Measurements of the thermophoretic velocities of aerosol particles (paraffin) in different carrier gases (helium, nitrogen, argon, xenon) were performed in microgravity conditions (the drop tower facility, in Bremen). The experiments permitted the study of thermophoresis in conditions which minimize the impact of gravity. Monodisperse aerosol particles were observed through a digital holographic velocimeter, a device allowing the determination of 3-D coordinates of particles in the viewing volume. Particle trajectories, and consequently particle velocities, were reconstructed by analysing the sequence of particle positions. We successfully observed thermophoretic velocities in low-gravity conditions. The experiments show that the thermophorefic velocity decreases from helium (He) to nitrogen (N-2), argon (At), and xenon (Xe).
Measurements of thermophoretic velocities of aerosol particles in microgravity conditions in different carrier gases
PRODI, Franco;
2007
Abstract
Measurements of the thermophoretic velocities of aerosol particles (paraffin) in different carrier gases (helium, nitrogen, argon, xenon) were performed in microgravity conditions (the drop tower facility, in Bremen). The experiments permitted the study of thermophoresis in conditions which minimize the impact of gravity. Monodisperse aerosol particles were observed through a digital holographic velocimeter, a device allowing the determination of 3-D coordinates of particles in the viewing volume. Particle trajectories, and consequently particle velocities, were reconstructed by analysing the sequence of particle positions. We successfully observed thermophoretic velocities in low-gravity conditions. The experiments show that the thermophorefic velocity decreases from helium (He) to nitrogen (N-2), argon (At), and xenon (Xe).I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.