An evaluation of prediction methods for saturated flow boiling heat transfer in mini-channels

Thirteen prediction methods for flow boiling heat transfer in mini-channels were compared against a new database including 2505 data for 11 liquids covering diameter from 0.21 to 6.05 mm. The results show the Chen method and the Chen-type correlations are not suitable for mini-channels very much; the Lazarek–Black correlation and the Kew–Cornwell correlation are the best two methods. Based on the Lazarek–Black correlation and by introducing Weber number, a modified correlation was proposed.