Bubble Growth Research Articles

Comprehensive experimental thermal analysis of single bubble nucleation in vertical flow boiling: Whole field temperature and microlayer dynamics

Nucleate boiling, an important heat transfer phenomenon, holds significance in the thermal management of numerous engineering applications. Understanding and predicting its heat transfer characteristics are vital for system optimization. The formation of a microlayer, resulting from rapid bubble growth on a heater substrate, subsequently facilitates further bubble growth through evaporation playing a critical role in overall bubble dynamics. This study examines the intricate relationship between bubble and microlayer dynamics and their impact on heat transfer rates. Experimental work is conducted for varying heat fluxes using rainbow schlieren deflectometry (RSD) and thin-film interferometry (TFI) in tandem for simultaneous mapping of key parameters: bubble dynamics, microlayer dynamics, and two-dimensional temperature field in vertical flow boiling. The analysis of these parameters has provided significant insights into some fundamental aspects of boiling. Firstly, this study emphasizes that the bubble growth rate models need to take into initial microlayer thickness in accurately predicting bubble growth dynamics. The iteratively obtained constant Ceff (describing the initial microlayer thickness) for bubble growth models matches well the value of Ceff obtained experimentally from thin film interferograms. Additionally, this study also validates the applicability of the kinetic theory-based model in predicting the evaporative heat transfer coefficient during the initial stage of flow boiling, while demonstrating that the accommodation coefficient is ∼0.04 for the investigated range of heat fluxes. Subsequently, using the experimentally obtained evaporative heat transfer coefficient, further insights are provided into the dry patch dynamics. Experimental dry patch dynamics were in good agreement with theoretical predictions up to the rewetting phase. The results also indicate a substantial contribution of microlayer evaporation, constituting approximately 34 % of the total heat flux.

Visualization investigation on heat and mass transfer of Al2O3 nanofluid in vapor chamber

As the vapor chamber (VC) moves towards ultra-thinness to meet the thermal management of microelectronic devices, achieving efficient heat transfer within a limited space poses severe challenges. In this study, a visualization VC with a thickness of only 0.9 mm was designed to investigate the heat transfer effect and boiling behavior of nanofluid applied on VC. The influences of Al2O3-deionized water (Al2O3-DW) with different mass concentrations and filling ratios on the heat transfer characteristics and flowing behavior were explored. The results indicated that the addition of nanoparticles improved the temperature uniformity and startup performance of VC. At 0.3 wt%, nanofluid promoted bubbles generation and growth, enhancing the phase-change process. The minimum thermal resistance was 1.46 K/W, representing a 13.6 % reduction compared to that of DW. However, at 0.6 wt% and under high filling ratios or heat load, excessive nanoparticles tended to accumulate on the surface of bubbles by surface tension during the boiling process and were pushed to the gas–liquid interface under the pressure gradient, resulting in deteriorated heat transfer. The results also found that deposition of nanoparticles further enhanced heat transfer. Nonetheless, the nanoparticles were detached from the substrate as the bubbles boiled, and the enhancement effect gradually diminished. The relevant research findings provide guidance for the application of nanofluids in ultra-thin VC.

Influence of cavity geometry on the bubble dynamics of nucleate pool boiling

Nucleate pool boiling is known for its exceptional heat transfer coefficients, with the use of cavities further improving bubble nucleation and heat transfer rate. To promote this heat transfer enhancement technique, a thorough understanding of the influence of cavity geometry on single bubble dynamics is required. The influence of depth and radius of cylindrical and conical cavities on the bubble dynamics of nucleate pool boiling of R1234yf were numerically investigated. The cavity radius was varied between 50 and 400 μm and the cavity depth between 100 and 1000 μm at a fixed heat flux of 28 kW/m2. It was found that the maximum equivalent diameter prior to departure was constant for cavities with radii smaller than 120 μm, while it increased linearly when increasing the cavity radius further. Cylindrical cavities exhibited high stability regardless of cavity radius or depth whereas conical cavities showed a decrease in vapor retention with increasing cavity angle. During the necking phase, the bubble interface became pinned at the cavity edge, depending on conical cavity angle, implying that smaller radii allowed for enhanced surface rewetting. Conical cavities could be considered as cylindrical cavities when the cavity angle was less than a quarter of the interface contact angle. When translating the single cavity findings to cavity array design, cylindrical cavities were recommended as they allowed for stable bubble behavior. For increased nucleation zones and rewetting, a sub-critical radius was recommended. Wider cavities were recommended for high superheat conditions as larger bubbles could enhance bubble growth.

