Enhancement of critical heat flux under subcooled boiling of deionized water in a curved flow channel

Abstract

Abstract The numerical calculations are performed to predict critical heat flux (CHF) during subcooled boiling of deionized water through 90° curved flow channel with square cross-section. Two types of flow regimes have been observed at low and high flow velocities. In case of low flow velocities, the continuous accumulation of vapors formed a vapor blanket on heating surface which consequently reduced heat dissipation out of the surface and triggered CHF due to drying out of liquid between vapor blanket and heating wall. On the other hand, coolant circulation at higher velocities hindered the formation of vapor blanket and allowed subcooled liquid for rewetting. The consistent rewetting led the formation of small and separate vapor blankets. The enhancement in CHF has been observed with increased degree of subcooling and by increasing flow velocity in present study.