Session: K13-02: EVAPORATION AND POOL BOILING FROM ENHANCED SURFACES

Paper Number: 132161

132161 - Numerical Analysis of Vapor Bubble Formation in Sodium Chloride Solution During Pool Boiling 

Abstract: 

This research work aims to analyze the numerical investigation of vapor bubbles under different concentrations of NaCl during pool boiling. Population growth, industrialization, and water contamination are largely responsible for global freshwater scarcity. Cumulative freshwater resources are becoming scarce globally, and it is anticipated that demand for desalination, defined as the production of freshwater by removing dissolved ions from saline feed water, will double in 20 years. Currently, desalination technology requires an 8-20 times greater energy intensity than conventional surface water treatment technology.  Thermal processes use phase change to separate volatile solvents (water) from nonvolatile solutes (salts). Salt concentration acts as a crucial factor in determining the performance of desalination by means of pool boiling. In this study, a 3D model of a vapor bubble is developed using the level-set technique. The complete Navier-Stokes equations have been solved using the SIMPLER algorithm. A single bubble is placed on the heated wall in a rectangular domain and the bubble growth process is studied. A parametric study is conducted by varying the wall superheat and salt concentrations. The liquid properties and the contact angle at the bubble base are adjusted based on the salt concentrations. The effect of salt concentrations on bubble dynamics and wall heat transfer is reported. The results are compared with experimental data. The outcome of the proposed study contributes to the understanding of pool boiling which can be employed for enhancing the overall efficacy of the saline water desalination process.

Presenting Author: Ramneek Singh California State University, Northridge

Presenting Author Biography: Mechanical Engineering graduate student at CSUN. Specialized in thermal modeling, renewable energy, supercritical fluids, exergy, and exeroeconomics. Currently researching the liquid-vapor interface, with a primary focus on numerical and experimental studies for applications in boiling, condensation, combustion, and multiphase flows. Authored 3 publications, including 2 research papers and 1 book chapter.

Authors:

Ramneek Singh California State University, Northridge
Abhijit Mukherjee California State University, Northridge