International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154

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International Journal of Multiphase Flow

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijmulflow

Instabilities of a gas-liquid flow between two inclined plates analyzed

using the Navier–Stokes equations
Yu.Ya. Trifonov
Institute of Thermophysics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The paper is devoted to a theoretical analysis of a counter-current gas-liquid flow between two inclined
Received 18 November 2016 plates. We linearized the Navier–Stokes equations and carried out a stability analysis of the basic steady-
Revised 6 May 2017
state solution over a wide variation of the liquid Reynolds number and the gas superficial velocity. As
Accepted 30 May 2017
a result, we found two modes of the unstable disturbances and computed the wavelength and phase
Available online 1 June 2017
velocity of their neutral disturbances varying the liquid and gas Reynolds number. The first mode is a
Keywords: “surface mode” that corresponds to the Kapitza’s waves at small values of the gas superficial velocity. We
Viscous liquid film flow found that the dependence of the neutral disturbance wavelength on the liquid Reynolds number strongly
Linear and nonlinear waves depends on the gas superficial velocity, the distance between the plates and the channel inclination angle
Counter-current gas liquid flow for this mode. The second mode of the unstable disturbances corresponds to the transition to a turbulent
Instability, Flooding flow in the gas phase and there is a critical value of the gas Reynolds number for this mode. We obtained
that this critical Reynolds number weakly depends on both the channel inclination angle, the distance
between the plates and the liquid flow parameters for the conditions considered in the paper. Despite a
thorough search, we did not find the unstable modes that may correspond to the instability in frame of
the viscous (or inviscid) Kelvin–Helmholtz heuristic analysis.
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction analysis of a gas-liquid channel flow and considered stability of

Theoretical studies of film flows began with the classical work
of Nusselt (1916) where he obtained exact solutions of the Navier–
Stokes equations for a thin viscous layer falling down an inclined
plate. The pioneering works of Kapitza (1948) and Kapitza and
Kapitza (1949) followed this where they considered both exper-
imentally and theoretically the different wavy flow regimes both
in the presence and absence of interfacial shear. Using an asymp-
totic approach, Benjamin (1957) and Yih (1963) studied a lin-
ear stability of the Nusselt gravity flow. They obtained that there
were the unstable long-wave disturbances at Re > Recrit = 5ctgβ /6,
β was the plate inclination angle. These disturbances correspond
to the Kapitza waves and we will call them as the “surface mode”.
Lin (1967) and DeBruin (1974) did the first calculations of an-
other mode of instability in the case of the gravity flow down
an inclined plane (without surface tension). The critical Reynolds
number of this mode was lower than Recrit of the “surface mode”
at very small values of β . Floryan et al., (1987) extended the
DeBruin (1974) results to the nonzero surface tension. They com-
puted the neutral curves of two unstable modes at β < 4° in the
case of the gravity flow. Yih (1967) initiated the linear stability
E-mail address: trifonov@itp.nsc.ru
two superposed fluids in plane Poiseuille flow. Void fractions of
the fluids and the total two-phase flow rate were parameters of
this analysis. Yih (1967) showed that the viscosity stratification
could be a reason of an unstable interfacial mode. Yiantsios and
Higgins (1988a,b) extended Yih’s results to different ratios of the
fluids density and thickness. They found a shear mode of instabil-
ity at large values of the Reynolds number for this channel flow.
Tilley et al. (1994) considered stability of two superposed fluids
in an inclined channel varying the mean interfacial height and
the channel thickness. They considered an air-water and olive oil-
water systems in their computations and found different unstable
modes for these systems at small values of the inclination angle.
Schmidt et al. (2016) obtained four unstable modes of the instabil-
ity in a vertical counter-current laminar flow: the “surface mode”,
the shear mode both in liquid and gas phases, and the “internal
mode”. The film thickness and pressure drop applied to drive the
gas stream were main parameters in their analysis.
The goal of the present work is to find the possible linear in-
stabilities of a counter-current gas–liquid flow between two in-
clined plates using the full Navier–Stokes equations. We suggest
using the liquid Reynolds number and the gas superficial ve-
locity as the flow parameters and this is a principal difference
from the papers by Yih (1967), Yiantsios and Higgins (1988a,

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2017.05.011
0301-9322/© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
 Yu.Ya. Trifonov / International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154 145

∂u ∂v ∂v ∂ H 1
− − ε2 − 4ε 2 = 0, y = H (x, t );
∂y ∂x ∂ y ∂ x 1 − ε 2  ∂ H 2
∂x
(6)

  σ
σikg − σik nk ni − = 0
R
   2
2ε ∂v ∂ vg 1 + ε 2 ∂∂Hx
⇒ −ερ n2 P g + P − − εμ n
Re ∂ y ∂ y 1 − ε 2  ∂ H 2
∂x

(3F i )1/3 ε 2 ∂∂ xH2

2

+  = 0, y = H (x, t ); (7)
(sin β )1/3 Re5/3 1 + ε 2  ∂ H 2 3/2
∂x

u = nug , v = nvg , y = H (x, t ); (8)

