An Experimental Study of Falling Liquid Film Breakdown on a Horizontal Cylinder During Heat Transfer

Abstract

In this study, an experimental investigation was conducted with subcooled water film flowing over an electrically heated horizontal cylinder. The combinations of film flow rate and heat flux at which film breakdown occurs (i.e., dry patches appear on the surface) were determined. At the conditions prior to dry patch formation, the heat transfer coefficient was determined as well. The results showed that the heat flux needed to cause a dry patch increases with film flow rate. Also, prior to dry patch formation, the heat transfer coefficient increases with film flow rate. The effects of the tube spacing and the liquid film inlet temperature on the breakdown heat flux and heat transfer coefficient were also studied.