The Effect of Nanocoatings on Critical Heat Flux (CHF) under Pool Boiling Conditions

Abstract The effect of nanomaterial coating on heat transfer characteristics of a copper substrate during pool boiling with distilled water (>99.9 %) was studied. The peak on the pool boiling curve between nucleate and transition boiling is termed the critical heat flux. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene were used to obtain coatings on the copper substrate. Experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure. The results showed enhanced critical heat flux for the coated substrates. Graphene-coated copper showed the highest critical heat transfer characteristics compared with that on bare and multi-walled carbon nanotube-coated substrates. The study has significant implications for the enhancement of heat transfer during quench heat treatment.