Bubble nucleation in liquids

Abstract

Theoretical and experimental aspects of homogeneous and heterogeneous bubble nucleation are reviewed. Recent developments in nucleation theory, which include hydrodynamic and diffusion constraints, gas phase nonidealities, and heterogeneous nucleation are discussed. A large number of the measured limits of superheat of pure components are close to 88 to 90% of the critical temperature. Where calculations can be made, these measurements are in agreement with predictions from classical nucleation theory. Measurements of the limits of superheat of mixtures are useful for understanding one proposed mechanism for the dangerous phenomena known as contact vapor explosions.

Importance of the slick thickness for effective in-situ burning of crude oil

“…As the oil layer isolates the water from the air, the water can be superheated, to the point where it reaches a temperature of 120-150 °C. At this point (heterogeneous) nucleation will occur which leads to the violent boiling of the water [36], ejecting water vapor through the oil slick. These ejections also throw liquid oil droplets in the flames, leading to the explosive character of a boilover.…”

Blast from explosive evaporation of carbon dioxide: experiment, modeling and physics

“…It contains as important quantities critical bubble size and critical bubble nucleation rate. To calibrate its prediction with experiments, KSL theory uses a presumed critical bubble nucleation rate [13]. For a properly chosen EOS, the experimentally determined KSL is quite close to the TSL.…”

Communication: High speed optical investigations of a character of boiling-up onset

“…CNT can predict the limiting values of superheat for a large number of liquids and binary mixtures. [1][2][3][4][9][10][11][12] CNT supposes that viable nuclei of the new phase appear as a result of some random events, associated with density fluctuations process. Regarding these random events it is supposed a priori that the process is stationary and homogeneous.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] Even in the course of regular boiling, a liquid layer generating bubbles is superheated with respect to the liquid-vapor equilibrium temperature T s (p), where T s is the saturation temperature and p is the pressure. In most cases we deal with the formation of bubbles on a wall.…”

“…It is significant that the description of such a regime in terms of the classical nucleation theory (CNT) has proved to be more simple and physically defined than the description of the heterogeneous regime. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] The characteristic values of spatial and temporal scales, namely, the critical radius of a bubble (r c ) and the lifetime of a system (τ ) are the key parameters of the description. CNT can predict the limiting values of superheat for a large number of liquids and binary mixtures.…”