Boiling on a Straight Pin Fin

Abstract

In this study, Multimode boiling on a straight pin is theoretically investigated. Axial steady-state temperature distributions along the fin are numerically evaluated, as well as their linear stability characteristics. When film and transition boiling coexist on the fin surface, or only the transition boiling covers the entire fin, the operation remains stable only if the fin length is less than some critical value. When transition and nucleate boiling coexist on a fin, or the fin is in the three-mode boiling (film + transition + nucleate boiling), the entry of nucleate boiling at the fin tip stabilizes the boiling process. This study on base heat flow and fin efficiency with the stability criteria also suggests a new fin design methodology.