The
film-forming behavior of falling film flow with a high-viscosity
fluid in clamped channels was investigated numerically and experimentally.
The present work puts forward and deeply investigates a new method
of falling film flow in the field of industrial engineering. The new
findings from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) agree well with the
experimental results. Flow patterns can be observed and divided into
three flow patterns: columnar flow, partial curtain flow, and curtain
flow. In terms of different flow patterns, the evolution of the liquid
film along the direction of gravity was diversified, mainly including
coalescence, break-up, shrinkage, and expansion. In addition, the
shape of the free surface depended mainly on the physical properties
of the fluid, the geometrical structure of the channel, and the spray
density. The convex ratio k of the liquid film varied
between 0 and 1.2, and such a wide range indicated that the free surface
of the liquid film would be visually bent, resulting in a large area
for the gas–liquid interface and a very high level of the film-forming
efficiency. More interestingly, the desired shape of the liquid film
was obtained by regulating the structural factors r and d. Based on the above conclusions, the method
concerning falling film flow down clamped channels could be beneficial
to enhance the heat and mass transfer in the process intensification
of industrial engineering.