Numerical Investigation of Successively Nucleating Bubbles During Subcooled Flow Boiling of FC-72 in Microgravity

Abstract For the present study numerical simulations of subcooled flow boiling FC-72 in microgravity have been conducted to accompany experiments performed on International Space Station (ISS). The domain represents geometry experimental test cell. all open source framework OpenFOAM was employed, including extensions interFoam solver, which developed at authors’ institute. A reference case has defined applying intermediate values from parameter range as system parameters. This examined thoroughly with regards hydrodynamic phenomena and heat transfer during multiple, successive bubble cycles. Based this case, parameters velocity, input flux, pre-heating time, subcooling liquid bulk varied, impact these quantities growth movement well studied. It found, that an increased rate lead smaller bubbles time between subsequent nucleations. high a decreased rapid cycle nucleation coalescence.