Counter-current gas−liquid flow between vertical corrugated plates

The paper is devoted to a theoretical analysis of the counter-current gas−liquid film flow between vertical corrugated plates. We use the Navier−Stokes equations in their full statement to describe the liquid phase hydrodynamics. For the gas phase equations, we use the Benjamin−Miles approach where the wavy liquid/gas interface is a small disturbance for the turbulent gas and where we can linearize the gas phase governing equations. We consider both the steady state and the two-periodical traveling solutions of the counter-current gas/liquid flow between the corrugated plates. The changes in the liquid film hydrodynamics with the increase in gas superficial velocity are the main interest of the investigation. What is the flooding mechanism in the case of flow between the corrugated plates and does the gas superficial velocity for the flooding depend on the wall corrugation parameters?

► We found two different mechanisms of the onset of flooding. ► Both of them are based on the wavy gas–liquid flow. ► Solutions demonstrate the negative u-velocities at small corrugation. ► Second mechanism is valid for the large values of the corrugation amplitude. ► Free surface of the wavy solutions almost touches the wall.