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Thermal diffusivity coefficient of glycerin determined on an acoustically levitated drop
K Ohsaka1, A Rednikov, S S Sadhal
1University of Southern California University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089-1191, USA.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|November 26, 2002
Summary
This study introduces a novel acoustic levitation method to measure the thermal diffusivity of undercooled liquids. The technique utilizes laser heating and non-uniform cooling to determine thermal properties of supercooled fluids.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Thermodynamics
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Undercooled liquids, existing below their freezing points, possess unique thermodynamic properties.
- Accurate measurement of thermal diffusivity in these metastable states is crucial for understanding phase transitions and material behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate a non-contact technique for determining the thermal diffusivity coefficient of undercooled liquids.
- To leverage acoustic levitation and laser heating for precise thermal property measurements.
Main Methods:
- Levitating a liquid drop using an acoustic levitator.
- Heating the drop with a CO2 laser and allowing natural cooling.
- Analyzing non-uniform heat loss from the drop surface, primarily at the circumference, using a heat transfer model.
Main Results:
- Successfully measured the thermal diffusivity coefficient of undercooled glycerin drops.
- Validated the feasibility of the acoustic streaming-enhanced heat loss for thermal property determination.
Conclusions:
- The presented technique offers a viable method for characterizing the thermal diffusivity of undercooled liquids.
- This approach overcomes limitations of traditional contact-based measurement methods.