University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Effect of rotation on surface tension driven flow during protein crystallization

Bhattacharjee, Pratik; Riahi, Daniel N.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/290

Description

Title
Effect of rotation on surface tension driven flow during protein crystallization
Author(s)
  • Bhattacharjee, Pratik
  • Riahi, Daniel N.
Issue Date
2003-05
Keyword(s)
  • boundary layers
  • convection
  • flow instability
  • geophysical fluid dynamics
  • materials processing
  • multiphase flows
  • nonlinear waves
  • turbulence physics
Abstract
Effect of rotation on surface tension gradient driven flow, which is also known as Marangoni convective flow, during protein crystallization is modelled and studied computationally under microgravity conditions, where the surface tension gradient force is the main significant driving force. The axis of the externally imposed rotation, which is assumed to be either parallel or anti-parallel to the gravity vector, is assumed to be inclined at an angle γ with respect to the axis of the crystal. In addition to the angle γ, the main parameters are the solutal Marangoni number M(c), representing the surface tension gradient force and the Taylor number T(a) representing the rotational effect. The numerical computations for various values of the parameters and low gravity levels indicated nontrivial competing effects, due to surface tension gradient, centrifugal and Coriolis forces, on the flow adjacent to the protein crystal interface and the associated solute flux. In particular, for given values of M(c), certain values of T(a) were detected where the Sherwood number, representing the convective solute flux, and the convective flow effects are noticeably reduced. These results can provide conditions under which convective flow transport during the protein crystallization approaches the diffusion limited transport, which is desirable for the production of higher quality protein crystals.
Publisher
Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (UIUC)
Series/Report Name or Number
TAM Reports 1020
ISSN
0073-5264
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/290

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (TAM) PRIMARY
TAM technical reports include manuscripts intended for publication, theses judged to have general interest, notes prepared for short courses, symposia compiled from outstanding undergraduate projects, and reports prepared for research-sponsoring agencies.