Transition Boiling Models in Heat Exchangers

Models are presented for the inclusion of transition boiling heat transfer in the thermal analysis of liquid-heated boiling water heat exchangers. A relation was developed from experimental data for the prediction of the quality change in the transition boiling region. This quality relation was used alone and in conjunction with a transition boiling heat transfer coefficient to formulate two successful models. Predictions of heat exchanger heat transfer, including the transition boiling models, were compared with experimental results for high-pressure water in the range 7–15.3 MPa over a mass flux of 0.7–3.2 Mg/m²s.