Nucleate boiling bubble growth and departure

Abstract

The vapor bubble formation on the heating surface during pool boiling has been studied experimentally. Experiments were made at the atmospheric pressure 28 psi and 40 psi, using degassed distilled water and ethanol. The heat fluxes and heating surface temperatures have been measured simultaneously by taking high, speed motion pictures of growing bubbles. The diameter time curves of the bubbles and their diameter at the departure moment were obtained in these investigations. Bubble growth rates and bubble departure sizes have been compared to existing theories. It has been found that existing growth theories do not agree very well and that the departure size of the bubble is a function of the growth velocity.