Thermo-hydrodynamics of a condensing Taylor bubble in a vertical tube filled with subcooled liquid

Taylor bubbles are often present in steam generation systems and heat transfer applications. The present study examines the interfacial behavior during condensation of a Taylor bubble in a quiescent subcooled water tube. The effect of Jacob number and Eotvos number on the shape and lifetime of the bubble, drag coefficient, and heat flux is studied by employing the volume of fluid method. During its spatiotemporal evolution, the bubble shape has transformed from a bullet nose to a wobbling bubble regime, and the lifetime of the Taylor bubble decreased with an increase in Jacob number and Eotvos number. The time-averaged heat flux from the bubble interface has increased with the Jacob and Eotvos numbers. Furthermore, the effect of converging and diverging tubes on the bubble dynamics is investigated. The use of diverging tubes is beneficial for faster condensation of Taylor bubbles.