Bubble Recognition from Image Sequences

In this paper, we present an algorithm which can automatically recognize vapor bubbles in a seething liquid from an image sequence. The image sequences were taken with a high-speed video camera with one thousand images pro-second. Our algorithm was divided into two steps: the background image identification and the bubble recognition. In the first step, the technique for auto-focus was applied for the determination of the background image. In the second step, the snake technique was implemented for the bubble recognition. After the bubble identification, some important parameters such as the bubble size, nucleation sites, and bubble formation frequency can be calculated. These parameters are important in developing the heat transfer theory in boiling.