Study for Bubble Dynamics of Nucleate Boiling in Narrow Channels

Abstract

Two different types of channels are investigated which have I- and Z-shaped cross-sections with a width of 2mm. Using the numerical simulation method, the influence of wall contact angle to the process of bubble generating and growth up is studied, and the relationship between different channel shapes and pressure drop is also investigated. In the calculation process, the effects of gravity, surface tension and wall adhesion are taken into account. It is found that wall contact angle has a great influence to the morphology of bubbles. The smaller the wall contact angle is, the rounder the bubbles are, and the shorter the bubbles take to departure from the wall, otherwise, the bubbles are more difficult to depart. The variation of contact angle also has effect upon the heat transfer coefficient, the greater the wall contact angle is, the larger bubble-covered area is, thus the wall thermal resistance gets higher, and the heat transfer coefficient becomes lower. The role of surface tension in the process of boiling heat transfer is much larger than the gravity in narrow channels. The generation of bubbles dramatically disturbs the boundary layer, and the bubble bottom micro-layer can enhance the heat transfer. The heat transfer coefficient of Z-shaped channels is larger than that of I-shaped channels, while the pressure drop of the former is obviously higher.