Revisiting the Corresponding-States-Based Correlation for Pool Boiling Critical Heat Flux

Abstract

A corresponding-states correlation for predicting the critical heat flux (CHF) in pool boiling conditions is proposed, and only requires knowledge of physical property constants of the fluid at any fluid temperature: molar mass, critical temperature, critical pressure, and the Pitzer acentric factor. If a fourth corresponding equation of state (EoS) parameter is added, a more accurate CHF correlation is obtained and matches Kutateladze–Zuber prediction within ±10% in the reduced temperature range of 0.55–0.95. This way, CHF can be easily predicted for any reduced temperature within the range of correlation’s validity by only knowing basic properties of the fluid. Additionally, two corresponding-states correlations for determining the capillary length are proposed and also do not rely on any temperature- and pressure-dependent fluid properties. A simpler correlation only using the Pitzer acentric factor is shown to be imprecise, and a more complex correlation also accounting for the fourth corresponding EoS parameter is recommended. These correlations are fundamental for further developments, which would allow for accurate prediction of CHF values on functionalized surfaces through further studies on the influence of interactions of fluid properties with other parameters, such as wetting and active nucleation site density.