Experimental and modeling investigations of dropwise condensation out of convective humid air flow

Asymmetric Condensation Characteristics during Dropwise Condensation in the Presence of Non-condensable Gas: A Lattice Boltzmann Study

“…Finally, we highlight that the interaction effect suffered by the droplet was strongly dependent on the spatial and size distribution of surrounding droplets and explains the significant difference in the exponents of the power function between measurements and analytical solution for evaluating the evolution of the droplet radius. As the experimental report in our previous work, the interaction effect makes the growth rate of the droplet spread in a wide range with a dispersed approach.…”

“…14,18 It is widely accepted that the droplet condensation is greatly reduced by the interaction effect. 14,18,19 As a result, the isolated droplet growth model with negligible interactions overpredicts the droplet condensation rate; 20 based on the film-like growth regime, the predicted exponent in the power law for evaluating the evolution of the droplet radius presents a significant difference with the measurement. 15,18 Recently, some semi-analytical methods have been developed to capture the interaction effect between droplets.…”

“…21,22 It is worth mentioning that considering the interaction effect, our previous work has successfully developed a heat transfer model for dropwise condensation under the convective flow of humid air, which has been testified by their experimental results. 20 Despite the aforementioned advances, condensation characteristics considering interactions remain poorly understood because of their complexity. The theoretical analysis has considerable simplifications, and the experimental measurements are limited in revealing condensation characteristics considering interactions in detail.…”

“…Although the isolated- and film-like models have become invaluable tools in understanding dropwise condensation in the condition of NCG, some key condensation characteristics have not been exactly captured. A specific characteristic is that the diffusion layer of neighboring droplets will interact and affect the local distribution of vapor, namely the interaction effect between droplets. , It is widely accepted that the droplet condensation is greatly reduced by the interaction effect. ,, As a result, the isolated droplet growth model with negligible interactions overpredicts the droplet condensation rate; based on the film-like growth regime, the predicted exponent in the power law for evaluating the evolution of the droplet radius presents a significant difference with the measurement. , Recently, some semi-analytical methods have been developed to capture the interaction effect between droplets. , It is worth mentioning that considering the interaction effect, our previous work has successfully developed a heat transfer model for dropwise condensation under the convective flow of humid air, which has been testified by their experimental results . Despite the aforementioned advances, condensation characteristics considering interactions remain poorly understood because of their complexity.…”

Enhanced Moisture Condensation on Hierarchical Structured Superhydrophobic–Hydrophilic Patterned Surfaces

“…Two reasons possibly explain the abnormal experimental results: First, with a large amount of NCGs, the condensation resistance relies mainly on the vapor diffusion process, weakening the advantages of the dropwise condensation as compared with film condensation. 26,27 Second, previous studies demonstrated that vapor diffusion can be blocked by the neighboring droplets, that is, the interaction effect between droplets, which is attributed to the local depletion of water vapor in the direction toward each other. 28,29 Condensation on Hybrid Patterned Surfaces.…”