Investigation on a simulation model of floating half zone convection .2. Experiment

A simulation model of floating half zone with non-uniform temperature distribution at the upper rod and uniform temperature distribution at lower rod was discussed by numerical investigation in a previous paper. In the present paper, the experimental investigation of the simulation model is given generally. The results of the present model show that the temperature profile is quite different and the critical applied temperature difference is lower than the one of usual model with same geometrical parameters in most cases. The features of critical Marangoni number depending on the liquid bridge volume are also different from the ones of usual model.

Numerical investigation on a simulation model of floating zone convection

A simulation model with adiabatic condition at the upper rod and constant temperature at the lower rod is studied numerically in this paper. The temperature distribution in a simulation model is closer to the one in the half part of a floating full zone in comparison with the one in a usual floating half zone model with constant temperature at both rods, because the temperature distribution of a floating full zone is symmetric for the middle plane in a microgravity environment. The results of the simulation model show that the temperature profiles and the how patterns are different from those of the usual floating half zone model. Another type of half zone model, with a special non-uniform temperature distribution at the upper rod and constant temperature at the lower rod, has been suggested by recent experiments. The temperature boundary condition of the upper rod has a maximum value in the center and a lower value near the free surface. This modified simulation model is also simulated numerically in the present paper. Copyright (C)1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.