The star-forming and ionizing properties of dwarf z ~ 6–9 galaxies in JADES: insights on bursty star formation and ionized bubble growth

ABSTRACT Reionization is thought to be driven by faint star-forming galaxies, but characterizing this population has long remained very challenging. Here, we utilize deep nine-band JADES (JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey)/NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) imaging to study the star-forming and ionizing properties of 756 $z\sim 6-9$ galaxies, including hundreds of very ultraviolet (UV)-faint objects ($M_\mathrm{UV}\gt -18$). The faintest ($m\sim 30$) galaxies in our sample typically have stellar masses of $M_\ast \sim (1-3)\times 10^7\ \mathrm{ M}_\odot$ and young light-weighted ages ($\sim$50 Myr), though some show strong Balmer breaks implying much older ages ($\sim$500 Myr). We find no evidence for extremely massive galaxies ($\gt 3\times 10^{10}\ \mathrm{ M}_\odot$) in our sample. We infer a strong (factor $\gt $2) decline in the typical [O iii]$+$H $\beta$ equivalent widths (EWs) towards very faint $z\sim 6-9$ galaxies, yet a weak UV luminosity dependence on the H $\alpha$ EWs at $z\sim 6$. We demonstrate that these EW trends can be explained if fainter galaxies have systematically lower metallicities as well as more recently declining star formation histories relative to the most UV-luminous galaxies. Our data provide evidence that the brightest galaxies are frequently experiencing a recent strong upturn in star formation rate. We also discuss how the EW trends may be influenced by a strong correlation between $M_\mathrm{UV}$ and Lyman continuum escape fraction. This alternative explanation has dramatically different implications for the contribution of galaxies along the luminosity function to cosmic reionization. Finally, we quantify the photometric overdensities around two $z\,\gt\,7$ strong Ly $\alpha$ emitters. One Ly $\alpha$ emitter lies close to a strong photometric overdensity, while the other shows no significant nearby overdensity, perhaps implying that not all strong $z\,\gt\, 7$ Ly $\alpha$ emitters reside in large ionized bubbles.

Effect of curvature on bubble dynamics and associated heat transfer characteristics for nucleate pool boiling from a hydrophilic curved surface

PurposeThis paper aims to carry out numerical study on growth of a single bubble from a curved hydrophilic surface, in nucleate pool boiling (NPB). The boiling performance associated with NPB on a curved surface has been analyzed in contrast to a plane surface.Design/methodology/approachCommercial software ANSYS Fluent 2021 R1 has been used with its built-in feature of interface tracking based on volume of fluid method. For water as the working fluid, the effect of microlayer evaporation underneath the bubble base has been included with the help of user-defined function. The phase change behavior at the interface of vapor bubble has been modeled by using “saturated-interface-volume” phase change model.FindingsAn interesting outcome of the present study is that the bubble departure gets delayed with increase in curvature of the heating surface. Wall heat flux is found to be higher for a curved surface as compared to a plane surface. Effect of wettability on the time for bubble growth is relatively more for the curved surface as compared to that for a plane surface.Originality/valueEffect of surface curvature has been investigated on bubble dynamics and also on temporal variation of heat flux. In addition, the impact of surface wettability along with the surface curvature has also been analyzed on bubble morphology and spatial variation of heat flux. Furthermore, the influence of wall superheat on the bubble growth and also the wall heat flux has been studied for fixed angle of contact and varying curvature.

Transfer learning through physics-informed neural networks for bubble growth in superheated liquid domains

In this paper, a physics-informed neural network (PINN) technique is developed to study the heat and mass transfer for the process of vapour bubble growth in a superheated liquid domain and tested using three working fluids including water, R-134a and FC-72. The work represents a novel step in the development of PINNs for phase change scenarios where surface tension effects dominate, and acts as a necessary validation stage before PINN techniques can be applied to complex boiling analysis. Initially, a forward analysis was performed using water and R-134a as working fluids. For each of these investigations, the PINN algorithm was trained on 50 % of the available CFD data. The proposed algorithm was able to accurately infer velocity fields, particularly in the near-interfacial region. The resultant circulatory flow was found to maintain the desired circular shape of the growing bubbles. As a result, when predicting the evolution of a water vapour bubble, the developed PINN algorithm produced a reduction in peak error by 0.87 % compared to CFD reference data, and 3.42 % reduction in peak error for prediction of the evolution of the R-134a vapour bubble. To test and optimise the transfer learning capabilities of the developed methodology, the evolution of an FC-72 vapour bubble in superheated FC-72 was predicted without supplying supporting observational data. For this scenario, the PINN algorithm produced a peak error within 1.3 % of the unobserved CFD reference data. The proposed approach confirms the robustness of PINN methodologies as a method of solving phase-change problems where surface tension plays a pivotal, promising to expedite parametric studies in practice. This study represents a pioneering effort in the development of PINNs for phase change by applying the current algorithm to investigate bubble growth within superheated liquid domains, serving as a basis for the application of PINNs for boiling problems and as a benchmark for inverse training strategy.

