On the prediction of explosive boiling characteristics in superheated liquid during non-equilibrium heating: Continuum modeling vs. atomistic-continuum modeling

With the recent advancement in the field of micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS), where actuation is used, researchers are in pursuit of using the energy released by explosive boiling phenomenon. Though many experimental works have been conducted on this phenomenon in the past, there have been very few theoretical works based on equilibrium nucleation theory that are unable to predict the time at which explosive boiling will occur when liquid is subjected to non-uniform transient heating. Recently two theoretical models based on two different approaches have been reported for transient non-equilibrium heating of liquid. One of the models is based on continuum assumption in which macroscopic properties of liquid together with heating condition govern the explosive boiling characteristics. The other model considers long range inter molecular forces between liquid and solid heater surface in addition to the continuum assumptions and therefore might be considered as atomistic-continuum model. In the presen...