Interfacial Convection

Abstract

Abstract Interfacial convection is a general term used for the description of surface flow produced by the appearance in the interface of gradients of surface parameters. It embraces three types of phenomena: Marangoni instabilities, Marangoni disturbances and thin‐film behaviour. Each of them is discussed in turn and criteria presented for their appearance. Finally, practical implications are described in terms of effects on mass transfer coefficients, interfacial area and hydrodynamic behaviour of mass transfer equipment.