A new methodology for experimental analysis of single-cavity bubble’s nucleation, growth and detachment in saturated HFE-7100

The study of single bubble nucleation, growth and detachment processes has being carried out with remarkable relevance in the last fifty years. The complexity of the associated phenomena are still a challenge for the researchers in the field, yielding a lot of works trying to explain the enrolled mechanisms. These studies include experimental, numerical and even theoretical approaches. In particular but not exclusively for numerical approaches, it is of essential importance having a solid and detailed experimental description of the full event. It is in this context that this work emerges, proposing a methodology for characterizing the single bubble nucleation, growth and detachment process. This methodology is based in the determination of a “typical bubble” that represents the whole phenomena, providing the reconstruction of a main bubble life-cycle with its uncertainty (both in space and time). This reconstruction allows the determination of several important characteristics, such as bubble volume, apparent contact angle, dry radius, and the forces acting on the bubble. This work analyzes a set of bubbles growing from a cavity of 91μm diameter, under saturated conditions at 0,583 bar and superheating of 25,8 °C. All the outputs were obtained considering a carefully uncertainty determination and propagation from both systematic and random sources, which are not negligible as it is demonstrated in this work. The importance of considering a sufficient number of bubbles to characterize the phenomenon was also addressed, considering an analysis of uncertainties for different set of bubbles. The methodology was also confronted to previous approaches reported elsewhere, that ensured its performance, robustness, and validation.

Aerophobic P-MoS2 on MOF-Derived Co,N-Codoped Carbon Nanosheets with Accelerated H2 Bubble Release Dynamics for Efficient Alkaline Water Splitting at 1000 mA cm-2.

Rapid bubble release at high current densities results in the detachment of catalysts and performance degradation, posing a persistent challenge in actual alkaline water electrolysis (AWE). Here, hierarchical nanosheet structures (CoNC@P-MoS2) are constructed, with P-doped MoS2 on the surface of Co,N-codoped carbon. It exhibits low hydrogen evolution reaction overpotentials of 30 and 354 mV at 10 and 1000 mA cm-2 in 1 M KOH, respectively, with a small Tafel slope of 36 mV dec-1. The constructed CoNC@P-MoS2||NiFe-DLH cell requires only 1.44 and 1.92 V to achieve overall water splitting at 10 and 1000 mA cm-2, which outperforms the traditional catalysts like Pt/C||IrO2. The introduction of P stabilizes surface hydroxyl (OH*) and increases the proton penetration depth, thereby greatly enhancing its intrinsic activity. It also makes the surface aerophobic by introducing more microfeatures, which greatly improves the geometric activity by increasing the bubble release rate (∼5.8 times). Low energy consumption of 3.92 kW h Nm-3 was achieved with an energy efficiency close to 80%. Bubble growth kinetics analysis reveals that the time and growth factors for CoNC@P-MoS2 are increased to 0.54 and 11.79 from 0.45 and 6.09 for CoNC, respectively, which highlights its fast bubble reaction dynamics. The results suggest the feasibility of CoNC@P-MoS2 as a potential high-performance catalyst in commercial AWE.

Growth of a vapour bubble in a viscous, superheated Nanofluid under Effect of Variations in Surface Tension

