Heat transfer measurement during dropwise condensation using micro/nano-scale porous surface

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2013

Publication Title

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

Volume

65

First page number:

619

Last page number:

626

Abstract

Unique micro/nano-scale porous surfaces were fabricated on the surfaces of steam condensers to promote dropwise condensation which can exhibit higher heat transfer rate than that of filmwise condensation. Steam condensation tests were conducted to evaluate heat transfer performance of the fabricated micro/nano-scale porous surfaces. The micro/nano-scale porous surfaces were prepared using a self-assembly technique, polymer based thin coatings, and a surface etchings technique. The resulting surface morphologies and the wetting characteristics were investigated using SEM and the liquid contact angle measurements to quantify important parameters for enhancing the dropwise condensation. From visual observations, it was deduced that the micro/nano-scale porous surfaces can effectively initiate dropwise condensation by generating smaller condensates and limiting the growth of ‘large’ condensate drops and by improving surface renewal rate.

Keywords

Condensation; Dropwise condensation; Etched surface; Heat – Transmission; Heat transfer; Micro/nano-scale porous surfaces; Plastic coating; Polymer based coating; Self-assembly layer coating; Surfaces

Disciplines

Engineering Science and Materials | Materials Science and Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

UNLV article access

Search your library

Share

COinS