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An experimental study of the effects of surface characteristics and material thermal properties on dropwise condensation
Author(s) -
Abdelmessih A. H.,
Rotenberg Y.,
Neumann A. W.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450590202
Subject(s) - condenser (optics) , condensation , materials science , brass , heat transfer , heat transfer coefficient , thermal , thermodynamics , work (physics) , composite material , copper , metallurgy , optics , physics , light source
In this investigation, a study of the dropwise mode of condensation of water vapour at near atmospheric pressure was undertaken. Three vertically oriented condenser surfaces of different materials, copper, brass and stainless steel, were carefully prepared and heat transfer data were obtained over a long period of time as the surfaces continued to deteriorate. The condensation heat transfer coefficient was found to decrease with increasing surface deterioration. It is also evident that further work is needed before a general model can be developed to predict heat transfer in dropwise condensation. However the effect of surface characteristics and material thermal properties on strong dropwise condensation at small vapour to surface temperature differences is evident from the present results.