Direct numerical simulation of nucleate pool boiling at large microscopic contact angle and moderate Jakob number

In this paper, we present Direct Numerical Simulations of Nucleate Boiling on a single site in configurations involving both a large microscopic contact angle, a moderate Jakob number (less than 50) and a high density ratio between the two phases. A detailed study on the validation of the numerical simulations is presented. Several issues about the numerical modelling of the contact line are addressed in order to define a global strategy to perform accurate and predictive simulations. Benchmarks from pioneering studies (Son et al., 1999) have been reproduced with more recent numerical methods and thinner grids in order to define the most relevant strategy for successful simulations. In particular, the grid sensitivity of the solution is thoroughly investigated by performing simulations with four successive grids. The numerical results are compared favorably with experimental data, since the discrepancy between the numerical solutions and the experimental data is always less than 10% whether the departure diameter or the departure frequency are considered. The influence on the numerical solution of the thermal conduction in the solid heater is also assessed and we report that this parameter has no influence in the configurations of thick and highly conductive materials that have been considered in this study. We also present clarifications about the requirement of a specific modelling in the contact line region in order to account for a possible impact of the micro-region. Finally, based on the results of this analysis of our numerical simulations, we formulate the following unusual conclusion: the implementation of a micro-region model and an additional coupling between the overall solver and such a model is not required to perform well-resolved and accurate numerical simulations in the case of high density ratio, high microscopic contact angle (up to 30°) and moderate Jakob number. Next, we present some comparisons on the bubble shape evolution between the numerical simulations and a static force balance model, in order to investigate the mechanisms leading to the bubble detachment. Finally, we conclude this paper by presenting a parametric study, by varying the Jakob number, in order to propose a new correlation on the bubble detachment radius depending on the latter dimensionless number.