Microscale Vapor Bubble Interactions During Subcooled Nucleate Boiling on a Heated Wire

Bubbles have been observed moving along heated wires during subcooled nucleate boiling as they are driven by Marangoni convection around the bubbles. This paper presents more detailed observations of the vapor bubble interactions and moving bubble behavior during subcooled nucleate boiling on a heated microwire. The experimental results show that moving bubbles coalesce or rebound from other bubbles and that bubbles hop on the wire. These observations show how bubble interactions significantly affect nucleate boiling heat transfer rates and how Marangoni flow plays an important role in microscale nucleate boiling heat transfer mechanisms.