This study analyzes the growth of a vapour bubble in a superheated nanofluid with variable surface tension at the bubble interface. The governing equations describing the problem are formulated, converted to a single integrodifferential equation, and solved analytically. The results are implemented in one of the favorable nanofluids, namely, Al2O3/water, since it is widely used in nanofluid applications, which include self-cooling devices and as a coolant in newly designed photovoltaic/thermal systems, because it has higher thermal and electrical physical properties than the base fluid and a lower economical preparation cost. The results showed that the growth process is proportional to the thermal diffusivity and the Jakob number, while it is inversely proportional to surface tension, dynamic viscosity, initial bubble radius, coefficient of the initial pressure difference, initial void fraction, and nanoparticle volume fraction. Moreover, we conducted a comparison to the experimental data obtained by Hamda and Hamed (2016), and our results achieved a better agreement with these data than some famous studies for both experiments for superheated Al2O3/water nanofluid and pure water (base fluid), because our model considered the effects of several parameters that were ignored in the previous theories, which have been derived as special cases of our result. Furthermore, the effects of nanoparticle characteristics and slip mechanisms; base fluid type and temperature; and the addition of surfactants on bubble growth rates are investigated. Implications drawn from this study may have consequences for the optimum design of thermal systems/devices based on nanofluid technology.

Design and preparation of Ta33W35Cr15V17 /Al2O3 nano multilayer film based on multi-level construction strategy and its radiation resistance behavior

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Ta33W35Cr15V17/Al2O3 nano-multilayer films with preset defects after He+ ion irradiation were studied to understand the effects of layer interfaces and nano-defects. After irradiation, the growth of He bubbles in the alumina layer was confined to the nanovoids without aggregations. The nanochannel in the high-entropy alloy layer absorbed the deposited energy of He+ and shrank to disappear. In addition, the film was softened after irradiation due to the presence of presetting defects. Based on which a dual absorption source model of interface and pre-set defects was proposed to explain the enhancement of radiation tolerance.

Insights into two-phase flow dynamics in closed-loop pulsating heat pipes utilizing Fe3O4/water: experimental visualization study

This article discusses a focused study on visualizing the flow patterns in a two-phase pulsating heat pipe (PHP) using Fe3O4/water as the working fluid at 3 V/V% concentration. The research also aims to meticulously examine phase change phenomena in the heating section, particularly focusing on bubble formation and expansion processes. A high-speed video camera was utilized to capture dynamic insights into the behavior of the Fe3O4/water mixture. Based on the findings, a straightforward model was developed to explain bubble generation and growth in the mixture, serving as a useful reference for future PHP designs and optimizations. Visual observations also noted the stable nature of the Fe3O4/water nanofluid over a 4-day period, confirming its consistency throughout the experiments. Moreover, the impact of heat load variation on the evaporator section was assessed using controlled heat inputs ranging from 10 to 80 W. Observations on the arrangement of slugs and plugs at a 50% filling ratio revealed interesting self-adjusting flow patterns in response to increasing heat inputs, providing valuable insights into PHP operational dynamics. Notably, the oscillatory flow behavior of Fe3O4/water, the chosen working fluid, exhibited greater activity in comparison to water. This distinctive flow behavior contributed to achieving heightened thermal performance efficiency for the Fe3O4/water system, attributed to its faster attainment of the annular flow condition.

Modelling of an Influence of Liquid Velocity Above the Needle on the Bubble Departures Process

Abstract In the present paper, the influence of liquid flow above the needle on a periodic or chaotic nature of the bubble departures process was numerically investigated. During the numerical simulations bubbles departing from the needle was considered. The perturbations of liquid flow were simulated based on the results of experimental investigations described in the paper [1]. The numerical model contains a bubble growth process and a liquid penetration into a needle process. In order to identify the influence of liquid flow above the needle on a periodic or chaotic nature of bubble departures process, the methods data analysis: wavelet decomposition and FFT were used. It can be inferred that the bubble departure process can be regulated by altering the hydrodynamic conditions above the needle, as variations in the liquid velocity in this area affect the gas supply system’s conditions. Moreover, the results of numerical investigations were compared with the results of experimental investigation which are described in the paper [2]. It can be considered that, described in this paper, the numerical model can be used to study the interaction between the bubbles and the needle system for supplying gas during the bubble departures from two needles, because the interaction between the bubbles is related to disturbances in the liquid flow above the needle.

Numerical simulation for pressure fluctuations caused by the growth of a single boiling bubble

The pressure fluctuations caused by the rapid volume changes during the initial growth stage for a single bubble are crucial excitations of boiling induced vibration. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately model the dynamic behavior of bubbles during this stage to obtain reasonable excitation forces, which can be used to estimate the vibration response of structures. The present study develops a dynamics model, which is verified and validated to be applicable to the growth of spherical bubbles in infinite superheated liquid and hemispherical bubbles growing on a vertical heated surface. The effects of mass transfer are considered for the vapor-liquid interface motion, and the temperature variations at the liquid side are determined by the finite difference method. The numerical data match well with the theoretical and experimental results, and the characteristics of the excitation forces caused by a single boiling bubble are obtained and analyzed. In addition, the influences of superheat, accommodation coefficient for phase change, and the temperature gradient at the liquid side on excitation forces caused by bubble growth are studied. The results show that the temperature distributions near the heated surface strongly affect the frequency domain characteristics of the excitation forces.

