Vapor bubbles departure frequency at ferrofluid boiling on a single nucleation site in a uniform horizontal magnetic field

Abstract

The departure frequency of vapor bubbles at boiling of ferrofluid in a uniform stationary horizontal magnetic field is studied experimentally. The formation of bubbles occurs on a single nucleation site. Two different methods are used to measure the frequency of vapor bubble departure. One is visual and consists in observing bubbles emerging in a two-layer ferrofluid-non-magnetic fluid medium. The other method is inductive and is based on the generation of induction current in the coil turns through which the vapor bubbles move. It is found that the frequency of vapor bubble departure can decrease several times with increasing magnetic field strength, and the frequency will increase with increasing temperature of the heat-emitting surface. An analysis of the influence of the magnetic field on the frequency of vapor bubble formation during ferrofluid boiling based on a linear stability analysis of the liquid–vapor boundary is presented.