The migration of a compound drop due to thermocapillarity

Abstract

The quasistatic thermocapillary motion of a compound drop in an unbounded fluid possessing a uniform temperature gradient is analyzed. For completeness, gravitational effects are included in the treatment. The general model is formulated, and the equations for the concentric case are solved using spherical polar coordinates, while the eccentric case is handled using bispherical coordinates. Results are given for the velocity of the drop as well as that of the droplet with respect to the drop, along with useful approximations. Illustrative results are presented graphically for the thermocapillary migration of a compound drop in the special case when the droplet is a gas bubble. In addition to the velocities of the drop and the bubble, representative isotherms and streamlines also are presented which display interesting qualitative features. © 1990 American Institute of Physics.