Gravity’s Impact on Flow Patterns in Liquid-Gas Systems with Mass Transfer Considerations

Abstract

This paper investigates bilayer flows of liquid and cocurrent gas in an inclined channel with considerations for heat and mass transfer at the thermocapillary interface, which remains undeformable. The mathematical modeling is based on exact solutions of the special Ostroumov — Birikh type of Navier — Stokes equations in the Oberbek — Boussinesq approximation, accounting for the effect of thermodiffusion and diffusive thermal conductivity effect in the gas-vapor layer. Vapor in the gas is assumed to be a passive admixture that does not affect the properties of the gas. The paper considers the case with the vapor concentration function satisfying the condition of zero vapor flux on the upper wall of the channel. The working system chosen for this study is <<HFE-7l00-nitrogen>>, for which the paper provides examples of velocity profiles, temperature, and vapor concentration distribution in the upper layer. The study analyzes the effect of gravitational influence on the flow pattern and the value of the mass flow rate. The paper presents results for cases when the condition of closed liquid flow is fulfilled, at a negative value of the parameter determining the longitudinal temperature gradient, and at a given value of the gas flow rate.