Post-dryout heat transfer: Physical mechanisms and a survey of prediction methods

Abstract

Abstract Significant thermal non-equilibrium has been observed in the post-dryout regime. The degree of thermal non-equilibrium depends primarily on liquid-vapor interaction, and the heated surface temperature is controlled by the near-wall vapor velocity, vapor superheat and liquid-wall interaction. The possible mechanisms of post-dryout heat transfer and the state of the art for predicting post-dryout temperatures are described. The semi-theoretical approach is the most promising for simple geometries. Four empirical methods of predicting post-dryout temperatures are discussed. A bibliography and a table of all known post-dryout heat transfer correlations are presented.