Bubble enhanced heat transfer from a vertical heated surface

Abstract

A rising bubble in a liquid can greatly enhance heat transfer from heated surfaces by acting like a bluff body, displacing fluid as it moves and via the wake generated by the bubble, increasing the mixing of the liquid. The current research quantifies the effect a single free rising ellipsoidal air bubble has on heat transfer from a vertical heated block immersed in water. By measuring the time varying heat transfer and tracking the bubble dynamics, further understanding of the heat transfer mechanism is achieved. Both the plane in which the bubble oscillates and the proximity of the bubble path are shown to influence the surface heat transfer.