Thermohydrodynamic conditions at the peak flux of horizontal heaters in superfluid liquid helium II at zero net mass flow

Abstract

Measurements of the peak flux (at the onset of film boiling) in He II are used as a diagnostic tool to investigate the non-classical thermohydrodynamics of superfluid liquid helium for horizontal heaters at zero net mass flow. Data for the single horizontal cylinder in a large pool of He II are approximately accounted for by a power law describing the dimensionless nonclassical superfluid transport number as a function of the fourth root of the dimensionless thermo-mechanical driving potential. Results for transport in narrow vertical cylinders (with insulated walls and lower end closed) are approximately described on the basis of the Gorter-Mellink transport equations. The saturation hypothesis is used which postulates local onset of boiling when vapor-liquid equilibrium is reached at the heater.