• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1271-1287
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• 2004

In this article, vapor bubble nucleation in liquid and the evaporation process of a liquid droplet at its superheat limit were discussed from the viewpoint of molecular clustering (molecular cluster model for bubble nucleation). For the vapor bubble formation, the energy barrier against bubble nucleation was estimated by the molecular interaction due to the London dispersion force. Bubble nucleation by quantum tunneling in liquid helium under negative pressure near the absolute zero temperature and bubble nucleation on cavity free micro heaters were also presented as the homogenous nucleation processes.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.1464-1469
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• 2004

In this study, micro square heaters having dimensions of $65{\times}65{\mu}m^2$and $100{\times}100{\mu}m^2$ were fabricated and bubble nucleation experiments on the heaters were performed. Bubble nucleation temperature was also measured using a bridge circuit and the photographs of bubble nucleation and subsequent growth were taken by a camera with a flash unit. Measured bubble nucleation temperatures were found to be closer to the superheat limit of working fluid (FC-72). Also quasi-1D analyses for the square heaters were performed. The quasi-1D analysis yielded proper temperature distribution of the square heater at steady state, however failed to predict the temperature rise up to the steady state. Similar time dependent temperature can be obtained with proper value of thermal diffusivity. For the $100{\times}100{\mu}m^2$ square heater, nucleation of several bubbles was observed while only one bubble was observed to be nucleated on $65{\times}65{\mu}m^2$ heater.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2004

The molecular cluster model for the homogeneous bubble nucleation rather than the classical nucleation theory was extended to predict the bubble nucleation events in elastomers(cross-linked polymers), polymers and polymer which are dissolved in the organic solvent. The classical theory assumes the formation of the critical bubble while the molecular cluster model assumes the critical cluster as for the initiation of the bubble nucleation. For the bubble nucleation in elastomers and polymers, the strain energy overcome by a critical bubble was also considered. The calculation results for the number of bubbles nucleated in elastormers and polymer solutions, which are about 10$\^$8/∼10$\^$12/ bubbles/㎤ are in good agreement with observed ones.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.1228-1233
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• 2003

The molecular cluster model for the homogeneous bubble nucleation was extended to predict the bubble nucleation events in elastomers, polymers and polymer solutions. For the bubble nucleation in elastomers and polymers, the strain energy overcome by a critical bubble was also considered. The calculation results for the number of bubbles nucleated are in good agreement with observed ones.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.618-624
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• 1989

Ultrasonically induced bubble formation in thermoplastic matrix was investigated experimentally and theoretically. polystyrene was saturated with nitrogen under the pressure of 0.2 to 3.45 MPa in a pressure chamber, followed by pressure release and ultrasonic bubble nucleation. Zinc stearate was added to polystyrene as the nucleating agent to induce heterogeneous nucleation. Various mixture of low density polyethylene and polyethylene wax was also saturated with the gas. The foamed specimens with or without ultrasonically induced bubble nucleation was modeled by modifying the classical nucleation theory. The rate of ultrasonic nucleation was predicted for homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation at a conical cavity. This study showed that the heterogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation at a conical cavity. This study showed that the heterogeneous nucleation must be employed for ultrasonic production of bubbles in a viscous fluid and the homogeneous nucleation for ultrasonic production of bubbles in a low viscosity fluid.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.06d
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• pp.354-359
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• 2001

As the temperature of liquid under negative pressure approaches the absolute zero, the nucleation process due to thermal fluctuations hardly occurs. Instead of this mechanism, quantum fluctuations may lead the formation of nucleus for new phase in metastable state. In this study, the thermal as well as quantum nucleation bubble in liquid helium under negative pressure was investigated theoretically. The energy barrier against nucleation was estimated by molecular interaction due to the Londom dispersion force. It is shown that the phase transition from liquid to vapor in is possible due to the quantum tunneling below 0.2 K for Helium-4 and 0.1 K for Helium-3, at negative pressures close to the ideal tensile strength at which every liquid molecules become bubbles simultaneously.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.216-227
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• 2004

