Dynamic van der Waals theory of two-phase fluids in heat flow

Abstract

We present a dynamic van der Waals theory. It is useful to study phase separation when the temperature varies in space. We show that, if heat flow is applied to liquid suspending a gas droplet at zero gravity, a convective flow occurs such that the temperature gradient within the droplet nearly vanishes. As the heat flux is increased, the droplet becomes attached to the heated wall that is wetted by liquid in equilibrium. In one case corresponding to partial wetting by gas, an apparent contact angle can be defined. In the other case with larger heat flux, the droplet completely wets the heated wall expelling liquid. © 2005 The American Physical Society.