Paper 17: Inception of Nucleate Boiling of Water at Pressures above Atmospheric: Characteristics of a Horizontal Surface Bearing a Normal Distribution of Cavities

Abstract

It is known that the onset of nucleate boiling at a solid surface is related to the dimensions of cavities on the surface. In this paper it is proposed that a commercial surface be characterized by a normal distribution of cavity sizes, and on this basis a theory is developed for the prediction of heat transfer characteristics in the weak nucleate boiling regime. The theory is developed simultaneously with the presentation of the results of experiments carried out on pool boiling of water from a heating surface bearing cavities of equivalent radii from 50 to 550 μin. Discrepancies between experiment and theory are discussed.

Experimental data on the influence of pressure (range, atmospheric to 750 lb/in² (abs.)) and subcooling (range 0–12 degF) on the overall heat transfer rates are also presented.

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