Transport from a volatile meniscus inside an open microtube

A generalized model is developed which couples the evaporation at a liquid–air interface with the vapor diffusion processes in air to enable an investigation of the mass transport inside an open microtube. Tube inner diameters ranging from 100 to 1200 μm are considered. Evaporation is strongest at the meniscus junction with the tube wall due to the highest local vapor diffusion flux at this location. A temperature gradient is set up from the axis of the tube to the wall and results in Marangoni convection. The three-dimensional flow structure in the microtube is simulated with the effects of Marangoni convection, buoyancy, and the influx of fluid to the interface being included. For horizontal tubes of diameter 100 μm or larger immersed in a water bath, flow asymmetry due to buoyancy is observed. A large vortex is formed in the lower part of the tube cross-section, while a small vortex forms above. However, the primary cause of asymmetry is found to be the external thermal profile imposed on the microtube, especially when the meniscus is far from the outlet of the tube. The simulated flow patterns are found to be consistent with experimental measurements.