Nonlinear aspects of high heat flux nucleate boiling heat transfer

Nonlinear effects of high heat flux pool nucleate boiling result from the intermittent activation and deactivation of individual nucleation sites on the heater surface. A model represents the three-dimensional transient conduction heat transfer process. Boundary conditions account for the hydrodynamic effects. Simulation results show the existence of spatial and temporal temperature variations on the surface causing the nonlinear behavior. The nonlinearity causes period-doubling leading to chaotic behavior.