A numerical investigation of the effect of surface wettability on the boiling curve

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 12; no. 11; p. e0187175
• Main Authors: Hsu, Hua-Yi, Lin, Ming-Chieh, Popovic, Bridget, Lin, Chii-Ruey, Patankar, Neelesh A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 10.11.2017; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Boiling; Comparative analysis; Computer simulation; Contact angle; Heat flux; Heat transfer; Hot Temperature; Hydrophobic surfaces; Investigations; Mathematical models; Mechanical engineering; Models, Theoretical; Numerical analysis; Numerical simulations; Physical Phenomena; Physical Sciences; Physics; Research and Analysis Methods; Simulation; Studies; Surface Properties; Thermal properties; Wettability; Wetting (Surface science); United States; South Korea; Taiwan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187175

Surface wettability is recognized as playing an important role in pool boiling and the corresponding heat transfer curve. In this work, a systematic study of pool boiling heat transfer on smooth surfaces of varying wettability (contact angle range of 5° - 180°) has been conducted and reported. Based on numerical simulations, boiling curves are calculated and boiling dynamics in each regime are studied using a volume-of-fluid method with contact angle model. The calculated trends in critical heat flux and Leidenfrost point as functions of surface wettability are obtained and compared with prior experimental and theoretical predictions, giving good agreement. For the first time, the effect of contact angle on the complete boiling curve is shown. It is demonstrated that the simulation methodology can be used for studying pool boiling and related dynamics and providing more physical insights.