Vapor Bubble Condensation Characteristics of Subcooled Flow Boiling in Vertical Rectangular Channel

Abstract

In this study, the behavior of condensing single vapor bubble in subcooled boiling flow within two different vertical rectangular channels has been numerically investigated by using the VOF (Volume of Fluid) multiphase flow model. The mass and energy transfer model of bubble condensing process induced from the interfacial heat transfer was proposed to describe the interfacial transportation between the two phases. The results of VOF simulations showed good agreements with previous experimental data in the bubble size variation and lifetime. The bubble lifetime was almost proportional to bubble initial size and prolonged by system pressure. With the increase of subcooling, the bubble lifetime reduces significantly, and the effect of mass flux could be negligible. When bubble size increased, the bubble shape tends to be changed in a large-scale channel. The VOF simulation results of deformation have good agreement with those of Kamei’ experiment and the results of MPS (Moving Particle Semi-implicit) simulation in the large-scale channel. Furthermore, the initial bubble size, subcooling of liquid and system pressure play an important role to influence the bubble deformation behaviors significantly. The bubble could deform sharper with the increase of subcooling and initial diameter, or could breakup when the subcooling and the initial diameter reached a certain value at the last bubble stage. Whereas the trend of bubble deformation would be weaken with the increase of system pressure.