Gravity Scaling Parameter for Pool Boiling Heat Transfer

Abstract

Although the effects of microgravity, earth gravity, and hypergravity (>1.5 g) on pool boiling heat flux have been studied previously, pool boiling heat flux data over a continuous range of gravity levels (0–1.7 g) was unavailable until recently. The current work uses the results of a variable gravity, subcooled pool boiling experiment to develop a gravity scaling parameter for n-perfluorohexane/FC-72 in the buoyancy-dominated boiling regime (Lh/Lc>2.1). The heat flux prediction was then validated using heat flux data at different subcoolings and dissolved gas concentrations. The scaling parameter can be used as a tool to predict boiling heat flux at any gravity level in the buoyancy dominated regime if the data under similar experimental conditions are available at any other gravity level.