Pool boiling on micro-structured surface with lattice Boltzmann method

In this paper, pool boiling on micro-pillar structured surfaces is studied by using a three-dimensional pseudo potential phase-change lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The joint enhancing effects on bubble nucleation and boiling performance are discussed in detail regarding various surface wettability and pillar geometrical parameters. Results show that on neutral and hydrophobic surfaces, enlarging the spacing of micro pillars delays the nucleation but can reduce the temperature inside vapor film and improve heat conduction. Despite that increasing the pillar height can improve heat flux, it is adverse to nucleation due to the increased cooling effect on the roots of micro pillars. In contrast, on hydrophilic surfaces, the impact of pillar spacing on nucleation is not monotonous and relatively much complicated. The heat flux is enhanced with increasing pillar spacing because of the extended three-phase contact line. And, the nucleation positions differ significantly by varying pillar geometrical parameters on hydrophilic surfaces.

Automated summary

In this study, pool boiling on micro-pillar structured surfaces was investigated using a three-dimensional pseudo potential phase-change lattice Boltzmann method. The joint enhancing effects of surface wettability and pillar geometrical parameters on bubble nucleation and boiling performance were analyzed. It was found that on neutral and hydrophobic surfaces, increasing the spacing of micro pillars delayed nucleation, but reduced the temperature inside the vapor film and improved heat conduction. On hydrophilic surfaces, the impact of pillar spacing on nucleation was non-monotonic and more complex, with an enhanced heat flux and significantly different nucleation positions.