Thermocapillary-enhanced Melting of Different Phase-change Materials in Microgravity

Abstract A numerical analysis of the thermocapillary-driven melting phase change materials (PCMs) in weightlessness is presented. The explored for different PCMs with moderate temperatures, due to their potential thermal control space applications. We consider three alkanes — n-octadecane, n-nonadecane, and n-eicosane gallium. Results are discussed terms dimensionless Stefan (Ste) Marangoni (Ma) numbers, which quantify importance latent heat thermocapillary effect during process, respectively, container aspect ratio $$\Gamma$$ ? . For alkanes, similar results obtained rate enhancements that depend on In short (deep) containers, accelerates respect conduction-driven case by a factor as much 4 depending Ma, while large (shallow) this enhancement can take values up 20. best performance featured n-eicosane, followed closely n-octadecane. gallium, differ substantially its high diffusivity, leading significant reduction value approximately 1.2 at Ma