Bubble Characteristics During Boiling in Microchannels

A series of visualized experiments were conducted to investigate the boiling nucleation and bubble dynamics restricted within parallel microchannels on a silicon chip. The cross-section of each channel was 100 μm (W) × 100 μm (H). A high-speed CCD camera (up to 8,000 fps) was employed together with a microscope to record the boiling process. Under the present experimental conditions, the incipience of boiling was captured. The rates of bubble growth were measured at various flow and heating conditions. The interaction between vapor bubbles, vapor-liquid interface, and solid wall, was analyzed.