Numerical Study of Single Bubble Dynamics During Flow Boiling

Abstract

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of single bubble dynamics during nucleate flow boiling is performed in this work. The range of bulk liquid velocities investigated is from 0.076to0.23m∕s. The surface orientations at earth normal gravity are varied from an upward facing horizontal surface to vertical through 30, 45, and 60deg. The gravity levels on an upward facing horizontal surface are varied from 1.0ge to 0.0001ge. Continuity, momentum, and energy equations are solved by finite difference method and the level set method is used to capture the liquid-vapor interface. Heat transfer within the liquid micro layer is included in this model. The numerical results have been compared with data from experiments. The results show that the bulk flow velocity, heater surface orientation, and gravity levels influence the bubble dynamics.