Spherical vapor bubble growth in uniformly superheated liquids

A numerical procedure is presented for the solution of vapor bubble growth with radial symmetry from the thermodynamic critical size in an initially uniformly superheated liquid, which includes the influences of surface tension, liquid inertia and heat diffusion. Results are presented in the form of time varying interface radius, velocity, acceleration and temperature, with particular emphasis on how circumstances during the very early growth periods affect the later growth. The effect on the solution of the disturbance required to initiate the growth is examined in some detail. Comprehensive comparisons are made with previous experiments, analyses and numerical results. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.