Marangoni convection and heat transfer in thin liquid films on heated walls with topography: Experiments and numerical study

Thermocapillary-induced motion in thin liquid films on a heated horizontal wall with parallel grooves on its upper surface is studied experimentally and numerically. The results of velocity and temperature measurements are reported. A numerical model for a liquid film on a structured wall is developed. The full incompressible Navier–Stokes equations and the energy equation are integrated by a finite difference algorithm, whereas the mobile gas-liquid interface is tracked by the volume-of-fluid method. The numerical model is verified by comparison with the experimental data showing a good agreement. The model is used to study flow patterns and film rupture caused by the thermocapillary forces. Heat transfer in the liquid is also investigated. In particular, it is found that the thermocapillary convection enhances heat transfer in liquid, though the effect depends on the shape of the wall surface.