Stationary imbibition with evaporation through a flattened triangular channel
Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 024004 – Published 17 February, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/5r5k-6zj4
Abstract
A study of the stationary flow in a channel of flattened triangular cross section subject to evaporation on one end and in contact with a liquid reservoir on the other end is presented taking into account the liquid film flow in the corners of the channel and in the adsorbed thin liquid film together with transport by diffusion of the vapor in the gas phase. Three main regimes are distinguished depending on the inlet liquid pressure, namely, the pure corner flow regime, the regime with partial bulk invasion, and the regime where the channel is fully invaded by the liquid. The various regimes are summarized in a phase diagram that depend on the inlet liquid pressure and external air relative humidity. Models are derived for each regime combining the physical description of each transport mechanism. Numerical solutions are obtained using a simple bisection method. Results show that the mass transfer rate through the channel can vary over several orders of magnitude depending on the inlet pressure. Situations where the mass transfer rate is independent of the external air relative humidity are exhibited both for the pure corner flow and partial bulk invasion regimes.
