Segregation in multicomponent mixtures under gravity: The bi-velocity method

The bi-velocity concept of separation of diffusion and drift flows allows one to combine the convection and dissipative contributions to the mass and energy fluxes. It is shown that the bi-velocity method combined with statements of the first law of thermodynamics and the Euler’s and Liouville theorems is consistent with linear irreversible thermodynamics. We apply the derived formalism in modeling the two-dimensional sedimentation between Bi and Sb and demonstrate the satisfactory agreement with experimental data. The method allows modeling the sedimentation of isotopes in solids.