 
Fig. 1. Scheme of the gas/liquid flow. 1 ∂ ug ∂ ug ∂ ug ∂ Pg 1 ∂ 2 ug 2∂ u
2 g
+ ug + vg =− + + ε ;
n ∂t ∂x ∂y ∂x ε ε2 Reg ∂ y2 ∂ x2
1988b), Tilley et al. (1994) and Schmidt et al. (2016). Motivation (9)
for our study is the understanding of the flooding phenomenon
in an inclined channel where these independent parameters cor-  
1 ∂ vg ∂ vg ∂ vg
respond to the experimental studies (see, for example, the pa- ε2 + ug + vg
pers by Maron and Dukler (1984), Drosos et al. (2006), Zapke and n ∂t ∂x ∂y
Kroeger (20 0 0a,b), Vlachos et al. (20 01)). There is a well-known
 2 g 
∂ Pg 3ctgβ 1 ε ∂ v 2∂ v
2 g
semi-empirical approach (VKH or IKH) in the literature to predict =− − + + ε ; (10)
∂ y Re(1 − ερ ) n2 ε2 Reg ∂ y2 ∂ x2
the onset of flooding based on the Kelvin–Helmholtz stability cri-
teria and on the “two-fluid model” equations (see, for example, ∂ ug ∂ vg
+ = 0; (11)
Wallis (1969), Lin and Hanratty (1986), Barnea and Taitel (1993), ∂x ∂y
Zhang et al. (2014)). We are going to carry out a thorough search
of the possible unstable modes in frame of the Navier–Stokes equa- 1
ug = 0, vg = 0, y = . (12)
tions. Will we find the instability that it is possible to relate with ε2
the unstable mode of the VKH or IKH heuristic approach? Here u is the liquid velocity component in the x-direction, v
is the liquid velocity in the y-direction, P is the pressure in the
2. Governing equations liquid, σ ik is the stress tensor components in liquid. The instanta-
neous local film thickness H(x, t) is the interface shape and (ug , vg )
Using a rectangular coordinate system, the Navier–Stokes equa- are the gas velocity components in the x- and y-directions, respec-
tively. Pressure in the gas is Pg , σik is the stress tensor components
g
tions with the corresponding boundary conditions describe the
gas-liquid wavy film flow between two inclined plates (see Fig. 1): in gas, nk and τ i are the components of normal and tangential unit
  vectors to the interface, respectively. The interface curvature radius
∂u ∂u ∂u ∂P 1 ∂ 2u 2∂ u
2
is R and we assume summing over repeated indexes in the bound-
+u +v =− + 3+ +ε ; (1)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂ x ε Re ∂ y2 ∂ x2 ary conditions.
Eqs. (1)–(2) and (9)–(10) represent momentum conservation for
    the liquid and gas phase, respectively. Eq. (3) and (11) is the mass
∂v ∂v ∂v ∂P 3ctgβ ε ∂ 2v 2 ∂ 2v conservation law for the liquid and gas, correspondingly. We use
ε2 +u +v =− − + + ε ;
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂ y Re(1 − ερ ) Re ∂ y2 ∂ x2 the no-slip conditions (4), (8) and (12) on the channel walls and
interface, respectively. Eq. (5) is a kinematic condition along the in-
(2)
terface. Eqs. (6) and (7) formulate the tangential and normal stress
equilibrium along the interface, correspondingly.
∂ u ∂v The Eqs. (1)–(12) are in a non-dimensional form and we use
+ = 0; (3)
∂x ∂y scales as follows (asterisk denotes the dimensional variables):
x∗ u0 t ∗ y∗ u∗ v∗ P∗
u = v = 0, y = 0; (4) x= ;t = ;y = ;u = ;v = ;P = ;
L L H0 u0 ε u0 ρ u0 2
H∗ g ( ug )∗ g ( vg )∗ g ( P g )∗
∂H ∂H H= ;u = g ;v = g ;P = ;
v= +u , y = H (x, t ); (5) H0 u0 ε u0 ρg ( u g )
2

∂t ∂x  1 / 3
0

3ν 2 Re ν Re H0 H0
  H0 ≡ ; u0 ≡ ;ε = ; ε2 = ;
g(1 − ερ ) sin β H0 L D
σ − σik nk τi = 0
g
ik
  μg ρg ug νg Reg (σ /ρ )3
∂ ug 2 ∂v
g
2 ∂v ∂H
g
1 εμ = ; ερ = ; n = 0 ;ug0 ≡ ; Fi = .
⇒ εμ n +ε + 4ε μ ρ u0 D g( 1 − ε ρ ) ν 4
∂y ∂x ∂ y ∂ x 1 − ε 2  ∂ H 2
∂x Here ν, μ is the liquid kinematic and dynamic viscosity, respec-
tively, ρ is the liquid density, σ is the surface tension, β is the
146 Yu.Ya. Trifonov / International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154

Fig. 2. Linear stability of the gas flow between two parallel plates. The wavelength (a) and the phase velocity (b) of the neutral disturbance. The solid lines 1 correspond to
computations with Mg = 50, the dashed lines 2–Mg = 100, the closed circle - computations by Orszag (1971).

Fig. 4. Linear stability of the counter-current air/water flow between two vertical
plates (see Fig. 1 at β = 90°, D = 10 [mm]). Wave number (lines 1–5) and phase ve-
locity (lines 1c–5c and the right–hand y-axis) of neutral disturbances as a function
of the gas superficial velocity. Lines 1–5 and 1c–5c were computed at Re = 1, 5,
10, 20 and 40, respectively. The dashed lines correspond to the computations by
Trifonov (2010).

To define the flow area we will use the coordinate transfor-

mation η = y/H (x, t ) for the liquid phase equations and η˜ = (1 −
ε2 y )/(1 − ε2 H (x, t )) for the gas phase equations. The flow area
now is η ∈ [0, 1], η˜ ∈ [0, 1], and we present the transformed equa-
tions in Appendix A. Further, we consider a linear stability of
the steady-state solution [ub (η ), Pb (x, η ), ub (η˜ ), Pb (x, η˜ ), Hb] of the
g g

Fig. 3. Linear stability of the liquid flow down an inclined plate. The wavelength of
the neutral disturbances of two different modes. Solid lines correspond to the sur-
face mode and dashed lines – the shear mode. For both modes, the computations
carried out for several values of the Kapitza number. Lines in (a) were computed at
two values of the inclination angles and lines in (b)–β = 4°. The closed circles cor-
respond to the computations by Florian et al. (1987) (ζ = 0.0), the closed triangles–
ζ = 4899.38, the open rectangles - ζ = 10 · 104 , and the open triangles–ζ = 20 · 104 .
channel inclination angle. The disturbance period is L, Re is the
liquid Reynolds number and Fi is the film number. The gas kine-
matic and dynamic viscosities are νg , μg , respectively, ρ g is the liq-
g
uid density, Reg is the gas Reynolds number, u0 is a half of the gas
g Axˆ = λBxˆ.
superficial velocity UGS (u0 = 0.5UGS = 0.5QG /S, QG is the volumet-
ric gas flow rate supplied per the channel cross-section S = wD, w
is the channel width, D is the distance between the plates).
equations. Substituting
H = Hb + Hˆ exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
u = ub (η ) + uˆ (η ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
v = vˆ (η ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
P = Pb (x, η ) + Pˆ(η ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
ug = ugb (η˜ ) + uˆg (η˜ ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
vg = vˆ g (η˜ ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
P g = Pbg (x, η˜ ) + Pˆg (η˜ ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.
into the equations and linearizing them near the steady-state solu-
tion, we obtain a system of equations to find a spectrum of eigen
values. Here C.C. designates value that is complex conjugate to the
disturbance. As a result, we have a generalized eigenvalue problem
for complex matrices:
Matrices A and B are of order 2(M + Mg + 1) and ones
were computed numerically column-by-column varying unit vec-
 Yu.Ya. Trifonov / International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154 147

