Pool boiling heat transfer of water on finned surfaces at near vacuum pressures

Mark Aaron Chan, Christopher R. Yap, Kim Choon Ng*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

This research paper presents a study of boiling heat transfer from longitudinal rectangular-finned surfaces immersed in saturated water at low vapor pressures. Finned surfaces with assorted fin spacing, fin thicknesses, and fin heights on a copper based surface have been investigated. All the finned surfaces were found to increase both boiling heat transfer coefficients and critical heat fluxes. An optimal fin thickness was found for a configuration, and heat transfer coefficients have been obtained at the pressures. Factors affecting the boiling characteristics have been identified and the optimal enhancement requires a balance of the active nucleation sites, bubble flow resistance, natural convection, thin film evaporation, liquid superheating, heat transfer area, bubble coalescence, and liquid reflux resistance. High speed visualization of vapor plug and vapor film generation on the boiling surfaces has revealed significant insights into the boiling mechanisms at low saturation pressures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Heat Transfer
Volume132
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Boiling
  • Boiling enhancement
  • Bubble visualization
  • Electronic cooling
  • Extended surfaces
  • Subatmospheric pressure
  • Thermosyphon

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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