Surface characterization of thin liquid layers on a solid substrate upon heating

• Main Author: Li, Weichi.
• Other Authors: Huang Xiaoyang
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/55136
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project to build an experimental set-up to observe the convection cells formed from a thin layer of a viscous liquid when heated from bottom and to study how different parameters could affect the formation and visualization of the convection cells. The author designed and built the experimental set-up consisting of a heater, a mirror, a lighting source and a filter. The mirror was placed on the heater to transfer the heat to the liquid sample and also had a function of reflecting the light through the liquid sample to the filter. The filter allowed easy observation and analysis of the formation and dynamics of convection cell patterns in response to the changes in parameters. Three kinds of liquids were used in this study. They were silicone oil, cooking oil and honey, with different viscosities. The experimental results were obtained under various conditions for all the liquids. Three parameters, namely liquid viscosity, layer thickness, and temperature difference were examined for their effects on the formation of the convection cells. These parameters were found to have different effects with each other. The details of the results were analyzed and discussed in the report.