2025-04-30

Numerical investigation on bubble dynamics during flow boiling using moving particle semi-implicit method

Nuclear Engineering and Design

In the present study, two-dimensional numerical simulation of single bubble dynamics during nucleate
flow boiling has been performed using moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method. A set of moving
particles was used to represent the liquid phase. The bubble–liquid interface was set to be a free surface
boundary which can be captured according to the motion and location of interfacial particles. The
interfacial heat transfer rate was determined by the energy variety of interfacial particles. The bulk liquid
velocities investigated ranged from 0.07 to 0.3 m/s. The surface orientations varied from vertical to horizontal
through 60◦, 45◦ and 30◦. Bulk liquid subcooling varied from 0 to 6.5 ◦C and wall superheat from
2.0 to 20.0 ◦C. The computational results show that the bulk liquid velocity and surface orientation influenced
the bubble diameter and liftoff time. Bubble would slide along the heater surface before lifting off
and the sliding velocity at liftoff increased with an increase in bulk liquid velocity. Bubble dynamic was
related to bulk liquid subcooling as well as wall superheat. The numerical results have been compared
with the experimental data.

Ronghua Chen, Wenxi Tian, G.H. Su, Suizheng Qiu

No

2010-10-06