Experimental study of rivulet formation on an inclined plate by fluorescent imaging

Abstract

The instability of a two-dimensional moving contact line is studied for a thin liquid film flowing down an inclined plane, leading to the formation of rivulets. A fluorescent imaging method was developed to facilitate accurate measurement of the spacing between rivulets, tip velocity, three-dimensional shape and dynamic contact line. A fluid circulation system produced steady films at constant volumetric flux, in contrast to time-varying films at constant total volume, as in previous measurements. Comparisons are made with the existing data for constant-volume films, and with theoretical predictions for the wavelength of the rivulets formed at constant inlet flow rate. Data were also obtained for rivulet shapes, tip speeds and contact angles as functions of the angle of inclination of the plate and liquid Reynolds number.

CFD Study on Liquid Flow Behavior on Inclined Flat Plate Focusing on Effect of Flow Rate

“…Since it is very difficult to carry out experimental studies inside packed columns, numerous researchers pay attention to a single inclined plate (Ghiaasiaan et al, 1997;Johnso, 1999;Karimi and Kawaji, 2000;Nicolaiewsky, 1999;Saber and El-Genk, 2004;Takahama and Kato, 1980;Zapke and Kröger, 2000). Some qualitative and quantitative conclusions were drawn by the experimental observation and analysis.…”

Rarefaction-singular shock dynamics for conserved volume gravity driven particle-laden thin film

“…2 Recently, there has been a lot of interest in understanding particle-laden, thin-film flows. Mixtures of particles in viscous liquid, despite their wide range of industrial and geophysical applications, 3,4 have received far less attention than homogeneous flows 1,5 and granular flows. 6,7 Recent work on fluid particle mixtures has resulted in the derivation of a quantitatively accurate dynamic mathematical model for such flows.…”

Rivulet Flow In Vertical Parallel-Wall Channel

“…Over time, this work was followed by many other studies that described the film-torivulet transition, rivulet geometry, rivulet stability and the transition to meandering flow. A few examples include studies by Towell and Rothfeld (1966), Mikielewicz and Moszynski (1976), Bentwich et al (1976), Young and Davis (1987), Schmuki and Laso (1990), Hughes and Bott (1998), and Johnson et al (1999). Much of the rivulet flow research has been motivated by the need to characterize heat and mass transfer for high-flux heat exchangers cooled by external flow and by geophysical applications.…”