Water, a primary resource for heat transfer, is undergoing dynamic exploration in the pursuit of more energy and cost-efficient cooling solutions. Jonathan Boreyko, associate professor and John R. Jones III Faculty Fellow in mechanical engineering, and his team have delved into phenomena such as leaping water droplets and jumping frost. In their latest work, they explore the third phase of this “trilogy” — jumping bubbles during the boiling of water.
Graduate student Hyunggon Park played a crucial role by designing a micro-structured boiler that releases bubbles at one-tenth the usual size, enhancing the efficiency of heat removal from a surface. The method involves creating a fleet of microscopically small bubbles that continuously depart, ensuring a constant and efficient transfer of heat.
The team’s innovative approach involves fabricating an array of micro-cavities on the boiling surface, encouraging bubbles to form and grow within these cavities. Neighboring bubbles coalesce at unusually small sizes due to the proximity of the cavities, and the strong surface tension causes them to jump away from the surface as they merge.
This breakthrough could have significant implications for cooling and heat transfer applications, offering a more practical and cost-effective solution compared to existing methods that involve hydrophobic coatings and fragile nanostructures. The study lays the groundwork for understanding the fluid mechanics of jumping bubbles and opens the door to exploring their potential for improved heat transfer across various temperatures and surface geometries.