Numerical simulation of bubble condensation using CF-VOF

•Subcooled boiling is simulated using color function volume of fluid (CF-VOF) method.•Continuous surface force method is considered to calculate the surface tension.•A smoothing filter is applied to improve curvature calculation.•Bubble temperature with local pressure is considered with Clausius–Clapeyron relation.•The shape and life time history of single vapor bubble condensation are estimated.

In present study, subcooled boiling is simulated using color function volume of fluid (CF-VOF) method. For this purpose, energy equation and Tanasawa mass transfer model accompanied with some suitable source terms are implemented in OpenFOAM solver (interFoam). The surface tension between vapor–liquid phases is considered using continuous surface force (CSF) method. In order to reduce spurious current near interface, a smoothing filter is applied to improve curvature calculation. The variation of saturation temperature in vapor bubble with local pressure is considered with Clausius–Clapeyron relation. The numerical model is validated with one-dimensional Stefan problem.The shape and life time history of single vapor bubble condensation are verified with existing experimental data. Computational study shows bubble life time is nearly proportional with bubble size and it is prolonged at bubble swarm motion. The present study reveals some fundamental characteristics of single and multiple vapor bubble condensation and is expected to be instructive for further applications.