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This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion under Project No. PID2020-115086GB-C31, and by the Spanish User Support and Operations Centre (E-USOC), Center for Computational Simulation (CCS).

Analysis of institutional authors

Martinez Alvarez, Ursula AndreaAuthorOlfe Garcia, Karl StephanAuthorSanchez, PsCorresponding AuthorPorter, JAuthorEzquerro, JmAuthor

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October 19, 2023
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Effects of Thermocapillary and Natural Convection During the Melting of PCMs with a Liquid Bridge Geometry

Publicated to:Microgravity Science And Technology. 35 (2): 17- - 2023-03-13 35(2), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-023-10040-5

Authors: Varas, R; Martínez, U; Olfe, K; Sánchez, PS; Porter, J; Ezquerro, JM

Affiliations

Univ Politecn Madrid, Escuela Tecn Super Ingn Aeronaut & Espacio, Ctr Computat Simulat, Plaza Cardenal Cisneros 3, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author

Abstract

The results of a numerical investigation of the melting of a PCM occupying an axisymmetric volume in the presence of gravity are presented. The PCM is held between two circular supports maintained at different temperatures. The melting process, which is analyzed for n-octadecane, is affected by a combination of thermocapillary and natural convection. If the PCM is heated from above, the convective motion driven by the thermocapillary force is opposed by the buoyant force, which reduces the heat transfer rate. If the PCM is heated from below, natural convection acts in the same sense as thermocapillary convection and the heat transfer rate is increased. The volume V of the PCM relative to an ideal cylinder, which selects the shape of the PCM/air interface, is found to play an important role. The overall effect of natural convection on heat transfer is characterized by the ratio of the melting time in microgravity to that of the same system with gravity. This gain factor is greater (less) than unity when heating from below (above) and depends strongly on V , particularly for smaller PCM volumes.

Keywords

AxisymmetricBridge geometryBuoyancyCapillary flowCircular supportDisksEnergy-storageEquilibrium shapesFlowHeat transfer rateHeat-transfer enhancementLiquid bridgeLiquid bridgesMeltingMelting processMetalN-octadecaneNatural convectionNumerical investigationsPhase change materialsPhase-change materialsStabilityTemperatureThermocapillaryThermocapillary effect

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Microgravity Science And Technology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 25/52, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Engineering, Aerospace. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Engineering (Miscellaneous).

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 4.45. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 2.71 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-16, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 17
  • Scopus: 19

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-16:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 8 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/81049/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 80
  • Downloads: 11

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Varas, R) and Last Author (EZQUERRO NAVARRO, JOSE MIGUEL).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been SALGADO SANCHEZ, PABLO.