Abstract
Condensation is a critical process during vapor-liquid phase change in relation to heat transfer. To achieve a high heat transfer coefficient, the classical model for dropwise condensation requires a low contact angle and low contact angle hysteresis, failing to align with experimental observations on a hydrophobic and slippery quasi-liquid surface (QLS). We report a dynamic condensation model that incorporates high-frequency condensate removal by emphasizing the role of timescale during droplet growth and shedding. Our model agrees well with the experimental result that a surface with high contact angle and low contact angle hysteresis promotes condensation, particularly during rolling-propelled condensate removal. Particle image velocimetry reveals that rolling droplets on a hydrophobic QLS exhibit 4-fold higher shedding speeds than the sliding droplets on a hydrophilic QLS, leading to significant heat transfer enhancement. This work deepens our theoretical understanding of condensation heat transfer and provides advanced physics-informed design rationales for water and energy systems.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 100033 |
| Journal | Newton |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 7 2025 |
Funding
This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE) . The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan ( http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan ). D.M., J.S., and X.D. acknowledge the United States Department of Energy (award no. DE-EE0011217), the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (award no. 2044348), and the DARPA Young Faculty Award (award no. D23AP00160). D.B. acknowledges the Department of Energy Innovation in Buildings (IBUILD) Graduate Research Fellowship. We would like to acknowledge Pavan Sai Dosawada for his help with condensation experiments.This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan). D.M., J.S., and X.D. acknowledge the United States Department of Energy (award no. DE-EE0011217 ), the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (award no. 2044348 ), and the DARPA Young Faculty Award (award no. D23AP00160 ). D.B. acknowledges the Department of Energy Innovation in Buildings (IBUILD) Graduate Research Fellowship. We would like to acknowledge Pavan Sai Dosawada for his help with condensation experiments.
Keywords
- contact angle
- dropwise condensation
- dynamic model
- quasi-liquid surface
- rolling droplets