Flow pattern of boiling in micro-channel by numerical simulation

Boiling flows of R-134a and R-22 fluids in a 0.50 mm circular channel have been simulated to analyze bubbly flow, bubbly/slug flow, slug flow and slug/semi-annular flow depending on bubble evolution. The vapor–liquid interface was captured using VOF method. We studied the behavior of bubble growth and coalescence related to flow pattern transitions (bubbly/slug flow to slug flow, slug flow to slug/semi-annular flow) and analyzed the effect of fluid properties on transition lines. Some parameters, including heat flux, mass velocity, ONB point, vapor velocity, bubble lifting diameter, growth rate and generation frequency, have been analyzed in detail. The results show that bubble growth and coalescence are important factors for flow pattern transitions. The flow patterns at the micro-channel outlet predicted by simulation were in agreement with phenomena observed in experiments for bubbly/slug flow, slug flow and slug/semi-annular flow. In addition, the peak bubble frequency at the outlet was predicted and the general shape of the bubble frequency distribution at the outlet from simulation was found to be consistent with the achieved experimental results.