Ground-based model study for spaceflight experiments under microgravity environmentson thermo-solutal convection during physical vapor transport of mercurous chloride

Abstract

For PB = 50 Torr, PT = 5401Torr, TS = 450 o C, ΔT = 20 K, Ar = 5, Pr = 3.34, Le = 0.01, Pe = 4.16, Cv = 1.05, adiabatic and linear thermal profiles at walls, the intensity of solutal convection (solutal Grashof number Grs = 7.86 × 10 6 ) is greater than that of thermal convection (thermal Grashof number Grt = 4.83 × 10 5 ) by one order of magnitude, which is based on the solutally buoyancy-driven convection due to the disparity in the molecular weights of the component A (Hg2Cl2) and B (He). With increasing the partial pressure of component B from 20 up to 800 Torr, the rate is decreased exponentially. It is also interesting that as the partial pressure of component B is increased by a factor of 2, the rate is approximately reduced by a half. For systems under consideration, the rate increases linearly and directly with the dimensionless Peclet number which reflects the intensity of condensation and sublimation at the crystal and source region. The convective transport decreases with lower g level and is changed to the diffusive mode at 0.1 g0. In other words, for regions in which the g level is 0.1 g0 or less, the diffusion-driven convection results in a parabolic velocity profile and a recirculating cell is not likely to occur. Therefore a gravitational acceleration level of less than 0.1 g0 can be adequate to ensure purely diffusive transport.p