The growth of a vapor bubble in a superheated liquid is controlled by three factors: the inertia of the liquid, the surface tension, and the vapor pressure. As the bubble grows, evaporation takes place at the bubble boundary, and the temperature and vapor pressure in the bubble are thereby decreased. The heat inflow requirement of evaporation, however, depends on the rate of bubble growth, so that the dynamic problem is linked with a heat diffusion problem. Since the heat diffusion problem has been solved, a quantitative formulation of the dynamic problem can be given. A solution for the radius of the vapor bubble as a function of time is obtained which is valid for sufficiently large radius. This asymptotic solution covers the range of physical interest since the radius at which it becomes valid is near the lower limit of experimental observation. It shows the strong effect of heat diffusion on the rate of bubble growth. Comparison of the predicted radius‐time behavior is made with experimental observations in superheated water, and very good agreement is found.

The growth of vapor bubbles in superheated liquids. report no. 26-6

A unified model for the prediction of bubble detachment diameters in boiling systems—II. Flow boiling

Heat transfer to falling liquid films and film breakdown—I: Subcooled liquid films

Bubble growth rates in pure and binary systems: Combined effect of relaxation and evaporation microlayers

The behavior of electrolytic gas bubbles and their effect on the cell voltage in water electrolysis were studied theoretically and experimentally. A fundamental force analysis was employed to predict the critical diameter for the departure of the electrolytic gas bubbles. Good agreement between the predictions and observations was obtained. It was found that increasing the electrode potential strengthened the force due to the interfacial tension and increased the critical diameter, while increasing the electrolyte concentration led to a reduction. This was explained by the changes in both the contact angle and surface tension. Many more fine gas bubbles were observed at high current density, which was explained by that the enhanced natural convection forced bubbles to depart prematurely. The cell voltage was only slightly reduced by the electrolyte circulation, which reduced the critical diameter for bubble departure. This confirmed that the layer of fine bubbles represented a significant energy barrier, ...

R. Cole

Papers

Bubble growth rates in pure and binary systems: Combined effect of relaxation and evaporation microlayers

Bubble growth rates in nucleate boiling of water at subatmospheric pressures

Bubble departure radii at solidification interfaces

Bubble growth rates in nucleate boiling of aqueous binary systems at subatmospheric pressures