Table 1
Physical properties of the gas/liquid systems used in the paper.

σ
ρ ν ρg νg ρg ɛρ εμ Ka
kg/m 3
m /s2
kg/m 3
m /s
2
mm

Air/Water 10 0 0 10−6 1.2 1.5210−5 2.765 0.0012 0.0182 9.3

N2 /N2 808 1.810−7 4.54 1.1610−6 1.058 0.00562 0.0363 10.2

Fig. 5. The temporal growth rates of the unstable disturbances vs. the non-
dimensional wave number. Solid lines correspond to the surface mode; dashed
lines–the gas shear mode; dotted lines–the liquid shear mode. Air/water flow be-
tween two plates at β = 90° and D = 10 [mm]. (a) and (b) correspond to Re = 100
at UGS = 10 [m/s] and 30 [m/s], respectively; (c) and (d)–Re = 50 0 0 at UGS = 10 [m/s]
and 30 [m/s], respectively.
see that the equations parameter
Fig. 6. Linear stability of the counter-current air/water flow between two inclined
plates (see Fig. 1 at β = 10°, D = 10 [mm]). Wave number (lines 1–9) of the neutral
disturbances for two modes: the solid lines correspond to the surface mode and the
dashed lines–the gas shear mode. Lines 1–9 were computed at UGS = 0.1, 1, 3, 5, 10,
12, 15, 20 and 24 [m/s], respectively.
tor of the disturbances (see details in Appendix B). Here M
and Mg is the number of Chebyshev polynomials to approx-
imate disturbances [uˆ (η ), vˆ (η ), Pˆ (η )] and [uˆg (η ), vˆ g (η ), Pˆ g (η )],
respectively. To study linear stability of the steady-state so-
lution [ub (η ), Pb (x, η ), ub (η˜ ), Pb (x, η˜ ), Hb] we have to analyse
g g
2(M + Mg + 1) eigenvalues varying the disturbances wavelength L.
The solution is stable if the real parts of all eigenvalues are greater
than zero or equal to zero for all values of L > 0.
Fig. 7. Linear stability of the counter-current air/water flow between two inclined
plates (see Fig. 1 at β = 45°, D = 10 [mm]). Wave number (lines 1–9) of the neutral
disturbances for two modes: the solid lines correspond to the surface mode and the
dashed lines – the gas shear mode. Lines 1–9 were computed at UGS = 0.1, 1, 3, 5,
10, 12, 15, 20 and 30 [m/s], respectively.
There are nine parameters in the Eq. (B11)–
ε2 εμ Reg
ε, ε2 ,εμ , ερ ,n, β , F i, Re, Reg . It is easy to see that n = ερ Re
and only eight parameters are independent. We will use
√
ε, Ka, β , σ /ρ g/D,εμ , ερ , Re, Reg as the independent param-
eters for the calculations below, Ka ≡ Fi1/11 is the Kapitsa
number. It is easy to
ε2 = (3Re/(sin β Ka ))1/3 ( σ /ρ g(1 − √ερ )/D )/Ka3/2 .
Values of the parameters Ka, β , σ /ρ g/D,εμ , ερ depend only
on the liquid/gas physical properties and on the channel geome-
try. Only values of the parameters Re and Reg vary with the liq-
uid/gas flow rate changing and this is a constant-flux formulation.
The formulation corresponds to the experimental situation where
the mass conservation in both phases takes place during a spatial-
temporal evolution.
In order to validate the numerical procedure, we compared
our predictions against the results of previous works. In Fig. 2,
we reproduce the results reported by Orszag (1971) that corre-
spond to the stability of a single fluid planar Poiseuille flow.
Lines in the figure bound the region of the unstable distur-
bances (the phase velocity of the neutral disturbances cneut =
Im(λneut )/(2π ), Real(λneut ) = 0). We varied amount of the Cheby-
shev polynomials to approximate disturbances [uˆg (η ), vˆ g (η ), Pˆ g (η )]
in the Fig. 2 computations and the results do not depend on
the value of Mg . Results in Fig. 3 correspond to the stability
of the liquid unidirectional flow down an inclined plane when
the gas is passive. They are in good agreement with the clas-
sic results of Benjamin’s (1957) and Yih’s (1963) asymptotic ap-
proach. Trifonov (2007,2014) used the Navier–Stokes equations to
carry out the linear stability analysis of the liquid flow down a
corrugated wall. Solid lines in Fig. 3 coincide with the results
reported by Trifonov (2007,2014) when the inclined plate was
smooth. Florian et al. (1987) computed the surface and shear in-
stability modes at small values of the inclination angle and in
wide range of the Kapitza number when the gas was passive.
148 Yu.Ya. Trifonov / International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154
Fig. 8. Linear stability of the counter-current air/water flow between two vertical
plates (see Fig. 1 at β = 90°, D = 10 [mm]). Wave number (lines 1–9) of the neutral
disturbances for two modes: the solid lines correspond to the surface mode and the
dashed lines–the gas shear mode. Lines 1–9 were computed at UGS = 0.1, 1, 3, 5, 10,
12, 15, 20 and 30 [m/s], respectively.
Fig. 9. Linear stability of the counter-current nitrogen/(liquid nitrogen) flow be-
tween two inclined plates (see Fig. 1 at β = 10°, D = 10 [mm]). Wave number (lines
1–4) of the neutral disturbances for two modes: the solid lines correspond to the
surface mode and the dashed lines–the gas shear mode. Lines 1–4 were computed
at UGS = 0.1, 1, 3 and 5 [m/s], respectively.
Fig. 10. Linear stability of the counter-current nitrogen/(liquid nitrogen) flow be-
tween two inclined plates (see Fig. 1 at β = 45°, D = 10 [mm]). Wave number (lines
1–4) of the neutral disturbances for two modes: the solid lines correspond to the
surface mode and the dashed lines–the gas shear mode. Lines 1–4 were computed
at UGS = 0.1, 1, 3 and 5 [m/s], respectively.
Fig. 11. Linear stability of the counter-current nitrogen/(liquid nitrogen) flow be-
tween two vertical plates (see Fig. 1 at β = 90°, D = 10 [mm]). Wave number (lines
1–4) of the neutral disturbances for two modes: the solid lines correspond to the
surface mode and the dashed lines–the gas shear mode. Lines 1–4 were computed
at UGS = 0.1, 1, 3 and 5 [m/s], respectively.
Table 2
Summary of the parameters variation considered in the paper.
Reg Re β , deg D, mm UGS , m/s
Air/Water 0–20,0 0 0 1–10 0 0 10, 45, 90 5, 10, 20 0–50
N2 /N2 0–40,0 0 0 1–10 0 0 10, 45, 90 2.5, 10 0–50
In Fig. 3(b), we reproduce one of their graphs where the depen-
dences of the wave number of two modes on the Reynolds num-
ber are computed at β = 4°. Florian et al. (1987) used parame-
ter ζ = 31/3 Ka11/3 and results of their computations are shown
by symbols in Fig. 3(b). To validate the numerical procedure
when the gas is not passive, we reproduce results reported by
Trifonov (2010) for the counter-current gas/liquid flow between
two vertical plates. Trifonov (2010) computed the nonlinear waves
of small amplitude to get the “neutral disturbance” wavelength
and phase velocity. The “neutral curves” were obtained for the
air/water system at D = 10 [mm]. For several values of Re= 1, 5, 10,
20 and 40, the “neutral curve” dependences were calculated by
Trifonov (2010) with the increasing of the gas superficial velocity
up to 50 [m/s] (the dashel lines in Fig. 4). These curves are in excel-
lent agreement with the dependences in Fig. 4, obtained by solving
of the Eq. (B11). Let us empazise that we solve a generalized eigen-
value problem for complex matrices to compute lines in Fig. 4. It
is different from the paper by Trifonov (2010) where the author
solved the nonlinear equations and where the gas/liquid flow was
symmetrical with respect to the channel axis.
3. Results of the calculations
We restrict ourselves to the computations of the air/water and
the N2 /N2 (flow of the liquid nitrogen with the nitrogen vapour
at the saturation temperature and normal pressure) systems. In
Table 1, we present physical properties of the systems and val-
ues of the non-dimensional parameters that depend on the proper-
ties. In our computations, we varied values of the inclination angle
(β = 10°, 45° and 90°), the spacing between the plates (D = 2.5, 5,
10 and 20 [mm]), and the liquid and gas Reynolds number in wide
range. Table 2 summarizes these parameters variation and our goal
is to find all unstable disturbances. Fig. 5(a)–(b) demonstrates the
typical dispersion curves for the parameters considered in the pa-
per. Further increase in the liquid and gas Reynolds number can
 Yu.Ya. Trifonov / International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154 149

