Nucleate boiling at a liquid — liquid interface

Abstract

Nucleate boiling at a liquid-liquid interface was investigated experimentally and theoretically. This concept of liquid-liquid boiling is based on the introduction of a heavier thin liquid layer with higher boiling temperature between the heating surface and the boiling bulk liquid (the light phase). If the two liquids are immiscible, stably stratified liquid layers are formed. When the solid surface at the bottom is heated, nucleation occurs at the liquid-liquid interface. Water and n-pentane were used as heavy and light phase, respectively. The experiments and phenomena of bubble growth and departure are described. Theoretical expressions for growth and departure are developed. The results in terms of bubble radius vs. time for boiling n-pentane at the water interface shows good agreement between calculated and experimental data. (LCL)