BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 2 - Problem 2B.

1 Page 1 of 4

Problem 2B.1
Different choice of coordinates for the falling film problem. Rederive the velocity profile
and the average velocity in §2.2, by replacing x by a coordinate x measured away from the wall;
that is, x = 0 is the wall surface, and x = δ is the liquid–gas interface. Show that the velocity
distribution is then given by
 
2 1 2
vz = (ρgδ /µ) (x/δ) − (x/δ) cos β (2B.1-1)
2
and then use this to get the average velocity. Show how one can get Eq. 2B.1-1 from Eq. 2.2-18
by making a change of variable.

Solution

Figure 1: Schematic of the falling film with x measuring the distance from the wall.

We assume that the fluid flows in the z-direction and that its velocity varies in the x-direction.

vz = vz (x)

As a result, only φx̄z (the z-momentum perpendicular to the x-direction) and φzz (the
z-momentum perpendicular to the z-direction) contribute to the momentum balance. We also
assume that the pressure only varies with depth.

p = p(x̄)

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 2 - Problem 2B.1 Page 2 of 4

Figure 2: This is the shell over which the momentum balance is made for the falling film. As a
result of the assumption vz = vz (x̄), the dashed-underlined terms are equal to zero.

Rate of z-momentum into the shell at z = 0: (W ∆x̄)φzz |z=0

Rate of z-momentum out of the shell at z = L: (W ∆x̄)φzz |z=L
Rate of z-momentum into the shell at x̄: (W L)φx̄z |x̄
Rate of z-momentum out of the shell at x̄ + ∆x̄: (W L)φx̄z |x̄+∆x̄
Component of gravitational force on the shell in z-direction: (W L∆x̄)ρg cos β

If we assume steady flow, then the momentum balance is

Rate of momentum in − Rate of momentum out + Force of gravity = 0.

Considering only the z-component, we have

(W ∆x̄)φzz |z=0 − (W ∆x̄)φzz |z=L + (W L)φx̄z |x̄ − (W L)φx̄z |x̄+∆x̄ + (W L∆x̄)ρg cos β = 0.

Factor the left side.

W ∆x̄( φzz |z=0 − φzz |z=L ) + W L( φx̄z |x̄ − φx̄z |x̄+∆x̄ ) + W L∆x̄ρg cos β = 0

Divide both sides by the volume of the shell W L∆x̄.

φzz |z=0 − φzz |z=L φx̄z |x̄+∆x̄ − φx̄z |x̄

− + ρg cos β = 0
L ∆x̄
Since we assumed that the pressure and velocity only vary as a function of x̄, φzz is the same at
z = 0 as it is at z = L.
φx̄z |x̄+∆x̄ − φx̄z |x̄
− + ρg cos β = 0
∆x̄
Now take the limit as ∆x̄ → 0.
φx̄z |x̄+∆x̄ − φx̄z |x̄
lim − + ρg cos β = 0
∆x̄→0 ∆x̄

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 2 - Problem 2B.1 Page 3 of 4

This is how the first derivative is defined.

dφx̄z
− + ρg cos β = 0
dx̄
Since φx̄z = τx̄z + 
ρv
xv
 z , we get
dτx̄z
= ρg cos β.
dx̄
There are two boundary conditions associated with this differential equation—one at the surface
of the film x = δ and one at the wall x = 0.

B.C. 1 (free surface): τx̄z = 0 when x̄ = δ

B.C. 2 (no-slip): vz = 0 when x̄ = 0

Integrate both sides of it with respect to x̄.

τx̄z (x̄) = ρg(cos β)x̄ + C1

Apply the first boundary condition.

τx̄z (δ) = ρg(cos β)δ + C1 = 0 → C1 = −ρg(cos β)δ

So we have
τx̄z (x̄) = ρg(cos β)x̄ − ρg(cos β)δ.
From Newton’s law of viscosity we know that τx̄z = −µ(dvz /dx̄), so

dvz
−µ = ρg(cos β)x̄ − ρg(cos β)δ.
dx̄
Divide both sides by −µ.
dvz ρg ρg
= − (cos β)x̄ + (cos β)δ
dx̄ µ µ
Integrate both sides with respect to x̄ once more.
ρg ρg
vz (x̄) = − (cos β)x̄2 + (cos β)δ x̄ + C2
2µ µ
Apply the second boundary condition.

vz (0) = C2 = 0

So we have
ρg ρg
vz (x̄) = − (cos β)x̄2 + (cos β)δ x̄.
2µ µ
Factor (ρgδ 2 /µ) cos β.
ρgδ 2 x̄2
 
x̄
vz (x̄) = − 2+ cos β
µ 2δ δ
Therefore, the velocity distribution is

ρgδ 2  x̄  1  x̄ 2
 
vz (x̄) = − cos β.
µ δ 2 δ

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 2 - Problem 2B.1 Page 4 of 4

The average velocity is obtained by integrating the velocity distribution over the cross-sectional
area and then dividing by that area.
ˆ
1
hvz i = vz dA
A
ˆ δ
1
= vz (W dx̄)
Wδ 0
ˆ
1 δ
= vz dx̄
δ 0
ˆ δ  
ρgδ 2 1  x̄ 2

x̄
= cos β − dx̄
µδ 0 δ 2 δ
 2 δ
ρgδ x̄ 1 x̄3 
= cos β −
µ 2δ 2 3δ 2 0
 2
1 δ3

ρgδ δ
= cos β −
µ 2δ 2 3δ 2
 
ρgδ δ
= cos β
µ 3

Therefore, the average velocity is

ρgδ 2
hvz i = cos β,
3µ
which is the same as Eq. 2.2-20. From Eq. 2.2-18,

ρgδ 2 cos β
  x 2 
vz = 1− , (2.2-18)
2µ δ

one can get Eq. 2B.1-1 by making the substitution x = δ − x̄.

"  #
ρgδ 2 cos β δ − x̄ 2

vz = 1−
2µ δ
2 x̄ 2
 
ρgδ cos β 
= 1− 1−
2µ δ
2 x̄ x̄2
  
ρgδ cos β
= 1− 1−2 + 2
2µ δ δ
2 2
 
ρgδ cos β x̄ x̄
= 2 − 2
2µ δ δ
ρgδ cos β x̄ 1 x̄2
2
 
= −
µ δ 2 δ2
ρgδ 2  x̄  1  x̄ 2
 
= − cos β
µ δ 2 δ

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