Lämpödiffuusioyhtälöllä

Lämpödiffuusio, also known as thermal diffusion or the Soret effect, is a phenomenon observed in multi-component mixtures where a temperature gradient causes a difference in the concentration of the components. Essentially, when one part of a mixture is hotter than another, the components of the mixture will redistribute themselves. Typically, the heavier or less mobile components tend to move towards the colder regions, while the lighter or more mobile components accumulate in the warmer regions. This movement is a result of the differing kinetic energies of the molecules at different temperatures and their interactions within the mixture.

The magnitude of the Soret effect is quantified by the Dufour coefficient, which relates the heat flux to the concentration gradient. This effect is distinct from Fickian diffusion, which describes the movement of particles solely due to a concentration gradient. Lämpödiffuusio plays a role in various natural and industrial processes. Examples include its influence on the distribution of elements in stars, its effects in geological formations, and its applications in separation technologies like thermal field-flow fractionation. Understanding and predicting lämpödiffuusio is crucial for accurate modeling of heat and mass transfer in complex fluid systems.