Boiling heat transfer on porous surfaces with vapor channels

Boiling heat transfer on porous coated surfaces with vapor channels was investigated experimentally to determine the effects of the size and density of the vapor channels on the boiling heat transfer. Observations showed that bubbles escaping from the channels enhanced the heat transfer. Three regimes were identified: liquid flooding, bubbles in the channel and the bottom drying out region. The maximum heat transfer occurred for an optimum vapor channel density and the boiling heat transfer performance was increased if the channels were open to the bottom of the porous coating.