The Critical
Rayleigh Number in Low Gravity Crystal Growth from Solution
P. W. G. Poodt, P. C. M. Christianen, W. J. P. van Enckevort, J.
C. Maan, and E. Vlieg
Cryst. Growth Des., 8 (7), 2194–2199, 2008
Abstract:
If crystal growth from solution takes place in a closed container, a
critical Rayleigh number can be defined, below which buoyancy driven
convection is suppressed and mass transport is completely determined by
diffusion at gravitational accelerations higher than 0g. Using finite
element simulations and an analytical model, we show that it is
possible to predict the critical value of the Rayleigh number. This
result can be used to optimize growth conditions for microgravity
protein crystal growth, if the gravitational acceleration cannot be
canceled completely, like in space, or is canceled inhomogeneously,
like in gradient magnetic fields.