Universality of oscillating boiling in Leidenfrost transition

TL;DR

This paper introduces the phenomenon of oscillating boiling at the Leidenfrost transition, demonstrating its role in predicting boiling crisis and validating the theory through experiments with different liquids.

Contribution

It reveals a new oscillating boiling phenomenon linked to the Leidenfrost transition and provides a theoretical prediction method validated by experiments.

Findings

Oscillating boiling occurs at the Leidenfrost transition.

The phenomenon results from competition between boiling separation and rewetting.

Theoretical predictions match experimental results across various liquids.

Abstract

The Leidenfrost transition leads a boiling system to the boiling crisis, a state in which the liquid loses contact with the heated surface due to excessive vapor generation. Here, using experiments of liquid droplets boiling on a heated surface, we report a new phenomenon, termed oscillating boiling, at the Leidenfrost transition. We show that oscillating boiling results from the competition between two effects: separation of liquid from the heated surface due to localized boiling, and rewetting. We argue theoretically that the Leidenfrost transition can be predicted based on its link with the oscillating boiling phenomenon, and verify the prediction experimentally for various liquids.