THIN LIQUID FILMS FLOWING DOWN HEATED WALLS: A REVIEW OF RECENT RESULTS

Here a review is presented about the stability problem of thin liquid films flowing down heated walls. The period reviewed starts from 2013, after the publication of the extensive review paper by Davalos-Orozco [Interfacial Phenom. Heat Transfer, vol. 1, pp. 93-138 (2013)]. Emphasis is given to flows where the film is affected by thermocapillarity under different mechanical and thermal boundary conditions. The subjects under discussion include thin films flowing down heated flat and cylindrical walls. Besides, the results on non-uniformly heated films are considered for flows under three different boundary situations: (1) temperature gradient along the wall, (2) local heating (hot plates), and (3) wall topography. Finally, pure experimental research papers are also taken into account in this review. The formation and separation of rivulets are examined along with their local increase of maximum thickness with distance down a hot plate.