The critical heat flux (CHF) and heat transfer coefficient of de-ionized (DI) water pool boiling have been experimentally studied on a plain surface, one uniform thick porous structure, two modulated porous structures and two hybrid modulated porous structures. The modulated porous structure design has a porous base of 0.55 mm thick with four 3 mm diameter porous pillars of 3.6 mm high on the top of the base. The microparticle size combinations of porous base and porous pillars are uniform 250 mu m, uniform 400 mu m, 250 mu m for base and 400 mu m for pillars, and 400 mu m for base and 250 mu m for pillars. Both the CHF and heat transfer coefficient are significantly improved by the modulated porous. The boiling curves for different kinds of porous structures and a plain surface are compared and analyzed. Hydrodynamic instability for the two-phase change heat transfer has been delayed by the porous pillars which dramatically enhances the CHF. The highest pool boiling heat flux occurring on the modulated porous structures has a value of 450 W/cm(2), over three times of the CHF on a plain surface. Additionally, the highest heat transfer coefficient also reaches a value of 20 W/cm(2) K, three times of that on a plain copper surface. The study also demonstrates that the horizontal liquid replenishing is equally important as the vertical liquid replenishing for the enhancement of heat transfer coefficient and CHF improvement in nucleate pool boiling. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.