Study of the effect of surface characteristics during boiling heat transfer with propane on stainless steel tubes

Analyzing the influence of heating surface characteristics on nucleation in Propane, this research delves into enhancing heat transfer efficiency. Focused solely on Propane, the study examines the impact of heating surface roughness and material on nucleation processes. The experimental data collected from this single substance aims to refine heat exchanger designs, as current practices often result in oversized systems, leading to excessive material usage and costs. The primary objective lies in significantly improving heat transfer while reducing temperature gradients an essential aspect in evaporator design. To achieve this, the investigation employs smooth stainless steel tubes alongside finned tubes, utilizing a sandblasting process to alter surface roughness and subsequently affect the heat transfer coefficient. The recorded data showcases a direct relationship between increased heat flux density and higher heat transfer coefficients, primarily attributed to augmented bubble formation and detachment frequency. The study confines its focus to fully developed nucleate boiling and early-stage nucleation, excluding considerations related to film boiling or high superheats. The thesis culminates in comprehensive calculations, results, comparative analysis, leveraging insights from VDI [1] , and an in-depth analysis, providing insights crucial for optimizing nucleate boiling processes in The Propane applications.