The Evolution of Enhanced Surface Geometries for Nucleate Boiling

This paper surveys the evolution of special surface geometries that promote high-performance nucleate boiling. Early work by Jakob and Fritz in 1931 showed that emery paper roughening or machined grooves provided only temporary performance increase. However, this improvement dissipated after a few days to the flat surface value. There was little sustained interest in this unique, but apparently unuseful, phenomenon until the mid-1950s. During the period 1955-1965, supporting fundamental studies of the character and stability of nucleation sites provided a basis for renewed efforts to develop a high area density of stable, artificially formed nucleation sites whose performance does not deteriorate with time. Beginning in 1968 industrial research produced patented technology that achieved the long-sought goal. In 1980 at least six high-performance nucleate boiling surfaces were commercially available. The technology reported in this paper represents a dramatic advance in the field of heat transfer.