A Fractal Study for the Subcooled Pool Boiling Heat Transfer

Abstract

A fractal model for the subcooled pool boiling heat transfer is proposed. The analytical expressions for the subcooled pool boiling heat transfer are derived based on the fractal distribution of nucleation sites on boiling surfaces. The proposed fractal model for the subcooled nucleate pool boiling heat transfer is found to be a function of wall superheat, liquid subcooling, fractal dimension, the minimum and maximum active cavity size, the contact angle and physical properties of fluid. The model predictions are compared with the existing experimental data, and fair agreement between the model predictions and experimental data is found for different liquid subcoolings.