Bubble growth in decompression fields. 2nd report Numerical analysis.

Abstract

Numerical analysis was performed for the growth of a vapor bubble in decompression fields of uniformly superheated water. The numerical solution obtained for the bubble growth was compared with experimental date reported in the 1st report. Bubble growth rates calculated were somewhat lower than the experimental data. The present solution was, however, shown to compare more favorably with the experimental bubble growth curves than the previous analytical solutions reported in the 1st report. In addition, existing solutions by other researchers provided that the sphericity correction factor was in agreement. Of course, the previous solutions with the correction factor of π/2 were the best-estimated solutions as reported in 1st report. Transient temperature distributions across the thermal boundary layer surrounding the bubble interface were also analyzed. It was found that, during the very short duration of the earlier bubble growth, the thermal boundary layer developed fully and the interfacial temperature approached that of saturation corresponding to the decompressed liquid pressure.