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

Review of computational studies on boiling and condensation

An impressive amount of investigation has been devoted to enhancing overall thermal and hydrodynamic performance of microchannel heat sinks. The small size of microchannel heat sinks and their ability to dissipate heat generated by modern electronics makes them the first choice for the electronic cooling systems in most devices. In this paper, a comprehensive review of available studies regarding non-circular microchannel heat sinks, with emphasis on rectangular microchannels, was presented and analyzed. This review looked into the methodologies used to analyze and optimize the overall performance of microchannel systems along with channel geometries, flow conditions, the coolants used, structural materials, optimization tools and finally, the form in which the final outcome of each study was presented. The review showed that earlier studies (from 1981 to 1999) were largely conducted using experimental or analytical approaches while more recent studies (from 2000 to the end of 2012) showed a dependency on numerical simulations and evolutionary algorithms. In addition, they also showed that laminar was the prevailing flow condition as out of the 69 articles reviewed, 54 employed laminar flows. Furthermore, the use of liquid coolants was preferable over gaseous coolants. Recent developments in nanofluids are providing alternative coolants that are quickly establishing as coolants to be reckoned with.

Thermal and hydrodynamic analysis of microchannel heat sinks: A review

Numerical investigation of hydrodynamics and heat transfer of elongated bubbles during flow boiling in a microchannel

Flow boiling instabilities in microchannels and their promising solutions – A review

Flow pattern of boiling in micro-channel by numerical simulation

Simulation on nucleate boiling in micro-channel

Bubble behavior was simulated to analyze the mechanism of subcooled boiling in a micro-channel. Bubble growth, condensation, and collapse in subcooled boiling, as well as the function of the degree of subcooling, lift-off diameter, heat flux, and mass flux are discussed. The influence of surface tension on interfacial heat transfer is likewise presented. In the calculated results, both onset of nucleate boiling and boiling heat transfer are influenced by micro-channel size. The simulated flow pattern corresponds with some experimental results. Findings on the boiling heat transfer from the simulation were compared with experiments.

Rui Zhuan

Papers

Flow pattern of boiling in micro-channel by numerical simulation

Simulation on nucleate boiling in micro-channel

Simulation of subcooled flow boiling in a micro-channel

Flow boiling of ammonia and flow instabilities in mini-channels

Simulation of boiling flow in evaporator of separate type heat pipe with low heat flux