A model of bubble nucleation on a micro line heater

Abstract

The bubble nucleation mechanism on a cavity-free micro line heater surface rms studied bq using the molecular cluster model. A finite difference numerical scheme for the three-dimensional transient conduction equation far the liquid was employed to estimate the superheated volume where homogeneous bubble nucleation could occur due to heat diffusion from the heater to the liquid. Calculation results revealed that bubble formation on rite heater is possible when the temperature nt the hottest point in the heater. is greater than the superheat limit of the liquid by 6 degrees C-12 degrees C, which is in agreement with the experimental results., Also it was found thar the classical bubble nucleation theory breaks down near the critical point where the radius of the critical bubble is below 100 nm.