Condensation heat transfer between a vertical superhydrophobic aluminum surface and moist air under natural convection

Condensation heat transfer at superhydrophobic surfaces has raised a lot of interest due to their potential application in atmospheric water harvesting and air-conditioning. In moist air, the condensation heat transfer using a superhydrophobic surface can be negatively affected by the existence of a large amount of non-condensable gas, namely, the dry air. Besides, the air flow pattern would substantially affect the surface condensation rate due to the convective mass transfer of water vapor. In this study, the condensation regime of a superhydrophobic aluminum surface vertically positioned in quiescent moist air was visualized and the condensation rate was experimentally investigated. Condensation experiments were also performed by using hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and superhydrophilic surfaces for comparison. The condensation rate of the super-hydrophobic surface was consistent with that of other surfaces, though the condensation regimes of the four surfaces were quite different. The average deviation between the experimental condensation rate and the empirical correlation of natural convection heat and mass transfer was within 12%. The result indicates that vapor transfer induced by diffusion and convection in the boundary layer rather than the heat transfer resistance associated with condensate dominates the condensation heat and mass transfer between the moist air and the superhydrophobic surface.

Automated summary

This study visualized the condensation regime and experimentally investigated the condensation rate of a superhydrophobic aluminum surface in quiescent moist air. Comparisons were made with hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and superhydrophilic surfaces. The results showed that, although the condensation regimes of the four surfaces were quite different, the condensation rate of the superhydrophobic surface was consistent with that of other surfaces. The experimental results indicate that vapor transfer induced by diffusion and convection in the boundary layer dominates the condensation heat and mass transfer between the moist air and the superhydrophobic surface, rather than the heat transfer resistance associated with condensate.