Experimental Study of Condensation on Micro Grooved Plates

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Experimental Study of Condensation on Micro
Grooved Plates

• R. Barron-jimenez, H. Y. Hu, G. P. Peterson
• Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Texas AM University

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Overview

• Introduction
• Experimental System
• Apparatus
• Test Plates
• Test Conditions
• Results
• Overall Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficient
• Condensate Removal
• Conclusions

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Micro Grooves

• Scientific Interest
• Optimum geometry to take advantage of the surface
  tension
• Effect of vapor shear during condensation
• Role of gravitational body force during
  condensation

• Applications
• Condensate removal
• Thin film
• Retain liquid
• Enhance capillary pumping in micro heat pipes

Better understanding of the condensation phenomena
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Experimental Apparatus
5
Experimental Apparatus
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Experimental Apparatus
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Experimental Apparatus
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Test Plates
Micro Grooves Geometry
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Test Plates
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Test Plates
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Test Conditions

• Vapor velocity 4.140.64 m/s
• Re (transition regime) 3.474103
• System pressure 101.35 kPa
• Plate orientation Horizontal
• Cooling Temperature 20, 35, 50, or 65ºC

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Test Conditions

• Constant Plate Temperature Assumption

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Results
Overall Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficient
Plate 5 vs. 3 (W) 1.75 and 2.9 times larger q
60º vs. 45º 1.55 better
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Results
Overall Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficient
Average Uh 52
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Results
Condensate Removal
Micro grooves in plate 5 are better than smooth
surface
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Conclusions

• Data is not conclusive. Further work is
  recommended
• Large micro grooves with 60º apex angles tend to
  work better (best performance Plate 5)
• Tests conditions improve the micro grooves
  performance
• Micro grooves help to maintain a stable
  condensation pattern
• Eliminate wall channel effect and reduce heat
  losses

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Questions?
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