Bubble leaping and slipping during subcooled boiling on thin wires

An experimental investigation was conducted to observe periodic bubble leaping and slipping during subcooled boiling of water on horizontal wires, and associated analyses were made to describe and understand these phenomena. In experiments, bubbles were observed leaping, slipping and leaping during slipping on the wires. The bubble leaping and slipping had four main stages in one period, leaping away, slipping, returning and growing up on the wires. During leaping, a bubble had a significant volume variation. It grew up on the wire, while it reduced its volume after it departed from the wire. The experimental and theoretical evidences indicated that the interfacial thermocapillary force played an important role during the bubble leaping, and the bubble volume variation was other important factor for the leaping oscillation. The experimental results also indicated that the heat transport performance were enhanced by the periodic bubble volume variation and associated bubble leaping and slipping phenomena.