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Nucleate boiling in thin liquid films

Journal Article · · AIChE J.; (United States)
A test of the hypothesis that bubble venting during nucleate boiling in a liquid film generates additional nuclei was performed. A simple experiment was devised. A film of water was allowed to flow down the outside of a copper tube internally heated with steam. Close-up, high-speed motion pictures were taken of the boiling. Bubbles travel down the tube with the water flow and away from their own nucleation sites. Thus, nucleation following their venting cannot be attributed to the initial site. Examination of these pictures provided ample support for the hypothesis. New bubbles do grow from the disturbances in the liquid film where venting has occurred. The photographs demonstrate that there is nucleation associated with bubble venting when boiling in thin liquid films. This has previously gone unrecognized. This nucleation is in addition to that from the usual sites on the surface. This additional nucleation can be expected to enhance the heat transfer. How much the lower temperature differences during nucleate boiling in thin liquid films depends on nucleation from this newly recognized source remains to be determined.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence
OSTI ID:
5267841
Journal Information:
AIChE J.; (United States), Journal Name: AIChE J.; (United States) Vol. 23:6; ISSN AICEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English