Analysis of quasi-static vapour bubble shape during growth and departure

In an effort to better understand the physical mechanisms responsible for pool boiling heat transfer, a numerical solution to the capillary equation is used to describe bubble shape evolution. Indeed, any analysis of thermal transport due to nucleate pool boiling requires bubble frequency and volume predictions, which are intimately linked to bubble shape. To this end, a numerical treatment of the capillary equation is benchmarked to profiles measured from captured images of vapour bubble formations. The bubble growth is quasi-static in a quiescent liquid with a triple contact line fixed to the perimeter of a needle orifice. This investigation provides insight into the dependence the bubble shape evolution has on the physical mechanisms quantified in the Bond number with characteristic length equal to the cavity radius.