Measurement of Film Dynamics in a Boiling Liquid Film

Abstract

Motivated by understanding the micro-hydrodynamics of boiling heat transfer and its critical heat flux (CHF), the present study investigates the boiling phenomenon in a liquid film whose dynamic thickness is recorded by a confocal optical sensor till micrometres, while the bubble dynamics of the boiling in the film is visualized by high-speed photography (10000 fps). This paper is focused on statistical analysis of the thickness signals from the scoping tests from low heat flux till high heat flux (CHF). The dynamic thickness of the liquid film appears peak values, corresponding to the liquid film movements due to nucleation of bubble(s) and its growth and collapse. The maximum thickness decreases rapidly with increasing heat flux, but after 0.625 WM/m2 it keeps almost constant. It reduces again after 1.09 WM/m2 and finally reaches105 μm prior to the CHF which occurs at 1.563 WM/m2 for the nano heater made of titanium.