Copper Oxide Surfaces for Enhanced Condensation

Technology

This technology related to scalable surfaces with nanoscale features that barely touch the droplets. The nanostructured pattern itself is made of copper oxide and forms on top of the copper tubing. The process produces a surface that resembles a bed of tiny, pointed leaves sticking up from the surface; these nanoscale points minimize contact between the droplets and the surface, making release easier. The nanostructured patterns can be made and applied under room temperature conditions and the growth process naturally stops itself. After the pattern is created, a hydrophobic coating is applied when a vapor solution bonds itself to the patterned surface without significantly altering its shape. As a result of this technique, droplets do not fall from the surface but actually jump away from it, thus increasing the efficiency of the process. The energy released as tiny droplets merge to form larger ones is enough to propel the droplets upward from the surface, meaning the removal of droplets does not solely depend on gravity.   

Problem Addressed      

A variety of industrial plants depend on water vapor condensing on metal plates. To improve the efficiency of these plants, the key is to increase the condensers' heat-transfer coefficient. On a typical, flat-plate condenser, water vapor condenses to form a liquid film on the surface, drastically reducing the condenser's ability to collect more water until gravity drains the film. This acts as a barrier to heat transfer. The challenge is to remove this thermal barrier by removing the water droplets as quickly as possible.   

Advantages

• Increased nucleation density

• Smaller structure length scales

• Enhanced condensational heat transfer  

Publications

"Research Update: Jumping Droplets Help Heat Transfer." MIT News, January 4, 2013.

"Jumping-Droplet-Enhanced Condensation on Scalable Superhydrophobic Nanostructured Surfaces." Nano Letters 13, no. 1 (January 9, 2013): 179-187.