A Thermodynamic Nonequilibrium Slug Flow Model
This paper presents a calculation methodology to predict the peaks in heat transfer coefficient at near zero equilibrium quality observed in forced convective boiling in vertical conduits. The occurrence of such peaks is typical of low latent heat, low thermal conductivity systems (such as refrigerants and hydrocarbons), and of systems in which the vapor volume formation rate for a given heat flux is large (low-pressure water). The methodology is based on a model that postulates that the mechanism behind the heat transfer coefficient enhancement is the existence of thermodynamic nonequilibrium slug flow, i.e., a type of slug flow in which rapid bubble growth in subcooled boiling leads to the formation of Taylor bubbles separated by slugs of subcooled liquid. Results are compared with experimental data for forced convective boiling of pure hydrocarbons and show considerable improvement over existing correlations.