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Open capillary siphons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2021

Kaizhe Wang Open the ORCID record for Kaizhe Wang [Opens in a new window] ,
Pejman Sanaei Open the ORCID record for Pejman Sanaei [Opens in a new window] ,
Jun Zhang Open the ORCID record for Jun Zhang [Opens in a new window]  and
Leif Ristroph Open the ORCID record for Leif Ristroph [Opens in a new window]
Kaizhe Wang
Affiliation:
Applied Mathematics Laboratory, Courant Institute, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA NYU–ECNU Joint Research Institute of Physics at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, PR China
Pejman Sanaei
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, New York Institute of Technology, New York, NY 10023-7692, USA
Jun Zhang
Affiliation:
Applied Mathematics Laboratory, Courant Institute, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA NYU–ECNU Joint Research Institute of Physics at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, PR China
Leif Ristroph*
Affiliation:
Applied Mathematics Laboratory, Courant Institute, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

Flow in the inverted U-shaped tube of a conventional siphon can be established and maintained only if the tube is filled and closed, so that air does not enter. We report on siphons that operate entirely open to the atmosphere by exploiting surface tension effects. Such capillary siphoning is demonstrated by paper tissue that bridges two containers and conveys water from the upper to the lower. We introduce a more controlled system consisting of grooves in a wetting solid, formed here by pressing together hook-shaped metallic rods. The dependence of flux on siphon geometry is systematically measured, revealing behaviour different from the conventional siphon. The flux saturates when the height difference between the two container's free surfaces is large; it also has a strong dependence on the climbing height from the source container's free surface to the apex. A one-dimensional theoretical model is developed, taking into account the capillary pressure due to surface tension, pressure loss due to viscous friction, and driving by gravity. Numerical solutions are in good agreement with experiments, and the model suggests hydraulic interpretations for the observed flux dependence on geometrical parameters. The operating principle and characteristics of capillary siphoning revealed here can inform biological phenomena and engineering applications related to directional fluid transport.

JFM classification

Interfacial Flows (free surface): Capillary flows
Type
JFM Rapids
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 932 , 10 February 2022 , R1
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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