Boiling

In a nuclear facility, convective heat transfer is employed to eliminate heat from a heat transfer surface. The liquid employ for cooling is generally in a compressed state, (i.e., a sub-cooled fluid) at pressures higher than the usual saturation pressure for the given temperature. Under certain situations, some kind of boiling (generally nucleate boiling) can occur. It is advisable, hence, to study the procedure of boiling as it exerts to the nuclear field whenever discussing convection heat transfer.

More than one kind of boiling can occur inside a nuclear facility, particularly when there is a quick loss of coolant pressure. The conversation of the boiling procedures, particularly local and bulk boiling, will aid the student understand these procedures and give a clearer picture of why bulk boiling (particularly film boiling) is to be ignored in nuclear facility operations.