The effect of various crystalline forms of HFC 134a hydrate on the growth rate and desalination efficiency

Experimental studies on the synthesis of HFC 134a hydrate in the liquid HFC 134a – water system were performed. Despite today's lack of research on the use of HFC 134a hydrate for desalination of seawater and separation of harmful impurities by HFC 134a hydrate synthesis, this method has prospects for development: HFC 134a hydrate is synthesized at relatively high temperature and low pressure; it is poorly soluble in water, which simplifies gas hydrate separation from water–salt solution; it has high volumetric storage density and relatively high thermal conductivity. In spite of its low solubility in water, HFC hydrate exhibits relatively high growth rates. The growth of various crystalline forms and the peculiarities of their occurrence in pure water, aqueous salt solution, as well as with the addition of surfactant are considered. The use of SDS increases the HFC hydrate growth rate. For the first time, it was shown that the intensive growth of HFC 134a hydrate in the form of needles throughout the entire volume of the liquid allows increasing the efficiency of desalination. It is important to consider the desalination process comprehensively, taking into account the crystal forms, crystal growth rate, crystal defects, as well as taking into account the degree of salt removal. Simultaneously with the bubble growth, a thin gas hydrate film is shown to grow on the bubble surface. A detailed consideration of the stages of such hydrate growth is provided to explain the high-speed synthesis of porous HFC hydrate due to boiling of liquid HFC and vaporization.

Hydrogen bubble evolution and gas transport mechanism on a microelectrode determined by cathodic potential and temperature

Enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen production by optimizing gas product transfer within water electrolysis systems is essential. Employing high-speed photography and electrochemical techniques, the entire process of single hydrogen bubble evolution on a Pt microelectrode surface was measured. Results reveal a notable reduction in both bubble detachment radius and growth time with decreasing absolute potential (from −7 to −3 V) and increasing reaction temperature (from 30 °C to 50 °C). Additionally, a comprehensive model estimating bubble coverage on the microelectrode is presented, incorporating bubble radius and current as key influencing factors. This enables an accurate evaluation of mass transfer coefficients during bubble evolution in the absence of forced flow. Furthermore, findings reveal the dominance of bubble-induced micro-convection as the primary mass-transfer mechanism for gas products at high current densities [O (105–106 A/m2)]. The results also indicate that the mass transfer coefficient increases during the inertia-controlled growth stage of bubbles and decreases during the stage controlled by chemical reactions.

Surface wettability control of bubble flow guide for a thin aqueous electrolyte layer of solar photoelectrochemical reactors

Abstract Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier as no carbon dioxide is emitted during its use in fuel cells or combustion. Solar photoelectrochemical water splitting is a potential process for producing renewable hydrogen. Herein, energy transport phenomena are addressed for the future design of large-scale reactors. First, we show that the thickness of the aqueous electrolyte layer is an essential factor for utilizing the full spectrum of solar radiation. The transport of solar irradiation through the aqueous electrolyte is theoretically analysed. Next, based on the measurement of light transmission through hydrogen bubbles generated from a hydrogen evolving electrode, the energy loss caused by the bubbles covering a photoelectrode is discussed. The bubble size distributions at practical current densities are also presented. Then, a bubble flow guide for controlling the stream of bubbles in a thin electrolyte layer is proposed. A design strategy and experimental results verifying the performance of the bubble flow guide are presented. We demonstrate that surface wettability and inclination angle are important for designing an effective bubble flow guide. We examine the surface wettability control using hydrophilic coatings in detail. Changes in the water contact angles as well as bubble adhesion forces on the coated surfaces are demonstrated. In addition, the current experimental method can be used to identify essential issues in photoelectrochemical processes. Because bubble trapping and growth in a flow guide are reflected in the electrode potential variation, the discussion of electrode potential variation would be useful for further developing bubble flow guides. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential for developing and designing solar photoelectrochemical reactors.

