Effect of surface orientation on nucleate boiling of FC-72 on porous graphite

Effects of orientations of porous graphite and smooth copper surfaces, measuring 10 mm X 10 mm, on saturation nucleate boiling and critical heat flux (CHF) of FC-72 dielectric liquid and of liquid subcooling (0, 10, 20, and 30 K) on nucleate boiling in the upward facing orientation are investigated. Inclination angles (theta) considered are 0 deg (upward-facing), 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 deg (downward facing). The values of nucleate boiling heat flux, nucleate boiling heat transfer coefficient (NBHTC), and CHF are compared with those measured on the smooth copper surface of the same dimensions and CHF values on both copper and porous graphite are compared with those reported by other investigators on the smooth surfaces and microporous coatings. Results demonstrated higher NBHTC and CHF on porous graphite, particularly in the downward-facing orientation (theta= 180 deg). In the upward-facing orientation, NBHTCs on both surfaces decrease with increased subcooling, but increase with increased surface superheat reaching maxima then decrease with further increase in surface superheat. In saturation boiling on copper and both saturation and subcooled boiling on porous graphite these maxima occur at or near the end of the discrete bubble region, and near CHF in subcooled boiling on copper Maximum saturation NBHTC on porous graphite increases with decreased surface superheat and inclination angle, while that on copper increases with increased surface superheat and decreased surface inclination. At low surface superheats, saturation nucleate boiling heat flux increases with increased inclination, but decreases with increased inclination at high surface superheats, consistent with previously reported data for dielectric and nondielectric liquids. The fractional decreases in saturation CHF with increased theta on smooth copper and microporous coatings are almost identical, but markedly larger than on porous graphite, particularly in the downward-facing orientation. In this orientation, saturation CHF on porous graphite of 16 W/cm(2) is much higher than on copper (4.9 W/cm(2)) and as much as 53% of that in the upward-facing orientation, compared to only similar to 18% on copper.