Fig. 12. Linear stability of the counter-current air/water flow between two inclined plates. Top to bottom: β = 10°, 45° and 90°; left to right: D = 5 [mm] and 20 [mm]. Wave
number (lines 1–9) of the neutral disturbances for two modes: the solid lines correspond to the surface mode and the dashed lines–the gas shear mode. Lines 1–9 in (a)–(c)
were computed at UGS = 0.1, 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 15, 20 and 30 [m/s], respectively; lines 4 , 4 ’ and 8 –UGS = 7, 8.5 and 24 [m/s], respectively. Lines 1–5 in (d)–(f) were computed at
UGS = 0.1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 [m/s], respectively; lines 2 –UGS = 6 [m/s].

lead to new unstable modes. For example, Fig. 5(c)–(d) demon-
strates such unstable mode at high value of the liquid Reynolds
number. Schmidt et al. (2016) obtained fourth unstable mode at
Reg ≥ 350 0 0 0 and Re ≈ 30 0 0 for the gas/liquid system with the
physical properties that are similar to the air/water. Airflow is ev-
idently turbulent and the superficial velocity is close to the sound
velocity at so huge value of Reg for D = 10 [mm]. We restrict com-
putations below by a thorough search of the unstable modes and
their neutral curves for the parameters given in Tables 1 and 2.
As a first step, we computed amount of the unstable modes
of the problem (B11) varying the disturbance wavelength L with
a small step in wide range at several values of the liquid Reynolds
number and for the fixed values of the gas superficial velocity, the
inclination angle and the distance between the plates. As a second
step, we computed the neutral curves using the bisection method.
We present results in Figs. 6–15 and found only two unstable
modes for the parameters summarized in Table 2 – the surface
mode and the gas shear mode. Results in Figs. 6–13 demonstrate
the dependences of the neutral disturbance wavelength of these
modes on the liquid Reynolds number at several values of the gas
superficial velocity, the inclination angle β and the distance D. In
addition to these computations, the results in Figs. 14 and 15 give
us the wavelength, and phase velocity dependences of the neutral
disturbances of the surface and shear modes on the gas superficial
velocity at several values of the liquid Reynolds number.
Solid lines in Figs. 6–14 correspond to the neutral disturbances
of the surface mode and the disturbances with L > λ∗neut are un-
stable. At small values of UGS , there is a critical value of the liquid
Reynolds number Recrit ≈ 5ctgβ /6. Falling down liquid film is sta-
ble at Re < Recrit . With the gas velocity increasing, we found that
150 Yu.Ya. Trifonov / International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154
Fig. 13. Linear stability of the counter-current nitrogen/(liquid nitrogen) flow be-
tween two inclined plates at D = 2.5 [mm]. (a)–(c) correspond to β = 10°, 45° and
90°, respectively. Wave number (lines 1–5) of the neutral disturbances for two
modes: the solid lines correspond to the surface mode and the dashed lines–the gas
shear mode. Lines 1–5 in Fig. 13 were computed at UGS = 0.1, 1, 3, 8, and 12 [m/s],
respectively; lines 2 and 3 –UGS = 2 and 4 [m/s].
the long-wave disturbances of the surface mode are unstable at
all values of Re, D and β considered in the paper. We may con-
clude a complicated transformation of the dependences λ∗ neut (Re)
for the surface mode with the increasing of UGS (see, for exam-
ple, solid lines in Figs. 6 and 14). We can observe that the stability
region monotonically increases with an increasing of the gas su-
perficial velocity for small values of Re. For large values of Re, the
stability region decreases with the increasing of UGS up to some
Fig. 14. Linear stability of the counter-current gas/liquid flow between two parallel plates (see Fig. 1 at D = 10 [mm]). Wave length λ∗neut (lines 1–5) and phase velocity
(lines 1b–5b and the right-hand y-axis) of the neutral disturbances of the surface mode as a function of the gas superficial velocity. Lines 1–5 and 1b–5b were computed
at Re = 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40, respectively. (a), (d) corresponds to β = 10°; (b), (e)–β = 45°; (c), (f)–β = 90°. The upper row of the figures corresponds to air/water; the lower
row–nitrogen/(liquid nitrogen).
critical value UGS c and then we can observe the region increasing
at large values of UGS > UGS c (see Fig. 14 and solid lines 7–9 in
Fig. 6). The phase velocity of the neutral disturbances becomes
negative at UGS > UGS ∗ > U c . Such transformation of the depen-
GS
dences λ∗ neut (Re) with the increasing of UGS takes place for all val-
ues of D and β considered in the paper and for both air/water and
nitrogen/(liquid nitrogen) systems (see, for example, Figs. 12(a)–
(c), 13 and 14). The critical value UGS c depends essentially on the
inclination angle β and on the distance D between the plates
(see, for example, Figs. 6–8, 12 and 14). It is interesting to note
that Vellingiri et al. (2015) computed the similar transformation of
λ∗ neut (Re) for the case of the counter-current flow of the liquid and
the turbulent gas between the vertical plates describing the gas
phase influence on the liquid problem through the boundary con-
ditions. In Figs. 9–11, the gas Reynolds number for the lines 2–4 is
big enough to observe the unstable shear mode disturbances. The
nitrogen kinematic viscosity is ten times less than the air viscosity
(see Table 1). In spite of the large Reg , the gas/liquid interaction for
the computations in Figs. 9–11 is small and the surface mode neu-
tral disturbances are close to the gravity case without gas. This in-
teraction becomes essential at high values of UGS (see Fig. 14). Non-
dimensional parameters Ka, β , Re and Reg for the air/water and
nitrogen/(liquid nitrogen) computations in Figs. 6–8 and 9–11 are
close to each other. The only explanation of this essential differ-
ence in the gas/liquid interaction is a different value of parame-
√
ters σ /ρ g/D,εμ , ερ . Figs. 12 and 13 demonstrate the neutral dis-
turbances of the surface mode for different values of the distance
D for both the air/water and N2 /N2 systems. We can conclude a
√
strong influence of the parameter σ /ρ g/D on the transformation
of the dependences λ∗ neut (Re) with the increasing of UGS . We can
observe the last stage of this transformation UGS > UGS ∗ > U c with
GS
the negative values of the phase velocity at relatively small val-
