Visualization of temperature fields and double-diffusive convection using liquid crystals in an aqueous solution crystallizing along a vertical wall

Abstract

This article presents a simple technique for temperature visualization using liquid crystals in an aqueous solution during the process of cooling and solidification. This method provides a clear picture of the role of double-diffusive convection in producing vertical compositional and density stratification in an initially homogeneous liquid during solidification.

Simultaneous optical measurement of temperature and velocity fields in solidifying liquids

“…In this paper, we augment this method with a novel implementation of liquid crystal thermometry (LCT) for global temperature field measurements. LCT is an optical temperature measurement technique using encapsulated thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC) whose principal applicability to double-diffusive convection was demonstrated by Nishimura et al (1992Nishimura et al ( , 1994Nishimura et al ( , 1998. In contrast to common point measurements by temperature sensors, i.e., thermistors or thermocouples, LCT is a noninvasive method that can measure whole cross sections of a respective fluid volume.…”