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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN Print: 0-85295-345-3

International Heat Transfer Conference 10
August, 14-18, 1994, Brighton, UK

A MODEL OF MACROLAYER FORMATION IN POOL BOILING

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC10.4720
pages 147-152

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.