Effect of Surfactant on Boiling Heat Transfer - From a Bubble Dynamic Perspective

Song Ni; Sina Li; Chung Ki Cheng; Jiyun Zhao

doi:10.1007/978-981-95-3241-4_10

Effect of Surfactant on Boiling Heat Transfer - From a Bubble Dynamic Perspective

Song Ni^*
, Sina Li
, Chung Ki Cheng
, Jiyun Zhao

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Abstract

Surfactants exist widely in natural water such as sea water and river water, which may be used as cooling water source for nuclear power plants. Although its concentration is much lower than other impurities, it has a significant effect on boiling heat transfer. A small amount of surfactant can greatly enhance the heat transfer coefficient but its mechanism is not fully understood. Moreover, there is great disagreement in the research community about its effect on the boiling critical heat flux. In this study, we carried out a series of visual pool and flow boiling experiment to study the mechanism of surfactant action on boiling heat transfer through bubble dynamic behaviors. It was found that the change in boiling performance was mainly due to the non-coalescence of growing bubbles on the wall, rather than the surface tension changes of the solution which was seen as the main reason in the past. The conclusion of this study is instructive for the research on the use of natural water as cooling water for nuclear power plants.

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026 S. Tan et al. (eds.),

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering
Subtitle of host publication	Thermal-Hydraulics and related Safety Analysis I
Editors	Sichao Tan, Weiqiang Wu, Yanyan Zhu
Publisher	Springer Singapore
Pages	123-137
Number of pages	15
Volume	9
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-981-95-3241-4
ISBN (Print)	978-981-95-3240-7, 978-981-95-3243-8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-3241-4_10
Publication status	Published - Jun 2025
Event	32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2025) - Weihai, China Duration: 22 Jun 2025 → 26 Jun 2025 https://event.asme.org/ICONE http://icone32.ns.org.cn/index/www/index/ids/1?lang=en

Publication series

Name	Springer Proceedings in Physics
Publisher	Springer Singapore
ISSN (Print)	0930-8989
ISSN (Electronic)	1867-4941

Conference

Conference	32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2025)
Abbreviated title	ICONE 32
Place	China
City	Weihai
Period	22/06/25 → 26/06/25
Internet address	https://event.asme.org/ICONE http://icone32.ns.org.cn/index/www/index/ids/1?lang=en

Research Keywords

Boiling
Surfactant
Bubble dynamics
Heat transfer enhancement
Critical heat flux
Mechanism

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10.1007/978-981-95-3241-4_10

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Ni, S., Li, S., Cheng, C. K., & Zhao, J. (2025). Effect of Surfactant on Boiling Heat Transfer - From a Bubble Dynamic Perspective. In S. Tan, W. Wu, & Y. Zhu (Eds.), Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering: Thermal-Hydraulics and related Safety Analysis I (1 ed., Vol. 9, pp. 123-137). (Springer Proceedings in Physics). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-3241-4_10

Ni, Song ; Li, Sina ; Cheng, Chung Ki et al. / Effect of Surfactant on Boiling Heat Transfer - From a Bubble Dynamic Perspective. Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering: Thermal-Hydraulics and related Safety Analysis I. editor / Sichao Tan ; Weiqiang Wu ; Yanyan Zhu. Vol. 9 1. ed. Springer Singapore, 2025. pp. 123-137 (Springer Proceedings in Physics).

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abstract = "Surfactants exist widely in natural water such as sea water and river water, which may be used as cooling water source for nuclear power plants. Although its concentration is much lower than other impurities, it has a significant effect on boiling heat transfer. A small amount of surfactant can greatly enhance the heat transfer coefficient but its mechanism is not fully understood. Moreover, there is great disagreement in the research community about its effect on the boiling critical heat flux. In this study, we carried out a series of visual pool and flow boiling experiment to study the mechanism of surfactant action on boiling heat transfer through bubble dynamic behaviors. It was found that the change in boiling performance was mainly due to the non-coalescence of growing bubbles on the wall, rather than the surface tension changes of the solution which was seen as the main reason in the past. The conclusion of this study is instructive for the research on the use of natural water as cooling water for nuclear power plants. {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026 S. Tan et al. (eds.),",

keywords = "Boiling, Surfactant, Bubble dynamics, Heat transfer enhancement, Critical heat flux, Mechanism",

