A Numerical Investigation of Nucleate Boiling on Enhanced Surfaces by Lattice Boltzmann Method

To study the effect of enhanced surface geometries on nucleate boiling heat transfer, the numerical simulation of nucleate boiling on enhanced surfaces are performed by lattice Boltzmann method. For validation of the present model, a vapor bubble growth on and departure from plain surface is simulated and compared to experimental results. The numerical results are in good agreement with existing experimental results. By means of present model, the processes of bubble growth on and departure from triangular and rectangular structure surface are simulated, respectively. The numerical results demonstrate that the rectangular structure surface possesses the highest performance for heat transfer during nucleate boiling. The plain surface has the lowest heat transfer efficiency. The mechanisms contributing to the high thermal performance of enhanced surfaces are discussed. In addition, through the analysis of bubble shapes and temperature fields, it is found that the simulation results support the transient micro-convection model and the thin film evaporation model.