ISSN Online: 2377-424X
ISBN Print: 0-85295-345-3
International Heat Transfer Conference 10
A MODEL OF MACROLAYER FORMATION IN POOL BOILING
Abstract
Macrolayer plays an important role in determining heat
transfer in nucleate and transition boiling at high heat flux.
In the present experiment, with an aim of making clear the
mechanism of macrolayer formation, a heated copper surface
was immersed in a pool of saturated water and the
formation of a vapor mass was observed in detail using high
speed photography. The result of observation indicates that
macrolayer is formed by the lateral coalescence of primary
bubbles in the vapor mass formation process. Basing on the
result, a model of macrolayer formation is presented. This
model predicts well the macrolayer thickness and also
explains well the dependence of critical heat flux on surface
wettability.