The effect of adding one of three salts (NaCl, Na2SO4 or MgSO4) to water sprayed on a hot surface was studied experimentally. A copper test surface was heated to 240°C and quenched with a water spray. The variation of surface temperature during cooling was recorded, and the surface heat flux calculated from these measurements. Surface heat flux during cooling with pure water sprays was compared with that obtained using salt solutions. Dissolved NaCl or Na2SO4 increased nucleate boiling heat transfer, but had little effect on transition boiling during spray cooling. MgSO4 increased both nucleate and transition boiling heat flux. Enhanced nucleate boiling was attributed to foaming in the liquid film generated by the dissolved salts. MgSO4 produced the largest increase in nucleate boiling heat transfer, Na2SO4 somewhat less and NaCl the least. A concentration of 0.2 mol/l of MgSO4 produced the greatest heat flux enhancement; higher salt concentrations did not result in further improvements. During transition boiling particles of MgSO4 adhered to the heated surface, raising surface roughness and increasing heat transfer. Addition of MgSO4 reduced the time required to cool a hot surface from 240°C to 120°C by an order of magnitude.
