Flow dynamics of an intensively evaporating wave film of a liquid

Experimental results on the behavior of a laminar–wave film of liquid nitrogen evaporating intensively under conditions of a gravitational flow on a locally heated vertical surface are described. It was found that certain heat fluxes change significantly the shape of the residual layer and increase the relative amplitude of large waves. For the first time, data are obtained on the change in the probability density of the local film thickness as a function of the heat–flux density within the range of Reynolds numbers from 32 to 103. The effect of the heat–flux density on the phase velocity and shape of large waves is shown. Heat–flux densities at which “dry” spots arise were determined as functions of the streamwise coordinate of the wave film of the saturated liquid.