On the Prediction of the Minimum Pool Boiling Heat Flux

A criterion is offered for the collapse of film boiling in a saturated liquid at the minimum heat flux. The criterion says the vapor film collapse occurs when insufficient vapor is generated to sustain the growing wave after it reaches a constant rate of increase of amplitude. This criterion yields an accurate prediction for horizontal flat plates and cylinders. The prediction requires the use of empirical generalizations about the configuration of film boiling, which are also developed here.