Dropwise Condensation
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Under some surface conditions, the condensate does not form a continuous film. Droplets are formed, which grow, coalesce, and then run from the surface.
DROPWISE CONDENSATION
Under
some surface conditions, the condensate does not form a continuous film.
Droplets are formed, which grow, coalesce, and then run from the surface. Since
a fraction of the surface is always directly exposed to the vapor, film
resistance is absent and heat transfer coefficients that may be ten times those
of film con-densation are obtained. This process is known as dropwise
condensation. Although highly desirable, its occurrence, which depends on the
wettability of the surface, is not predictable and cannot be used as a basis
for design.
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