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Liquid-Infused Smooth Surface for Improved Condensation Heat Transfer
Hirotaka Tsuchiya1, Mizuki Tenjimbayashi1, Takeo Moriya1
1Center for Material Design Science, School of Integrated Design Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University , 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522 Japan.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|August 23, 2017
Summary
A novel liquid-infused smooth surface, SPLASH, enhances condensation heat transfer by 175% compared to uncoated surfaces. This breakthrough overcomes limitations of superhydrophobic coatings and SLIPS for improved energy infrastructure performance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Engineering
- Heat Transfer
Background:
- Controlling vapor condensation is vital for energy infrastructure.
- Superhydrophobic surfaces offer heat transfer benefits but suffer from droplet pinning and high nucleation barriers.
- Slippery Liquid-Infused Surfaces (SLIPS) exhibit good water mobility but degrade over time as the infused liquid is lost.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a stable, high heat-transfer surface for vapor condensation.
- To overcome the limitations of existing superhydrophobic and SLIPS technologies.
- To investigate the impact of surface properties on condensation heat transfer.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel liquid-infused smooth surface named SPLASH (surface with π electron interaction liquid adsorption, smoothness, and hydrophobicity).
- Experimental investigation of condensation heat transfer performance.
- Analysis of condensed water droplet mobility and nucleation energy barriers.
- Comparative study with uncoated substrates, superhydrophobic surfaces, and SLIPS.
- Evaluation of the effects of liquid-infused surface roughness and viscosity.
Main Results:
- The SPLASH surface achieved a maximum condensation heat-transfer coefficient 175% higher than an uncoated substrate.
- SPLASH demonstrated superior heat-transfer performance and more stable dropwise condensation compared to superhydrophobic surfaces and SLIPS.
- Enhanced condensed water droplet mobility and a reduced thermodynamic energy barrier for nucleation were observed on SPLASH.
- The study elucidated the influence of surface roughness and liquid viscosity on condensation heat transfer.
Conclusions:
- The developed SPLASH surface offers a promising solution for stable, high-performance vapor condensation heat transfer.
- This technology addresses key limitations of previous superhydrophobic and SLIPS, paving the way for improved energy efficiency.
- The findings have significant implications for industrial applications involving vapor condensation and heat management.
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