ON MECHANISM OF DROPWISE CONDENSATION

The effect of surface thermal properties on dropwise condensation is considered. The physical explanation for this effect is given by considering constriction phenomena in metalic surfaces caused by a non-uniform heat flux distribution over the condensing surfaces. From available experimental data it is shown that surface thermal properties are one of the controlling factors in the dropwise condensation. It is found that for stainless steel as the condensing surface about 84 per cent of the total resistance was the contribution of the resistance occurring in the plate itself due to heat flux non-uniformity over the surface: for copper this contribution was 20 per cent. © 1969.