Simulation of single bubble dynamic process in pool boiling process under microgravity based on phase field method

Abstract

We use the phase field method to track the gas–liquid interface based on the gas–liquid two-phase flow in the pool boiling process, and study the bubble nucleation, growth, deformation, departure and other dynamic behaviors on the heating surface under microgravity. By simulating the correlation between liquid undercooling and bubble dynamics, we find that the bubble growth time increases with the increase of liquid undercooling, but the effect of liquid undercooling on bubble height is not significant. Meanwhile, the gas–liquid–solid three-phase contact angle and the gravity level will also have an effect on the bubble growth time and bubble height. With the increase of the contact angle, the bubble growth time and bubble height when the bubble departs also increase. While the effect of gravity level is on the contrary, the smaller the gravity level is, the larger the bubble height and bubble growth time when the bubble separates.