The bubble fossil record: Insight into boiling nucleation using nanofluid pool-boiling

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4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Subcooled pool boiling of Al2O3/water nanofluid (0.1 vol%) was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to observe surface features of the wire heater where nanoparticles had deposited. A layer of aggregated alumina particles collected on the heated surface, where evidence of fluid shear associated with bubble nucleation and departure was ''fossilized'' in the fluidized nano-porous surface coating. These structures contain evidence of the fluid forces present in the microlayer prior to departure and provide a unique understanding of boiling phenomena. A unique mode of heat transfer was identified in nanofluid pool boiling.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)267-274
Number of pages8
JournalHeat and Mass Transfer/Waerme- und Stoffuebertragung
Volume48
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2012
Externally publishedYes

Funding

Special thanks are due to Dr. Tom Stephens of the Texas A&M University Microscopy Imaging Center, who assisted with the SEM and EDS operation. The FE-SEM acquisition was supported by the NSF grant DBI-0116835, the Vice President for Research Office, and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station. The authors also graciously acknowledge the assistance of Stephen Fortenberry and Rebecca in measurements with regard to pH and contact angles. Further support was provided by the Texas Engineering Experiment Station and the NSF GRFP.

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