Condensation of a pure steam bubble in a subcooled liquid

Abstract

This is a review chapter about the different methods for description of bubble collapse due to vapor condensation in subcooled liquids. First, we consider the case of stagnant bubbles. The solutions for moving bubbles are then presented. The available experimental data are then discussed. Then, the link between the solutions for the bubble growth and the mass source terms for the averaged conservation equations for two-phase flow is presented. The way to derive nonaveraged mass source terms and time-averaged mass source terms is given. The very interesting case of disappearance of the bubbles from the size distribution spectrum due to condensation is discussed in some detail. The influence of the liquid turbulence on the bubble condensation in pipes is discussed too. Then, a brief description of the vapor condensation from gas mixtures inside bubbles surrounded by subcooled liquid is given for the two limiting cases a) thermally controlled collapse and b) diffusioncontrolled collapse.