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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN CD: 1-56700-226-9

ISBN Online: 1-56700-225-0

International Heat Transfer Conference 13
August, 13-18, 2006, Sydney, Australia

A MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION OF BUBBLE NUCLEATION

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC13.p12.420
8 pages

Abstract

Molecular dynamics method is employed to simulate the liquid-vapor nucleation processes. The results show that a liquid-vapor nucleation process undergoes at least three stages, namely, cavity growth, cavity coalescence, and bubble formation. If the size of the simulation domain is limited, the liquid-vapor nucleation process will be confined to cavity stage, and no bubble could be formed. The critical size for a cavity to develop into a bubble is estimated to be 3.4 nanometers for Argon. In addition, with a modified potential identification method, the cavities and bubbles can be successfully identified from the molecular configurations of the simulation.