The effect of the microscopic liquid film interface on the heat transfer in multiphase dynamics

Microlayer plays a critical role in the bubble dynamics and heat transfer in nucleate boiling. Yet, an accurate description of the microlayer has been a challenge for decades. In this work, we investigate the microlayer profile in the inertia-controlled bubble growth stage by using molecular simulations and mathematical modeling. A multiscale microlayer model was established through the disjoining pressure method and lubrication theory. Our model succeeds in accurately describing the microlayer profile captured by different experiments for the first time in decades. We reveal that the nonlinear coupling between microscopic liquid/vapor interface geometry and surface energy near the surface has a dominant effect on the overall microlayer profile. An interface nano-bending caused by the coupling acts as a three-dimensional boundary for the liquid wetting system and governs the wetting behavior. These findings provide insight into the understanding of heat transfer in nucleate boiling.