Abstract
To determine an operational condition of an adhesion-type oil skimmer, it is important to estimate the withdrawal rate for a given driving velocity of the skimmer and material properties of the oil. As a theoretical model for this problem the formation of an oil film on a vertically driven flat plate is investigated. The previous steady-state analysis made in the field of coating industry are reviewed. These studies have been made under the assumptions of small Reynolds and capillary number, which is adequate for coating process but not for oil skimming. An alternative analysis based on the linear stability theory is made. Comparisons with the experimental results reveal that the stability analysis gives a correct estimation of the withdrawal rate for high capillary number at which the previous theory losses its validity.
