Prediction of Wavy Liquid Film Profile for Thin Film on a Falling Film Absorber

Abstract

A hydrodynamic model of thin, laminar, gravity-driven, wavy-film flow over a vertical plate was considered. To make advantage of the cyclic boundary conditions and due to the nature of the wavy flow, a solution based on a Fourier series was implemented. Two representative cases of practical importance were studied; Re = 25, Re = 100. This range of Reynolds numbers is of the most practical importance in the process industry. Multiple solutions were obtained. Most of these solutions are mathematically correct but physically are not. It is observed that realistic wave profiles are always obtained once we approach the Froude number corresponding to thin film.