Abstract

The numerical simulation of the growth of a vapor bubble in inhomogeneously heated liquid is performed; the influence of the temperature inhomogeneity on the bubble dynamics is investigated. The calculations are compared with experimental data for a vapor bubble growing on a cylindrical heater. At high overheating, the results of the calculations are in satisfactory agreement with experimental data for the initial stage of growth of the vapor bubble. In the presence of evaporation fronts, the measured bubble radius values exceed the calculated values. This excess can be explained by the inflow of vapor to the bubble from the evaporation front.