An analysis is presented that explains the variation of superheat with subcooling that has been observed by a number of researchers investigating nucleate boiling heat transfer at constant heat flux. It is shown that superheat initially increases with increasing subcooling near saturated conditions because of the way in which changes in active site density and average bubble frequency with increasing subcooling affect the rate of heat removal from the heater surface by enthalpy transport and microlayer evaporation. As subcooling increases further, natural convection begins to play an increasingly important role in the heat transfer process. Ultimately, natural convection is able to accommodate the entire imposed heat flux, after which superheat decreases as subcooling increases. The success of the analysis in explaining the variation of superheat with subcooling suggests that the rate of the heat removal from the heater surface is completely determined by the mechanisms of enthalpy transport, natural convection, and microlayer evaporation.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Papers
Variation of Superheat With Subcooling in Nucleate Pool Boiling
R. L. Judd,
R. L. Judd
Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4L7
Search for other works by this author on:
H. Merte, Jr.,
H. Merte, Jr.
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Search for other works by this author on:
M. E. Ulucakli
M. E. Ulucakli
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042
Search for other works by this author on:
R. L. Judd
Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4L7
H. Merte, Jr.
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
M. E. Ulucakli
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042
J. Heat Transfer. Feb 1991, 113(1): 201-208 (8 pages)
Published Online: February 1, 1991
Article history
Received:
September 3, 1989
Revised:
March 2, 1990
Online:
May 23, 2008
Citation
Judd, R. L., Merte, H., Jr., and Ulucakli, M. E. (February 1, 1991). "Variation of Superheat With Subcooling in Nucleate Pool Boiling." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. February 1991; 113(1): 201–208. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2910525
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Entropic Analysis of the Maximum Output Power of Thermoradiative Cells
J. Heat Mass Transfer
Molecular Dynamics Simulations in Nanoscale Heat Transfer: A Mini Review
J. Heat Mass Transfer
Related Articles
Nucleate Pool Boiling on Ribbed Surfaces With Micro-Roughness at Low and Moderate Heat Flux
J. Heat Transfer (May,1999)
A Comprehensive Model for Nucleate Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Including Microlayer Evaporation
J. Heat Transfer (November,1976)
The Influence of Subcooling on the Frequency of Bubble Emission in Nucleate Boiling
J. Heat Transfer (August,1989)
Nucleate Boiling Heat Transfer of Binary Mixtures at Low to Moderate Heat Fluxes
J. Heat Transfer (May,1999)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Bubble Growth in a Large Superheated Fluid During Nucleate Pool Boiling
Case Studies in Transient Heat Transfer With Sensitivities to Governing Variables
Energy Balance for a Swimming Pool
Electromagnetic Waves and Heat Transfer: Sensitivites to Governing Variables in Everyday Life