Variations of nanoparticle layer properties during nucleate pool boiling

The nanoparticle layer detachment during nucleate pool boiling and its influences on heat transfer surface properties were explored experimentally. The material of the heat transfer surface was copper and the nanoparticle layer was formed on the heat transfer surface by nucleate boiling in the water-based TiO2 nanofluid. It was found that the detachment of the nanoparticle layer during nucleate boiling in pure water is significant. In the present experiment, more than half of nanoparticles deposited on the heated surface were detached before the CHF condition was reached. The thickness and roughness decreased accordingly. However, the wettability and wickability that are the influential parameters on the CHF value were maintained even after the occurrence of nanoparticle layer detachment and deteriorated only after the CHF condition was reached. It is therefore considered that the onset of CHF brings qualitative change to the capillary suction performance of the layer of nanoparticles. In exploring the effect of the nanoparticle layer properties on the nucleate boiling heat transfer, sufficient attention should be paid to the variation of the nanoparticle layer properties during nucleate boiling.