Peak heat flux in nucleate boiling heat transfer

Abstract

The use of surface thermocouples in the measurement of boiling heat flux was investigated. Acetone was boiled from a steam heated, polished, horizontal, stainless steel tube. Single wire thermocouples (diameter equal to 0.010 inches) were spot welded at different positions on the tube » Measurements recorded in nucleate and transition boiling showed characteristic differences which were analyzed and are re ported. A point of strong discontinuity in the measured boil ing surface temperature was evident when the thermocouple site went from nucleate into transition boiling. A method of promoting early transition boiling near the thermocouple site was developed. From the information contained in this thermo couple signal the approach to peak heat flux could be pred icted.