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booktitle = "Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering",

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note = "32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2025), ICONE 32 ; Conference date: 22-06-2025 Through 26-06-2025",

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Ni, S , Li, S , Cheng, CK & Zhao, J 2025, Effect of Surfactant on Boiling Heat Transfer - From a Bubble Dynamic Perspective. in S Tan, W Wu & Y Zhu (eds), Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering: Thermal-Hydraulics and related Safety Analysis I. 1 edn, vol. 9, Springer Proceedings in Physics, Springer Singapore, pp. 123-137, 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2025), Weihai, China, 22/06/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-3241-4_10

Effect of Surfactant on Boiling Heat Transfer - From a Bubble Dynamic Perspective. / Ni, Song ; Li, Sina ; Cheng, Chung Ki et al.
Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering: Thermal-Hydraulics and related Safety Analysis I. ed. / Sichao Tan; Weiqiang Wu; Yanyan Zhu. Vol. 9 1. ed. Springer Singapore, 2025. p. 123-137 (Springer Proceedings in Physics).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Effect of Surfactant on Boiling Heat Transfer - From a Bubble Dynamic Perspective

AU - Ni, Song

AU - Li, Sina

AU - Cheng, Chung Ki

AU - Zhao, Jiyun

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - Surfactants exist widely in natural water such as sea water and river water, which may be used as cooling water source for nuclear power plants. Although its concentration is much lower than other impurities, it has a significant effect on boiling heat transfer. A small amount of surfactant can greatly enhance the heat transfer coefficient but its mechanism is not fully understood. Moreover, there is great disagreement in the research community about its effect on the boiling critical heat flux. In this study, we carried out a series of visual pool and flow boiling experiment to study the mechanism of surfactant action on boiling heat transfer through bubble dynamic behaviors. It was found that the change in boiling performance was mainly due to the non-coalescence of growing bubbles on the wall, rather than the surface tension changes of the solution which was seen as the main reason in the past. The conclusion of this study is instructive for the research on the use of natural water as cooling water for nuclear power plants. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026 S. Tan et al. (eds.),

AB - Surfactants exist widely in natural water such as sea water and river water, which may be used as cooling water source for nuclear power plants. Although its concentration is much lower than other impurities, it has a significant effect on boiling heat transfer. A small amount of surfactant can greatly enhance the heat transfer coefficient but its mechanism is not fully understood. Moreover, there is great disagreement in the research community about its effect on the boiling critical heat flux. In this study, we carried out a series of visual pool and flow boiling experiment to study the mechanism of surfactant action on boiling heat transfer through bubble dynamic behaviors. It was found that the change in boiling performance was mainly due to the non-coalescence of growing bubbles on the wall, rather than the surface tension changes of the solution which was seen as the main reason in the past. The conclusion of this study is instructive for the research on the use of natural water as cooling water for nuclear power plants. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026 S. Tan et al. (eds.),

KW - Boiling

KW - Surfactant

KW - Bubble dynamics

KW - Heat transfer enhancement

KW - Critical heat flux

KW - Mechanism

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U2 - 10.1007/978-981-95-3241-4_10

DO - 10.1007/978-981-95-3241-4_10

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 978-981-95-3240-7

SN - 978-981-95-3243-8

VL - 9

T3 - Springer Proceedings in Physics

SP - 123

EP - 137

BT - Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering

A2 - Tan, Sichao

A2 - Wu, Weiqiang

A2 - Zhu, Yanyan

PB - Springer Singapore

T2 - 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 2025)

Y2 - 22 June 2025 through 26 June 2025

ER -

Ni S , Li S , Cheng CK , Zhao J. Effect of Surfactant on Boiling Heat Transfer - From a Bubble Dynamic Perspective. In Tan S, Wu W, Zhu Y, editors, Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering: Thermal-Hydraulics and related Safety Analysis I. 1 ed. Vol. 9. Springer Singapore. 2025. p. 123-137. (Springer Proceedings in Physics). doi: 10.1007/978-981-95-3241-4_10

Effect of Surfactant on Boiling Heat Transfer - From a Bubble Dynamic Perspective

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