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Momentum effects in steady nucleate pool boiling during microgravity.

Herman Merte1

  • 1Mechanical Engineering Dept., 2026 G.G. Brown Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125, USA. merte@umich.edu

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|January 13, 2005
PubMed
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Microgravity pool boiling experiments revealed that transient forces from coalescing vapor bubbles counteract Marangoni convection, preventing dryout and ensuring steady heat transfer during space missions.

Area of Science:

  • Space Science
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Heat Transfer

Background:

  • Pool boiling is critical for thermal management in microgravity.
  • Understanding vapor bubble dynamics is essential for efficient heat transfer in space.
  • Previous studies lacked detailed analysis of forces governing bubble behavior in microgravity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate vapor bubble behavior during pool boiling in microgravity.
  • To quantify transient forces associated with bubble coalescence.
  • To determine the role of these forces in preventing dryout and ensuring steady heat transfer.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted pool boiling experiments on five space shuttle flights using R-113.
  • Employed a flat plate heater with a gold film on a quartz substrate (acting as a resistance thermometer).

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  • Utilized high-speed 16-mm photography from multiple angles to capture vapor bubble dynamics and measured bubble frequencies and sizes for momentum transfer calculations.

    • Main Results:

    • Observed large vapor bubbles forming slightly detached from the heater surface, acting as vapor reservoirs.
    • Documented subsequent bubble nucleation, growth, and coalescence with the larger bubble.
    • Calculated transient forces from momentum transfer during bubble coalescence, showing they oppose Marangoni convection.

    Conclusions:

    • Transient forces generated by vapor bubble coalescence play a crucial role in microgravity pool boiling.
    • These forces counteract Marangoni convection, preventing the large vapor bubble from impinging on the heater surface.
    • This mechanism ensures steady-state heat transfer and prevents dryout, critical for space applications.