By means of the finite volume method, the evolution of the three-dimensional unsteady convection with increasing crystal rotation is simulated numerically for LiCaAlF6 in a model of Czochralski crystal growth. The effect of Marangoni convection on the flow structure features is investigated, and the results indicate that ignoring Marangoni convection causes a large deviation. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.