abstract

A numerical simulation study of thermo-solutal Marangoni convection has been carried out in a full floating zone with radiative heat transfer under zero gravity. In this system, the thermal and solutal Marangoni flows develop in the same direction and/or opposite directions along the free surface depending on the location in the zone. In the model, the ambient temperature distribution along the zone is taken as a Gaussian profile, and the radiative heat transfer is considered dominant. The characteristics of the concentration pattern in the zone vary due to the varying thermal and solutal Marangoni numbers, as well as the characteristic azimuthal wave. The flow velocity field exhibits two or four main vortices along the free surface. These vortices get stronger at higher thermal Marangoni number values.