Finite-amplitude stability analysis of liquid films down a vertical wall with and without interfacial phase change. (English) Zbl 0636.76047

Hwang, C.-C.; Weng, C.-I.

Int. J. Multiphase Flow 13, 803-814 (1987).

The generalized kinematic equation for film thickness, taking into account the effect of phase change at the interface, is used to investigate the nonlinear stability of film flow down a vertical wall. The analysis shows that supercritical stability and subcritical instability are both possible for the film flow system. Applications of the result to isothermal, condensate and evaporate film flow show that mass transfer into (away from) the liquid phase will stabilize (destabilize) the film flow. Finally, we find that supercritical filtered waves are always linearly stable with regard to side-band disturbance.

MSC:

76E30	Nonlinear effects in hydrodynamic stability
76D08	Lubrication theory
76M99	Basic methods in fluid mechanics

Keywords:

generalized kinematic equation; film thickness; nonlinear stability of film flow; supercritical stability; subcritical instability; evaporate film flow