An explosive type of vapor bubble growth was observed during pool boiling experiments in microgravity using R-113. Photographs reveal that the liquid-vapor interface of the explosive bubbles are wrinkled and corrugated, leading to the conclusion that some type of instability mechanism is acting. The classical hydrodynamic instability theories of Landau and Rayleigh-Taylor do not consider the effect of heat transfer, at the interface, which is believed to be responsible for the observed instability of the evaporating surface. This was confirmed by the mechanisms proposed by Prosperetti and Plesset, combined with a model of the early growth of spherical vapor bubbles.

Issue Section:
Boiling and Condensation
Keywords:
Flow Instability, Microgravity Heat Transfer, Phase-Change Phenomena
Topics:
Bubbles, Explosions, Heat transfer, Vapors, Explosives, Evaporation, Flow instability, Hydrodynamic stability, Pool boiling
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