CONDENSATION BEHAVIOR OF MULTIPLE RISING BUBBLES IN A SUBCOOLED LIQUID AFFECTED BY BUBBLE SIZE, SPACING, AND DEGREE OF SUBCOOLING

This research numerically examines the condensation processes of multiple rising bubbles in a quiescent subcooled liquid. It also attempts to analyze the effects of critical factors, such as bubble spacing, size, and the degree of subcooling, on the processes of condensation. The volume of fluid (VOF) methodology is employed to describe the phase-change phenomena. This study was validated against verifiable experiments, as well as numerical results, which guarantees good precision. The results show that the condensation of bubbles is remarkably dependent on the spatial arrangement of the bubbles, such as side-by-side and in-line configurations. Larger bubbles deform their shapes more significantly and condense much faster due to their more prominent deformation and improved surface area. The spacing between bubbles significantly impacts their interaction. Closely spaced bubbles tend to coalesce and merge rapidly, increasing condensation efficiency, while widely spaced bubbles display minimal interactions and behave similarly to isolated bubbles. Subcooling also plays a vital role in condensation rates, with higher subcooling contributing to faster condensation processes and a reduction in bubble lifespan as a result of the elevated heat transfer rates at the bubble-liquid interface.