Modelling of Boiling Heat Transfer in a Turbulent Channel Flow

International audienceA numerical study of boiling heat transfer in a turbulent liquid-vapor flow inside a heated channel is carried out for various flow conditions. The model used for the flow simulation is the Volume Of Fluid model (VOF) for liquid-vapor interface tracking coupled with a k−ε low Reynolds model to predict the effect of turbulence. Boiling and condensation phenomena are included in the model based on the general laws of phase change. The obtained results are compared with available experimental measurements in the literature, where the effect of subcooling, channel inclination and flow velocity on the vapor distribution were investigated. The computational predictions of the vapor bubble development along the heated wall are in satisfactory agreement with experimental results