Chemical Engineering Science, Vol.51, No.5, 725-732, 1996
Characteristics of 2-Dimensional Waves on a Falling Liquid-Film
Regularly spaced two-dimensional waves are excited with input of controlled disturbances to a water film falling down a vertical surface, and phase velocities u(w), wave peak heights h(p) and wave separations lambda are measured for a wide range of flow rates (Gamma = 20 similar to 86 x 10(-6) m(2)/s) and temperatures (5 similar to 23 degrees C) (corresponding to Reynolds numbers Re = 14 similar to 90). The variables h(p) and u(w) are well described by the relations N-uw = 1.13K(F)(0.02)N(lambda)(0.31)Re(0.37) and N-hp = 0.49K(F)(0.044)N(lambda)(0.34)Re(0.46), and also by N-hp = 0.425K(F)(0.019)N(uw)(5/4) and N-uw = 1.13K(F)(0.026)N(V)(1/2) where N-uw, N-hp, N-lambda, K-F N-V and Re are respectively dimensionless phase velocity, wave peak height, wave separation, physical properties group, volume of liquid carried on a wave and Reynolds number. These correlations show that the two variables lambda and Gamma can be replaced by one variable, V or u(w), and they therefore indicate that the waves are isolated from each other. Comparisons between these correlations and data obtained from the extensive literature on the subject are discussed in relation to the surface elasticity. Shadowgrams of waves are also presented.