Pool boiling heat transfer of tandem tubes provided with the novel microstructures

The paper presents experimental data on pool boiling heat transfer of tandem tubes, arranged one above the other in the same vertical plane. The outer surface of the tubes is provided with the novel microstructures. The structure elements are micropins created by electrolytic deposition of copper upon the tube, using a specially treated polycarbonate foil. By this technique the pins diameter can be varied from 0.1 μm up to 25 μm, the pins height goes up to 100 μm at densities up to 1 × 109 pins/cm2 and pins inclination almost up to 180° regarding the base surface. Micropins with several different inclinations can be created simultaneously on the same surface. ments were conducted with two different microstructures using the refrigerant R134a and the highly wetting Fluorinert liquid FC-3284 at pressures of 5–9 bar and 0.5–1.5 bar, respectively. The advantages of the novel microstructure regarding the boiling heat transfer for tandem tubes turned out to be practically the same as for a single tube arrangement. Microstructured tubes have the superheat independent on the heat flux, they show a very low boiling inception superheats (below 2 K), are highly effective in comparison with a technically smooth tubes, and operate stable over the long periods of time.