Forced convection boiling in a stator–rotor–stator spinning disc reactor

Boiling of a pure fluid inside the rotor–stator cavities of a stator–rotor–stator spinning disc reactor (srs-SDR) is studied, as a function of rotational velocity ω, average temperature driving force ΔT and mass flow rate ϕm. The average boiling heat transfer coefficient hb increases a factor 3 by increasing ω up to 105 rad s−1, independently of ΔT and ϕm. The performance of the srs-SDR, in terms of hb vs. specific energy input ϵ, is similar to tubular boiling, where pressure drop provides the energy input. The srs-SDR enables operation at ϵ>105 Wm R−3, yielding values of hb not practically obtainable in passive evaporators, due to prohibitively high pressure drops required. Since hb is increased independently of the superficial vapor velocity, hb is not a function of ϕm and the local vapor fraction. Therefore, the srs-SDR enables a higher degree of control and flexibility of the boiling process, compared to passive flow boiling. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2016