Experimental Investigations on Pool Boiling CHF of Nano-Fluids

Pool boiling critical heat flux (CHF) of nanofluids with oxide nanoparticles of TiO2 or Al2O3 was experimentally investigated under atmospheric pressure. The results showed that a dispersion of oxide nanoparticles significantly enhances the CHF over that of pure water. Moreover it was found that nanoparticles were seriously deposited on the heater surface during pool boiling of nanofluids. CHF of pure water on a nanoparticle-deposited surface, which is produced during the boiling of nanofluids, was not less than that of nanofluids. The result reveals that the CHF enhancement of nanofluids is absolutely attributed to modification of the heater surface by the nanoparticle deposition. Then, the nanoparticle-deposited surface was characterized with parameters closely related to pool boiling CHF, such as surface roughness, contact angle, and capillary wicking. Finally, reason of the CHF enhancement of nanofluids is discussed based on the changes of the parameters.