Abstract
In this study, experimental results of the nucleate boling of wire-wrapped tubes are provided. Both water and R-113 were boiled. Solid stainless steel wires, stranded copper wires and stranded nylon wires were tested. Solid stainless wire is effective to enhance the boiling of water. The performance is approximately the same(or slightly better at certain conditions) as that of GEWA-T tubes. For the test range of wire diameter 0.6 $mm{\le}d{\le}2.6 mm$, the optimum gap width increases as the wire diameter increases. The maximum heat transfer coefficient was obtained for the 1.0 mm diameter wire, and it is 1.6 times larger than that of the GEWA-T at the heat flux of 20 $kW/m^{2}.$ Solid stainless wire is also effective to enhance the boling of R-113 at low heat fluxes. The performance of the wire-wrapped tube approaches that of GEWA-T. At high heat fluxes, however, the enhancement decreases. The reason may be attributed to the cavity shape and the high wettability of the refrigerants. Stranded copper or nylon wire is effective to enhance the boiling of R-113. The performance is approximately the same(or slightly better) as that of GEWA-T tubes. Maximum heat transfer was obtained for the stranded nylon wire, and it is approximately 1.4 times larger than that for the GEWA-T at the heat flux of 20 $kW/m^{2}.$ The reason may be atrributed to the favorable thermal environment in the restricted regions formed by twisted wires.