ues of UGS where the disturbances of the gas shear mode are sta-
√
ble (see Fig. 12a and b). Decreasing the parameter σ /ρ g/D, the
gas/liquid interaction decreases as we can see in Figs. 6–14. This
decreasing takes place inspite of the simultaneous increasing of
the gas phase Reynolds number if to compare the neutral curves
at the same values of UGS (see, for example, Figs. 9–11 and 13; or
Fig. 12c–f).
 Yu.Ya. Trifonov / International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154
Fig. 15. Linear stability of the counter-current gas/liquid flow between two parallel plates (see Fig. 1) at Re = 10 and D = 10 [mm]. The wavelength (a) and the phase velocity
(b) of the neutral disturbance of the gas share mode (see dashed lines in Figs. 5–10). Lines 1 correspond to the air/water at β = 10°; 2–the air/water at β = 90°; 3–the N2 /N2
at β = 10°. The dashed lines correspond to the gas flow between two plates (see Fig. 2).
In Fig. 14, all lines correspond to the neutral disturbances of
the surface mode. We present dependences of the neutral distur-
bances wavelength and phase velocity on the gas superficial veloc-
ity at three values of the inclination angle β for both the air/water
and N2 /N2 systems. Qualitatively, the dependences λ∗ neut (UGS ) in
Fig. 14 for two gas/liquid systems and for different values of the
angle β are close to each other and above we described this neu-
tral curves transformation. Value of the phase velocity of the neu-
tral disturbance of the surface mode decreases with the increasing
of the gas superficial velocity and becomes negative at large val-
ues of UGS > U∗ GS . Quantatively, the effect of the inclination angle
and the gas/liquid physical properties on these dependences is es-
sential. To keep the Fig. 14 readable, we did not present the cor-
responding neutral curves for different values of the distance be-
tween the plates. We present the effect of this parameter on the
neutral curves in Figs. 12–13 and discussed above.
In Figs. 6–13, the dashed lines bound the unstable region of
the gas shear mode at several values of UGS . The disturbances of
the gas shear mode become unstable starting from some value of
UGS . We did not find the unstable disturbances of this mode at the
small values of the gas superficial velocity (for example, below the
value corresponding to the line 5 in Figs. 6–8). The range of the
wavelength of the unstable disturbances of this mode is very nar-
row from the beginning (see Figs. 6–13) and increases with the
increasing of UGS . The upper and lower boundaries of this region
are almost horizontal lines. The phase velocity of the neutral dis-
turbances of this mode is a large negative number. In Fig. 15, all
lines correspond to the neutral disturbances of the gas shear mode.
We present dependences of the neutral disturbances wavelength
and phase velocity on the gas Reynolds number. We evidently may
conclude that this mode of instability corresponds to the transition
to a turbulent flow of the gas phase.
4. Conclusions
We considered the linear stability of the counter-current gas-
liquid flow between two inclined plates. In both phases, we used
the linearized Navier–Stokes equations and a Reynolds number as
the main flow parameter. Our goal was to find all possible unstable
modes of the two-phase flow varying the liquid Reynolds number
and the gas superficial velocity in wide range and with a small
step.
There are eight independent parameters to describe
√
the linear disturbances behaviour -2π σ /ρ g/L, Ka, β ,
√
σ /ρ g/D,εμ , ερ , Re, Re , L is a wavelength of the disturbances,
g
Ka = ( (σ /ρ ) /g(1 − ερ )ν 4 )1/11 is the Kapitza’s number, D is a
3
151
distance between the plates, β is the plates inclination angle,
εμ = μg /μ and ερ = ρg /ρ . For one set of the parameters, we com-
pute the increments of growing or damping in time of different
modes solving a generalized eigenvalue problem. We restrict our-
selves to the computations of the air/water and the N2 /N2 (flow
of the liquid nitrogen with the nitrogen vapour at the saturation
temperature and normal pressure) systems, for several values of
the spacing between the plates D = 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 [mm] and for
β = 10°, 45° and 90°.
As a result, we found two modes of the unstable distur-
bances. The first mode is a “surface mode” that corresponds to
the Kapitza’s waves at small values of the gas superficial veloc-
ity. The “surface mode” is a result of the gas/liquid interaction.
We found that the interaction strongly depends on the parame-
√
ters β , σ /ρ g/D, Re, Reg and on the gas/liquid physical properties.
We obtained that the dependence of the neutral disturbance wave-
length of the “surface mode” on the liquid Reynolds number un-
dergoes a complicated transformation with the gas superficial ve-
locity increasing. Finally, the phase velocity of the neutral distur-
bances becomes negative at UGS > UGS ∗ > U c . The second mode of
GS
the unstable disturbances corresponds to the transition to a tur-
bulent flow in the gas phase and there is a critical value of the
gas Reynolds number for this mode. We obtained that this critical
Reynolds number weakly depends on both the channel inclination
angle and the liquid flow parameters for the conditions considered
in the paper. For the most of the parameters considered in the pa-
per, the unstable disturbances of the gas shear modes appear at
relatively small values of the gas superficial velocity UGS < UGS c <
∗ where the gas/liquid interaction is not strong. Strictly speak-
UGS
ing, the laminar model of the gas flow is not correct when the dis-
turbances of the gas shear mode are unstable. We found, that at
√
large values of the parameter σ /ρ g/D the gas/liquid interaction
might be very strong when the gas shear modes disturbances are
stable. For such parameters, we can analyse the nonlinear regimes
and transition to flooding in frame of exact equations.
Despite a thorough search, we did not find the instability that
it is possible to relate with the unstable mode of the viscous (or
inviscid) Kelvin–Helmholtz heuristic analysis. The last conclusion
is important for practice where we have to consider the nonlinear
wavy regimes of the counter-current gas-liquid flow to predict an
onset of the two-phase flow flooding.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by RNF_16-19-10449.
152 Yu.Ya. Trifonov / International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154

