ABSTRACT
The bubble growth rates under flow boiling conditions are obtained experimentally for subcooled flow of water in a rectangular channel 3 mm x 50 mm wide and over a 10 mm diameter heater surface in the bulk temperature range of 60 to 80 °C, and a liquid Re range of 1290 to 5160, and near atmospheric pressure. A high speed camera capable of obtaining images at a frame rate of up to 6000 fps and a microscope capable of providing up to 1350X magnification are employed. The effects of flow rate, subcooling, heater surface temperature, and cavity size are investigated and specific trends observed in the growth rate behavior are reported. The growth rates in flow boiling are compared with the ones for pool boiling case, and a need for an improved model for predicting bubble growth rates in flow boiling is established.
