EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON DROPWISE CONDENSATION.

Abstract

The main object of this work was to provide data with sufficient accuracy to assist the digital computer study of simulating the process of dropwise condensation. Special care was taken in measuring heat flux and steam-to-surface temperature difference during dropwise condensation on both plane vertical surfaces and inclined surfaces. The effect of noncondensable gases which might accumulate near the condensing surface was minimized by making the steam flow with appropriate velocity. Simultaneously, high speed motion pictures and instantaneous photographs were taken through microscope and data on the drop size distribution over the surfaces, the critical radius of drop detachment and the rate of drop growth due to coalescence with neighboring droplets were obtained under various conditions.