Numerical Simulation of Pool Boiling on a Grooved Horizontal Surface

Boiling is used in processes with high heat transfer rate given the large amount of heat flux involved in the phenomenon. Devising a groove on the surface can improve the bubble formation and increase the heat transfer of the boiling. Accordingly, the pool boiling phenomenon on a horizontal surface is numerically simulated using the Eulerian-Eulerian method in this study. Four surfaces: smooth, with rectangular groove, with triangular groove, and with circular groove are examined to this end. Numerical simulation results are compared with available experimental data. The results indicate that the surfaces with rectangular and circular grooves render approximately 50 and 90% more heat flux than the smooth surface, respectively. However, the surface with a triangular groove rendered approximately 37% less heat flux than the smooth surface.