Mesoscopic modeling the interaction of two attached-wall cavitation bubbles

Area of Science:

• Fluid Dynamics
• Thermodynamics
• Computational Physics

Background:

• Cavitation, the formation and collapse of vapor bubbles, significantly impacts fluid flow and heat transfer.
• Understanding bubble interactions on solid surfaces is crucial for optimizing various industrial processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interaction dynamics of two attached-wall cavitation bubbles using a hybrid thermal lattice Boltzmann model.
• To analyze the influence of surface wettability (hydrophobic vs. hydrophilic) on bubble behavior, flow, temperature, and heat flux.

Main Methods:

• Development of a hybrid thermal lattice Boltzmann model within a nonorthogonal framework.
• Systematic analysis of bubble interaction modes under varying contact angles and interaction strengths.
• Examination of flow, temperature, and wall heat flux evolution.

Main Results:

• Hydrophobic surfaces promote larger bubble volumes and radii but reduce collapse intensity compared to hydrophilic surfaces.
• Bubble coalescence observed on hydrophobic surfaces alters collapse dynamics and results in distinct temperature and velocity fields.
• Surface wettability significantly affects the instantaneous heat flux, influencing peak values and the number of heat flux peaks.

Conclusions:

• Surface wettability is a critical factor governing cavitation bubble interaction and its associated thermal-hydraulic phenomena.
• The developed model provides insights into the complex interplay between bubble dynamics, surface properties, and heat transfer.
• Findings have implications for designing surfaces and managing cavitation in engineering applications.