A new model for predicting the critical heat flux based on nucleation site density in downward-face boiling

Abstract

ABSTRACT Due to the important role critical heat flux (CHF) plays in the boiling field, it is of great significance to study CHF, especially the mechanism of CHF in the nucleate boiling. In this study, a new model to predict CHF both in pool boiling and flow boiling of downward-face was proposed and the relationship between CHF and nucleation site density (NSD) was studied. The model was based on the bubble interaction theory, which assumed that CHF happened due to the coalescing of the bubbles generated on the heating surface and prevented liquid to be supplied. The relationship between NSD and CHF was derived from previous observations in the experiments and simulations. To validate the relationship between NSD and CHF, several experiments with CHF and NSD were chosen and they all showed good agreement with our assumptions. Due to the rarity of experimental data on NSD and CHF, the numerical method was also used to validate. The results also showed an inverse relationship between CHF and NSD.