Approximate Solution to the Spray Heat Transfer Problem at High Surface Temperatures and Liquid Mass Fluxes

A basic energy balance that includes phase change has been used to describe the boiling heat transfer process. By using the differential form of this energy balance, the relative change in the heat transfer coefficient can be determined when the surface and coolant temperature change. This represents a general solution to the boiling heat transfer problem under high flux conditions where fully mixed thermal boundary layer exists, although the solution procedure is approximate. The results agree quite well with experimental data. Further work remains to prescribe the heat transfer process near the critical heat flux and Leidenfrost point. This approach vastly reduces the empiricism and data required for boiling heat transfer processes, and also existing data can be used to generalize to a wide range of conditions.