DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS PUT FORWARD BY S. S. KUTATELADZE CONCERNING THE PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIPS GOVERNING THE INITIAL BOILING AND CONDENSATION STAGES

Abstract

The theoretical and experimental studies of heat transfer in boiling and condensation performed by Prof. S. S. Kutateladze are of seminal significance in the development of many aspects of the theory of heat transfer in the course of phase transitions and for their practical application in designing heat transfer equipment [4, 5]. The most important aspects in the development of heat transfer theory are those related to the role of the initial stage of the boiling and condensation mechanism, developing of a model of the inception of vapor bubble nuclei [ 6-9] and also those associated with heat transfer in boiling of liquid metals and prospects for the use of new coolants [ 10-12]. The question of enhancement of heat transfer in boiling and condensation, which was developed on the basis of seminal theoretical work of Kutateladze is of great importance in designing of modern, high-rate heat exchangers with phase transitions for nuclear energetics, chemical machinery and vehicular engines. The most recent studies point to the feasibility of highly increasing the boiling heat transfer by employing heating surfaces with special manufactured macro- and micro-structures [ 13-15]. The determination of permissible limits of implementation of boiling heat transfer and optimization of the structure of heating surfaces, which have been solved in a manner fully applicable at the design stage are of great importance for new technologies which employ small heat exchangers operating at high heat flux densities [ 16, 17].