A model of the suction evaporation mode in nucleate boiling from tunnel and pore structures is presented. The model is based on the analysis by Nakayama et al. [W. Nakayama, T. Daikoku, H. Kuwahara, T. Nakajima, Dynamic model of enhanced boiling heat transfer on porous surfaces -Part II. Analytical model, ASME J. Heat Transfer 102 (3) (1980) 451-456] and L.H. Chein and R.L. Webb [A nucleate boiling model for structured enhanced surfaces, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 41 (14) (1998) 2183-2195]. Additionally, a detailed phenomenological model of liquid refill has been developed. It has been shown that the process of liquid refill and the time needed for it is strongly dependent on pool height. Effect of liquid pool height on bubble frequency has also been discussed. Finally, a generalized methodology is given for the prediction of boiling data from a structured surface. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.