An experimental and analytical study of the sputtering phenomena

One form of the sputtering phenomena that heat transfer process occurs when an initially hot vertical surface is cooled by falling liquid film, was examined. The sputtering front is the lowest wetted position on the vertical surface and is characterized by a short region of intense nucleate boiling. Heat transfer is of current interest in the analysis of some of the performance aspects of light water reactor emergency core cooling systems. An experimental apparatus was constructed which enabled the detailed examination of the heat transfer characteristics of a sputtering front. A heat source of sufficient intensity was located immediately below the sputtering front which prevented its downward progress thus permitting detailed steady state surface temperature measurements throughout a sputtering front.