International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER)
Kyushu University

Boiling Heat Transfer Experimental
Research at MIT: Accomplishments,
Open Questions, and Future Directions

I²CNER Seminar Series

Title

Speaker Prof. Matteo Bucci
Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, USA

Time&4:00 PM(JST), Wednesday, January 10th, 2024
Date
Venue
Abstract

Hybrid (#217, Conference Room, 2F, I²CNER Building 1, Ito Campus /Zoom Webinar)

In every field of science, the possibility of discovering and understanding new phenomena, or testing newhypotheses, is strongly related to and limited by the capability of observation.
Here, we will discuss recent advances in experimental boiling heat transfer research made possible by uniqueexperimental facilities and non-intrusive high-resolution optical diagnostics, e.g., high-speed infrared
thermometry and phase detection techniques.
We will analyze these techniques' capabilities and limitations in supporting the understanding of fundamental
two-phase heat transfer problems. Examples are the growth and departure of bubbles from a heated surface, thedistribution of the dry area fraction, the partitioning of heat flux, and the boiling crisis. Notably, we will discuss
experiments conducted in prototypical LWR conditions, presenting first-of-a-kind observations of the boilingprocess and the boiling crisis.
The use of these diagnostics has been instrumental in providing an answer to some long-standing fundamental
physical questions. However, access to these techniques is not sufficient. Nowadays, new understanding ishindered by our capability to analyze data, i.e., we can produce much more data than we can possibly analyze.
This issue is critical for highly non-linear phenomena, e.g., boiling heat transfer, whose complexity is hidden
beyond what a human eye can hardly see or a human brain can timely analyze. We will discuss how artificial
intelligence can alleviate this issue and, possibly, enable the development of autonomous, self-learning testing
capabilities.

About the Speaker
Matteo Bucci is the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Associate Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has published over 40 journal articles and 70 conference papers.
His research group studies two-phase heat transfer mechanisms in nuclear reactors and space systems, develops
high-resolution non-intrusive diagnostics and surface engineering techniques to enhance two-phase heat transfer,and creates machine learning tools to accelerate data analysis and conduct autonomous heat transfer
experiments. He has won several awards for his research and teaching, including the MIT Ruth and Joel SpiraAward for Excellence
Excellence inin Teaching
Teaching (2020),(2020),ANS/PAI
ANS/PAIOutstanding
OutstandingFaculty Award (2018 and 2023), the UIT-Fluent
FacultyAward (2018and 2023),
the UIT-FluentAward(2006),
the (2010), and the 2012 ANS Thermal-Hydraulics
Award (2006),
the EuropeanNuclearEducation
NetworkAward
EuropeanNuclear
NetworkAward(2010),
andDivision Best
PaperEducation
Award. Matteo
servesas theEditorof theApplied Thermal Engineering, is the founder and2012
ANS Thermal-Hydraulics
BestCafé,
PaperAward.
coordinatorof the NSF ThermalDivision
Transport
andworksMatteo
as a consultant for the nuclear industry.,
serves as the Editor of Applied Thermal Engineering, is thefounder and coordinator of the NSF Thermal Transport Café, andworks as a consultant for the nuclear industry.

Registration https://forms.office.com/r/WwH2AE3gYdHostProf. Shoji Mori
Contact I²CNER・Q-PIT Office of Research Support Services,
Research Support and Public Relations
TEL: +81 92 802-6935
Email: iq-kenkyu@jimu.kyushu-u.ac.jp