The present study is performed to numerically analyze growth of a vapor bubble during flow of water in a microchannel. The complete Navier-Stokes equations along with continuity and energy equations are solved using the SIMPLER method. The liquid vapor interface is captured using the level set technique. The microchannel is 200 microns in square cross-section and the bubble is placed at the center of the channel with superheated liquid around it. The results show steady initial bubble growth followed by a rapid axial expansion after the bubble fills the channel with a thin liquid film around it. The bubble then rapidly turns into a plug and fills up the entire channel. A trapped liquid layer is observed between the bubble and the channel as the plug elongates. The bubble growth rate increased with the incoming liquid superheat and formation of vapor patch at the walls is found to be dependent on the bubble growth rate. The upstream interface of the bubble is found to exhibit both forward and reverse movement during bubble growth. Results show little effect of gravity on the bubble growth under the specified conditions. The bubble growth features obtained from numerical results are found to be qualitatively similar to experimental observations.
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ASME 2004 2nd International Conference on Microchannels and Minichannels
June 17–19, 2004
Rochester, New York, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Nanotechnology Institute
ISBN:
0-7918-4164-2
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Numerical Simulation of Growth of a Vapor Bubble During Flow Boiling of Water in a Microchannel
Abhijit Mukherjee,
Abhijit Mukherjee
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
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Satish G. Kandlikar
Satish G. Kandlikar
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Abhijit Mukherjee
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Satish G. Kandlikar
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Paper No:
ICMM2004-2382, pp. 565-572; 8 pages
Published Online:
December 2, 2008
Citation
Mukherjee, A, & Kandlikar, SG. "Numerical Simulation of Growth of a Vapor Bubble During Flow Boiling of Water in a Microchannel." Proceedings of the ASME 2004 2nd International Conference on Microchannels and Minichannels. ASME 2nd International Conference on Microchannels and Minichannels. Rochester, New York, USA. June 17–19, 2004. pp. 565-572. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICMM2004-2382
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