Unveiling the underlying physics of two-phase boiling heat transfer enhancement through shearing of coalescing bubbles

The upcoming energy scarcity problem has driven research toward developing energy-efficient two-phase heat exchangers essential for various cooling applications. This research is rooted in the principles of pool boiling, essential for effective heat transfer in various heat exchangers. A well-known reported problem in heat exchangers is the dry-out phenomena of heated surfaces due to bubble coalescence. To tackle this undesirable problem, an innovative technique has been introduced in this study, which involves the shearing of bubbles through liquid jet impingement over the heated surface. The study has been carried out in a two-dimensional domain numerically, in the wall superheat range of 9–16 K. To study the underlying physics involved in this pool boiling phenomenon, the bubble dynamics parameters such as departure frequency, bubble diameter, cold spot (bubble base) temperature, and vapor volume fraction have been analyzed. The results show that with the jet shearing effect, a maximum enhancement of 25% in heat transfer rate is observed at higher wall superheat. The investigation also highlights that the liquid jet enhances vapor volume fraction, indicating enhanced steam generation, particularly an enhancement of 27% observed at elevated wall superheat. An early onset necking effect is also observed with the shearing effect, which leads to the formation of smaller bubbles with higher departure frequencies. This study is a benchmark to the fundamental physics of enhancing two-phase heat transfer through bubble shearing, offering promising insights for energy conservation in two-phase heat exchanger design, particularly within the context of pool boiling.