Stability of vapor film in subcooled forced-convection film boiling on a horizontal cylinder (an analysis considering the effect of periodic heat conduction)

A linear stability analysis of vapor film in forced-convection film boiling on a horizontal cylinder is presented that considers the effects of liquid inertia, viscosity and compressibility of vapor, and periodic heat conduction. The theoretical prediction of the critical vaper film thickness compared well with the measured mean vapor film thickness at the minimum-heat-fiux point that was obtained from the rapid quenching experiments of thin horizontal wires in water and ethanol. However, while the theoretical prediction was about 20% higher than the experiment for water, the former was about 15% lower than the latter for ethanol. Discussion was given to the cause of this difference between the water and ethanol results.