A new cavitating model by using bubble size distribution based on bubbles-mass has been proposed. Both liquid and vapor phases are treated with Eulerian framework as a mixture containing minute cavitating bubbles. In addition vapor phase consists of various sizes of vapor bubbles, which are distributed to classes based on their mass. The bubble number-density for each class was solved by considering the change of the bubble-mass due to phase change as well as generation of new bubbles due to heterogeneous nucleation. In this method, the bubble-mass is treated as an independent variable, and the other dependent variables are solved in spatial coordinates and bubble-mass coordinate. Firstly, we employed this method to calculate bubble nucleation and growth in stationary super-heated liquid nitrogen, and bubble collapse in stationary sub-cooled one. In the case of bubble growth in super-heated liquid, bubble number-density of the smallest class based on its mass is increased due to the nucleation. These new bubbles grow with time, and the bubbles shift to larger class. Therefore void fraction of each class is increased due to the growth in the whole class. On the other hand, in the case of bubble collapse in sub-cooled liquid, the existing bubbles are contracted, and then they shift to smaller class. It finally becomes extinct at the smallest one. Secondly, the present method is applied to a cavitating flow around NACA00l5 foil. Liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen are employed as working fluids. Cavitation number, $\sigma$, is fixed at 0.15, inlet velocities are changed at 5, 10, 20 and 50m/s. Inlet temperatures are 90K in case of liquid nitrogen, and 90K and 1l0K in case of liquid oxygen. 110K of oxygen is corresponding to the 90K of nitrogen because of the same relative temperature to the critical one, $T_{r}$=$T/T_c^{+}$. Cavitating flow around the NACA0015 foils was properly analyzed by using bubble size distribution. Finally, the method is applied to a cavitating flow in an inducer of the LE-7A hydrogen turbo-pump. This inducer has 3 spiral foils. However, for simplicity, 2D calculation was carried out in an unrolled channel at 0.9R cross-section. The channel moves against the fluid at a peripheral velocity corresponding to the inducer revolutions. Total inlet pressure, $Pt_{in}$, is set at l00KPa, because cavitation is not generated at a design point, $Pt_{in}$=260KPa. The bubbles occur upstream of the foils and collapse between them. Cavitating flow in the inducer was successfully predicted by using the bubble size distribution.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1996.05b
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• pp.241-246
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• 1996

An analytical model to calculate rate of vapor generation due to heterogeneous wall nucleation in flashing flow is developed. In the present model, an important parameter of the vapor generation term, i.e. nucleation site density is calculated by integrating its probability distribution function with respect to active cavity radius. The limits of integration are minimum and maximum active cavity radii, and these are formulated using an active cavity model for nucleate boiling. This formulation, therefore. can statistically account for the effect of surface specific thermo-physical and geometric conditions on the vapor generation rate and flashing inception. For verifying the adequacy of the present model, steady state two-fluid and the bubble transport equations are solved with applicable constitutive equations. The applicable region of the bubble transport equation is also extended to churn-turbulent flow regime to predict interfacial area concentration at high void fraction. Predicted results in terms of axial pressure and void fraction profiles along the channels are compared with experimental data of Super Moby Dick and BNL Reasonable agreements have been achieved and this shows the applicability of the present model to flashing flow analysis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.1068-1078
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• 2018

Experiments were performed to investigate bubble behaviors and pool boiling Critical Heat Flux (CHF) on a thin flat rectangular copper heater fabricated on Printed Circuit Board (PCB), at various inclination angles. The surface inclination angles were $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $135^{\circ}$, and $180^{\circ}$. Results showed the Onset of Nucleate Boiling (ONB) heat flux increased with increasing heater orientation from $0^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$, while early ONB occurred when the heater faced downwards ($135^{\circ}$ and $180^{\circ}$). The nucleate boiling was observed to be unstable at low heat flux (1-21% of CHF) and changed into typical boiling when the heat flux was above 21% of CHF. The result shows the CHF decreased with increasing heater orientation from $0^{\circ}$ to $180^{\circ}$. In addition, the bubble departure diameter at the heater facing upwards ($0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$) was more prominent compared to that of the heater facing downward ($135^{\circ}$). The nucleation site density also observed increased with increasing heat flux. Moreover, the departed bubbles with larger size were observed to require a longer time to re-heat and activate new nucleation sites. These results proved that the ONB, CHF, and bubble dynamics were strongly dependent on the heater surface orientation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2006

Boiling and flashing are driven by the same physics for nucleation, bubble growth, departure etc. An adequate model of boiling has to describe the flashing too. The subject of this paper is to prove this uniqueness of the elementary physics driving the both processes.