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A review of flow boiling heat transfer: Theories, new methods and emerging applications

Author

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  • Ding, Tao
  • Chen, Xiaoxuan
  • Li, Ziyong
  • Liu, Haichao
  • Zhu, Chaoyi
  • Zhao, Tian
  • Li, Zhen
  • Zhang, Yi
  • Yang, Jianan
  • Zhang, Hainan
  • Hou, Lingyun

Abstract

Flow boiling heat transfer has the advantage of high heat transfer coefficient, and it has been widely used in industrial applications and has great effect on the energy efficiency of equipment, especially for the situation under extremely high heat flux. The heat transfer mechanism of flow boiling can be divided into nucleate boiling and convective boiling. Because of its complicated mechanism and wide use in industrial applications, the heat transfer between two-phase boiling has become a hot and difficult problem so far. This paper presents a review of flow boiling heat transfer, from classic theories to new methods and industrial applications. This paper introduces the mechanisms of flow boiling heat transfer, especially the understanding of nucleate and convective boiling among studies. Moreover, representative correlations and their application range as well as the recent development of machine learning methods are summarized. Finally, the emerging industrial applications are discussed, including transpiration cooling in aerospace, heat pipes in satellite, data center cooling, immersion cooling for severs and batteries. Future research on flow boiling heat transfer will develop towards extreme heat transfer environments such as cross scale, high heat flux, and high temperature. This paper can help readers obtain a general understanding of the current research, prospects and advanced applications on flow boiling.

Suggested Citation

  • Ding, Tao & Chen, Xiaoxuan & Li, Ziyong & Liu, Haichao & Zhu, Chaoyi & Zhao, Tian & Li, Zhen & Zhang, Yi & Yang, Jianan & Zhang, Hainan & Hou, Lingyun, 2025. "A review of flow boiling heat transfer: Theories, new methods and emerging applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:215:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125002886
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115615
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wu, Zan & Sundén, Bengt, 2014. "On further enhancement of single-phase and flow boiling heat transfer in micro/minichannels," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 11-27.
    2. Bin Yang & Xin Zhu & Boan Wei & Minzhang Liu & Yifan Li & Zhihan Lv & Faming Wang, 2023. "Computer Vision and Machine Learning Methods for Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in Complex Structural Microchannels: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-24, February.
    3. Chen, Xiaoxuan & Wang, Xinyi & Ding, Tao & Li, Zhen, 2023. "Experimental research and energy saving analysis of an integrated data center cooling and waste heat recovery system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).
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