Vapor Embryo Nucleation in Near-Wall Region Under Pool Boiling Conditions

To construct a model of the microscopic near-wall region in a macroscopic pool boiling system, the present work introduced the effect of the solid wall at the bottom of the simulation system and the infinite liquid region outside it as extra potential. Molecular dynamics simulation results showed that thermodynamics properties of near-wall region was influenced by the interaction strength and deviated from the bulk liquid region. Vapor embryo nucleated at a position several nanometers away from the solid surface. With the increase of Hamaker constant, the vapor embryo occurred at a position farther away from the solid wall.