• Boiling
• chf
• critical heat flux
• electric field
• microstructure
• wettability

Phase change is generally the most effective method to transfer heat. When
phase change is present, an interface between the two phases exists. The
dynamics of interfaces is a very important topic for everything concerning
heat transfer.
Since the two phases are characterized by a strong density difference,
gravity is in most cases essential to separate them. When gravity lacks, the
two phases are mixed together and there is no preferential direction where
the less dense phase can go.
The purpose of this work is to prove the feasibility, reproducibility and
reliability in the use of the electric field as a replacement of gravity in
separating the two phases and enhancing heat transfer.
The dissertation will discuss several years of experimental investigations
dealing with droplets and bubbles, with and without transfer of heat,
momentum and mass across the interface, with and without the gravity field,
with and without the electric field.
Finally, the used tools, literature and new models implemented to derive all
forces acting on the interfaces will be discussed in order to complete the
analysis from an experimental and theoretical point of view.