Appendix A. Details of the governing equations transformation 1 ∂ ug η˜ t ∂ ug ∂ ug vg ∂ (ug )2 ∂ (ug )2

and the basic steady-state solution + + η˜ y + + η˜ x
n ∂t n ∂ η˜ ∂ η˜ ∂x ∂ η˜

The coordinate’s transformation η = y/H (x, t ), η˜ = (1 − ∂ P̄ g
∂ P̄ g
1 ∂ u
2 g
=− − η˜ x −Z+ η˜ 2
ε2 y )/(1 − ε2 H ) defines the flow area: η ∈ [0, 1], η˜ ∈ [0, 1] and ∂x ∂ η˜ ε ε2 Reg y ∂ η˜ 2
allows us to write the governing Eqs. (1)–(12) as follows:  2 g 
∂ u 2∂ u
2 g
∂ 2 ug ∂ ug
+ ε2 + η˜ + 2 η˜ + ( η
˜ xξ + η˜ η
˜ η ) ;
∂u ∂ u ∂ u2 ∂ u2 ∂ uv ∂ x2 x
∂ η˜ 2 x
∂ x∂ η˜ x x
∂ η˜
+ ηt + + ηx + ηy
∂t ∂η ∂x ∂η ∂η (A11)

∂ P̄ ∂ P̄ 1 ∂ 2u
=− − ηx − Z ερ n2 + 3 + ηy2 2  
∂x ∂η ε Re ∂η 1 ∂ vg η˜ t
∂ vg ∂ ug vg ∂ ug vg ∂ (vg )2
 2  ε2
+ + + η˜ x + η˜ y
2 ∂ u 2∂ u
2
∂ u
2
∂u n ∂t n∂ η˜ ∂x ∂ η˜ ∂ η˜
+ε + ηx + 2 ηx + ( ηx ξ + ηx ηx η ) ; 
∂ x2 ∂ η2 ∂ x∂ η ∂η ∂ P̄ g
3ctgβ 1 ε ∂ v
2 g
= −η˜ y − + η˜ 2
(A1) ∂ η˜ Re(1 − ερ ) n2 ε2 Reg y ∂ η˜ 2
 2 g 
2 ∂ v 2∂ v ∂ 2 vg ∂ vg
2 g
  +ε + η˜ x + 2η˜ x + (η˜ xξ + η˜ x η˜ xη ) ;
∂v ∂v ∂ uv ∂ uv ∂ v2 ∂ x2 ∂ η˜ 2 ∂ x∂ η˜ ∂ η˜
ε2 + ηt + + ηx + ηy
∂t ∂η ∂x ∂η ∂η (A12)

