Vapour Cloud Dynamics Induced by Evaporation

Abstract

In this fluid dynamics video, the vapour cloud generated near evaporating free liquid surfaces is visualised by Mach-Zehnder interferometry (MZI). More precisely, for evaporating HFE-7100 (from 3M) and ambient conditions, the vapour concentration field and its dynamical behaviour are observed in three simple experiments. Through these experiments, it is evidenced that the high density of the vapour cloud (compared to air) induces convective motions in the gas mixture, resulting in deviations of the concentration field from a purely diffusional behaviour.