A visualization study of a confined vapor chamber with conical microstructure applied in data centres

Abstract With the development of the informatization technology, the scale of the data centre is expanding rapidly. The energy consumptions of the electronic equipment in the data centre are rising regularly, which lead to the thermal management becoming an argent issue to be settled. To realize the sustainable development of green data centre, the passive two-phase vapor chamber (VC) has turned into the focus of electronic cooling research. Constructing nucleation induced structures on the evaporation surface is an effective method to improve the performance of the vapor chamber. To address the problem of achieving enhanced boiling, a novel conical microstructure was designed in the vapor chamber with 50 mm height. The conical structure of 1 mm axial height was fabricated on the evaporation surface by computer numerical control (CNC) machining technology. A visualization experimental system was developed to investigate the effect of the conical microstructure on the two-phase behaviours, and the boiling heat transfer characteristics under different heating conditions (Q in = 35 W, 50 W, 65 W) in a confined vapor chamber. The high-speed camera was used to capture the bubble behaviours. Experimental results found that compared with the smooth surface, the integration of the conical structure increasing the number of bubble nucleation sites and the bubble departure frequency. The bubble growth period at stable heating stage is 162 ms shorter than initial heating stage on the evaporation surface with conical structure. The thermal resistance (R vc) of vapor chamber with conical structure is improved by 5.85% compared to the smooth one at Q in = 65 W, which indicate that the conical microstructure can enhance the boiling heat transfer performance. This study aims to provide a reference for the design of thermal management system for green data centre.

Simple Method to Assess Foam Structure and Stability using Hydrophobin and BSA as Model Systems.

The properties and arrangement of surface-active molecules at air-water interfaces influence foam stability and bubble shape. Such multiscale-relationships necessitate a well-conducted analysis of mesoscopic foam properties. We introduce a novel automated and precise method to characterize bubble growth, size distribution and shape based on image analysis and using the machine learning algorithm Cellpose. Studying the temporal evolution of bubble size and shape facilitates conclusions on foam stability. The addition of two sets of masks, for tiny bubbles and large bubbles, provides for a high precision of analysis. A python script for analysis of the evolution of bubble diameter, circularity and dispersity is provided in the Supporting Information. Using foams stabilized by bovine serum albumin (BSA), hydrophobin (HP), and blends thereof, we show how this technique can be used to precisely characterize foam structures. Foams stabilized by HP show a significantly increased foam stability and rounder bubble shape than BSA-stabilized foams. These differences are induced by the different molecular structure of the two proteins. Our study shows that the proposed method provides an efficient way to analyze relevant foam properties in detail and at low cost, with higher precision than conventional methods of image analysis.

Growth Behaviors of Bubbles and Intermetallic Compounds in Solidifying Al-5 wt.% Mn Alloy

The growth behaviors of hydrogen bubbles and intermetallic compounds (IMCs) during solidification of an Al-5 wt.% Mn alloy was investigated by synchrotron radiography. Results show that bubble collapse can increase hydrogen concentration in nearby Al melt, thus facilitating the formation and growth of new bubbles. Under the interference of Al6Mn IMCs, the growth method of an individual bubble is changed from a Gaussian distribution to a linear model. Al6Mn crystal growth can be divided into three stages: first an isotropic spherical crystal appears, then it evolves into primary branches, and eventually forms an irregular octahedron.

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of flow boiling heat transfer process in a horizontal microchannel with rectangular cavities

Bubble nucleation, growth and separation from cavities on the bottom of a microchannel for subcooled flow boiling are investigated by pseudo-potential lattice Boltzmann method. The influence of subcooling temperature, wall superheat, wettability, cavity size, and cavity number on the flow boiling heat transfer is systematically studied. The results show that the bubble equivalent diameter is 1.9 times larger at subcooling temperature 0.05Tc than that at 0.15Tc, and the heat flux is also 8 % higher at subcooling temperature 0.05Tc than that at 0.15Tc. It is found that the flow boiling changes from nucleate boiling to film boiling with the increase of wall superheat. When the wall wettability changes from the hydrophobic wall (θ = 120°) to the hydrophilic wall (θ = 30°), the average Nusselt number (Nuav) is reduced by 23 %. We also optimize cavity height and the uniformly distributed cavity number in the microchannel. It is found that the Nuav is increased by 9.7 % when the cavity height changes from h = 20lu (lattice unit) to h = 60lu. However, there exists an optimal cavity height about h = 60lu, where the heat transfer performance cannot be improved with the cavity height over this value. In addition, the number of cavities in the microchannel can improve the boiling heat transfer. When the cavity number changes from 1 to 4, the Nuav is increased by 10 %.