∂ P̄ 3ctgβ ε 2∂ v 2
= −ηy − + η ug = 0, η˜ = 0.
∂η Re(1 − ερ ) Re y ∂ η2 (A13)
 2  Here P = Z ερ n2 x
+ P̄ ; ηy = 1/H; ηt = −η (∂ H/∂ t )/H;
∂ v 2∂ v
2
∂ 2v ∂v
+ε 2 + η + 2 η + ( η xξ + η η
x xη ) ; ηx = −η (∂ H/∂ x )/H; ηxη = ηx /η; ηxξ = −ηy (ηx ∂ H/∂ x + η∂ 2 H/∂ x2 );
∂ x2 x
∂ η2 x
∂ x∂ η ∂η
P g = Zx + P̄ g ; η˜ xη = η˜ x /η˜ ; η˜ y = −ε2 /(1 − ε2 H ); η˜ x =
(A2) ηε
˜ 2 (∂ H/∂ x )/(1 − ε2 H ); η˜ x = ηε
˜ 2 (∂ H/∂ x )/(1 − ε2 H ); η˜ xξ =
−η˜ y (η˜ x ∂ H/∂ x + η∂
˜ 2 H/∂ x2 ).
 η 
There is a “basic” solution [ub (η ), Pb (x, η ), ub (η˜ ), Pb (x, η˜ ), Hb] of
g g
∂
v(x, η ) = −H (x )u(x, η )ηx − H u(x, η )dη ; (A3) Eqs. (A1)–(A13) that corresponds to the wavyless regime of the liq-
∂x 0
uid/gas flow:
 1 
∂H ∂ ub (x, η ) = α1 η2 + β1 η, vb (x, η ) = 0,
+ H (x ) u(x, η )dη = 0; (A4)
∂t ∂ x 0 Pb (x, η ) = ερ n2 (Zb x + K ) − 3ctgβ Hb (η − 1 )/[Re(1 − ερ )],
ugb (x, η˜ ) = C η˜ 2 + C1 η˜ , vgb (x, η˜ ) = 0, Pbg (x, η˜ ) = Zb x + K η˜ .
u(x, η ) = 0, η = 0; (A5)
We need to solve the nonlinear equation to obtain the “basic”
solution thickness Hb and values of α 1 , β 1 , C, C1 and Zb at given
   2 values of ε2 , ερ , εμ , n, Re and Reg :
2ε ∂v ∂ vg 1 + ε 2 ∂∂Hx [4α1 /3 + 2/Hb]/Hb + ϕ [C + (α1 /3 + 2/Hb )/n] = 0.
−ερ n P̄ + P̄ =
2 g
ηy − εμ nη˜ y (A14)
Re ∂η ∂ η˜ 1 − ε 2  ∂ H 2
∂x
Here α1 = [1/(4ϕδ ) − 2δ /ε2 − 1/(nHb )]/[1/(6n ) − 1/(6ϕδ Hb2 )];
(3F i )1/3 ε 2 ∂∂ xH2
2

β1 = −2α1 /3 + 2/Hb ; C = 3/(2ϕδ ) + α1 /(ϕδ Hb2 ); C1 = −2C/3

− 1/3
(sin β ) Re 5/3   ∂ H 2 3/2 , η=η˜ = 1; (A6)
−4δ /ε2 ; K = 3ctgβ /[δ n2 Re(1 − ερ )]; Zb = 2C δ 2 /(ε2 Reg ); ϕ ≡
1+ε 2
∂x
εμ ε2 n/(1 − ε2 Hb ); δ ≡ ϕ /(εμ n ).
   Here we took into account equations for the averaged liquid
∂u ∂ ug ∂v ∂ vg
ηy − εμ nη˜ y + ε2 − εμ n and gas flow rates of the “basic” solution:
∂η ∂ η˜ ∂x ∂x 1 1
    2  Hb ub dη = 1;(1 − ε2 Hb ) ugb dη˜ = −2.
∂v ∂ vg 2 ∂H
0 0
+ ε ηx
2
− εμ nη˜ x · 1−ε
∂η ∂ η˜ ∂x Appendix B. Details of the linear stability analysis of the
  steady-state solution
∂v ∂ vg ∂ H
+ 4 ε 2 ηy − εμ nη˜ y = 0, η = η˜ = 1. (A7)
∂η ∂ η˜ ∂ x Substituting
H = Hb + Hˆ exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
u = nug , η = η˜ = 1; (A8)
u = ub (η ) + uˆ (η ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
v = vˆ (η ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
 η˜ 
∂H 1 ∂ P = Pb (x, η ) + Pˆ(η ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
vg (x, η˜ ) = ug (x, η˜ )η˜ + ( 1 − ε2 H ) ug (x, η˜  )dη˜  ;
∂ x ε2 ∂ x 0 ug = ugb (η˜ ) + uˆg (η˜ ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
(A9) vg = vˆ g (η˜ ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.,
  P g = Pbg (x, η˜ ) + Pˆg (η˜ ) exp(−λt ) exp[2π ix] + C.C.

