Bubble formation and heat transfer under 1-g and g conditions

Changes concerning the behavior of the considered system in the case of a transition from terrestrial to microgravitational conditions are to be expected for processes involving the formation of a vapor bubble and also for the transfer of heat from a heating surface to a fluid. The occurring changes can be estimated with the aid of equations describing the systems. Experimental results obtained during a TEXUS flight, providing conditions with a g-level of 0.4, can partly be also utilized for the evaluation. Aspects of bubble formation are considered, taking into account relations governing nucleation, the factors which determine bubble growth, and the mathematical expressions for an evaluation of the process leading to the separation of the bubbles from the heating surface. A description is presented of an experiment for studying the transfer of heat from a heating surface to a liquid under conditions of free convection.