Numerical study of single bubbles with dynamic contact angle during nucleate pool boiling

Nucleate pool boiling is typically characterized by cyclic growth and departure of vapor bubbles from a heated wall. It has been experimentally observed that the contact angle at the bubble base varies during the ebullition cycle. In the present numerical study, a static contact angle model and dynamic contact angle models based on the contact line velocity and the sign of the contact line velocity have been used at the base of a vapor bubble growing on a heated wall. The complete Navier-Stokes equations are solved and the liquid-vapor interface is captured using the level-set technique. The effect of dynamic contact angle Dn bubble dynamics and vapor volume growth rate is compared with results obtained with the static contact angle model. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.