1 ∂H 1 ∂ 1
into the Eqs. (A1–A13) and linearizing them near the steady-state
− ( 1 − ε2 H ) ug (x, η˜ )dη˜ = 0; (A10)
n ∂t ε2 ∂ x 0 solution, we obtain a system of equations to find a spectrum of
eigenvalues:
 Yu.Ya. Trifonov / International Journal of Multiphase Flow 95 (2017) 144–154 153

We use the Chebyshev polynomials Tm (η1 ), η1 = 2η −

2π iHˆ 1
+ 2π iHb uˆ (η )dη = λHˆ ; (B1) 1orTm (η˜ 1 ), η˜ 1 = 2η˜ − 1 to approximate the disturbances
Hb 0
[uˆ (η ), vˆ (η )]or[uˆg (η˜ ), vˆ g (η˜ )], respectively:
1 2n
 1
1 − ε2 Hb
+ Hˆ + Hb uˆ (η )dη + n 1  M

Hb 1 − ε2 Hb 0 ε2 uˆ (η ) = Uˆ1 + Uˆm Tm−1 (η1 ),

2
1 m=2
× uˆ (η˜ )dη˜ = 0;
g
(B2) 
M
1
0
vˆ (η ) = Vˆ1 + Vˆm Tm−1 (η1 ),η1 = 2η − 1;
 2
m=2
6π ictgβ  4επ i 
ηHˆ + 2π i ερ n2 Pˆg ηˆ =1 − uˆ ( 1 − εμ ) 1  Mg
Re(1 − ερ ) Re η=1
uˆ (η˜ ) = (Uˆ g )1 +
g
(Uˆ g )m Tm−1 (η˜ 1 ),
2
(3F i )1/3 (2π ε )2 ˆ m=2
+ H  Mg
(sin β )1/3 Re5/3 vˆ g (η˜ ) =
1 g
(Vˆ )1 + (Vˆ g )m Tm−1 (η˜ 1 ),η˜ 1 = 2η˜ − 1.
1    2
1 1 d2 vˆ m=2
+ ε Hb 2π iub vˆ − − (2π ε ) vˆ dη
2 2

η ε Re Hb2 dη2 As a result, we have a generalized eigenvalue problem for com-

 plex matrices:
3ctgβ Hˆ (1 − η )
+ ( 1 − ερ ) ⎛ ⎞
Re Hˆ
  
⎜ Pˆg  ⎟
1 1 d2 uˆ 2Hˆ d2 ub ( 2π ε ) 2
ηHˆ dub ⎜ η˜ =1 ⎟
− − 3 − (2π ε ) uˆ +
2
⎜ ⎟
ε Re Hb dη
2 2 Hb dη2 Hb dη ⎜ Uˆm ⎟
⎜
Axˆ = λBxˆ; xˆ = ⎜ ⎟ (B11)
2π iη du2b 1 d (ub vˆ ) ηHˆ dub ⎟
+ 4π iub uˆ − Hˆ + = λuˆ − λ ⎜ Vˆm ⎟
Hb dη Hb dη Hb dη ⎜ g ⎟
⎝ (Uˆ )m ⎠

1
+ 2π iλε 2 Hb vˆ dη ; (B3) (Vˆ g )m
η
 Matrices A and B are of order 2(M + Mg + 1) and ones were
uˆ = 0; (B4) computed numerically column-by-column varying unit vector of
η=0
the disturbances and computing the Chebyshev coefficients in the
   expansion of the Eqs. (B1)–(B10). Instead of two equations corre-
1 duˆ  duˆg  η˜ y Hˆ dub  sponding to the last two Chebyshev coefficients in the expansion
− εμ nη˜ y +
Hb dη  dη˜  ε2 Hb2 dη η=1 of Eq. (B3) we use Eqs.(B4) and (B5). To take into account the
η=1 η˜ =1
 boundary conditions (B8) and (B9) we discard two equations cor-
+ 2π iε 2 (1 − εμ ) vˆ  = 0; (B5)
η=1 responding to the last two Chebyshev coefficients in the expansion

η 
η of Eq.(B7).
  After the findings of the eigen values and the eigenvectors, we
vˆ − 2π i ηub − ub (η )dη Hˆ + 2π iHb uˆ (η )dη = 0; (B6)
0 0 can compute the corresponding disturbances of the pressure:

  
 1
1 1 d2 vˆ
Pˆ = Pˆ + ε Hb −λvˆ + 2π iub vˆ − − (2π ε ) vˆ dη
2 2
ε2 d ( v ) ˜ 2 Hˆ d ( )
2
ugb ˆ g 2π iηε ugb
− + 4π iugb uˆg + η=1 η ε Re H 2 dη2
1 − ε2 Hb dη˜ 1 − ε2 Hb dη˜ b
 3ctgβ Hˆ
 ε2 K Hˆ 1 − ε2 Hb + ( 1 − η );
+ 2π i Pˆg  + (1 − η˜ ) + Re(1 − ερ )
η˜ =1 1 − ε2 Hb ε2

1      
4π iε  ( 3F i ) ( 2π ε ) ˆ 1/3 2
ε 2 ˆg
2d v
Pˆ = ερ n2 Pˆg  uˆ ( 1 − εμ ) +
− H;
× η
˜ − ( 2 π ε )2 g
vˆ − 2 π i ε 2 g g
u v
ˆ dη˜ η=1 η˜ =1 Re η=1
(sin β )1/3 Re5/3
η˜ ε2 Reg y dη˜ 2 b

  
  1 − ε2 Hb 1 λ g
2π iηε˜ 2 Hˆ 1 d2 uˆg d2 ugb Pˆg = Pˆg  + ε2 vˆ − 2π iugb vˆ g
+ K− g η ˜ y2 − 2η˜ y3 Hˆ η˜ =1 ε2 η˜ n
1 − ε2 Hb ε ε2 Re dη˜ 2 dη˜ 2  
  ε d2 vˆ g ε2 K Hˆ
ε2 η˜ Hˆ dub
g
λ + η˜ y2 − (2π ε ) vˆ g
2
dη˜ + (1 − η˜ );
− (2π ε ) uˆg +
2
= uˆg ε2 Re g
dη˜ 2 1 − ε2 Hb
1 − ε2 Hb dη˜ n

g The results will be correct at a good enough accuracy of approx-
2π iε 2 (1 − ε2 Hb ) λ 1 g  ληε
˜ 2 Hˆ 1 dub
− vˆ dη˜ + (B7) imation of the functions uˆ (η ) - |UˆM |/ sup |Uˆm | < 10−3 , and uˆg (η˜ ) -
ε2 n η˜ 1 − ε2 Hb n dη˜
|Uˆ g g |/ sup |Uˆmg | < 10−3 . During the calculations, the increasing of M
  M
uˆ = nuˆg  ; (B8) and Mg maintained the indicated conditions.
η=1 η˜ =1
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