Self-induced thermocapillary convection in film boiling heat transfer from a vertical surface in saturated conditions and viscous regimen

Self-induced thermocapillary convection and its significance with regard to film boiling heat transfer from a vertical saturated surface is discussed. Utilizing a simplified geometrical model, an analytical expression (multiplier factor) for the vapor film thickness and heat transfer coefficient corrected by thermocapillary phenomena was derived. The above equation is a new theoretical viewpoint for the enhancement in the heat transfer coefficient observed in the experimental data in the viscous regime and agree qualitatively with available experimental measurements made on R113 coolant.