University of Texas researchers improved condensate collection efficiency

Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have made surprising findings about a new surface they designed to quickly collect and remove condensate, which is liquid formed by condensation. Their tests showed the surface produced more condensates than expected based on traditional physics models. This unexpected result highlighted some limitations in existing theories. It led the team to develop a new theory that better explains how heat transfers on these surfaces. Details of their research were published online on March 13 in the journal Newton. The new theory is important for creating surfaces that can harvest water from the air without using electricity. “This new theory can help us design surfaces that condense water or other fluids more effectively,” said Dr. Xianming Dai, the study's lead author and an associate professor of mechanical engineering. Dai is focused on creating surfaces suitable for different uses, including water harvesting and refrigeration. He aims to design surfaces that can continuously collect and remove condensed droplets. The researchers found that small droplets, which should roll off the surface quickly during a process called dropwise condensation, behave differently than predicted. They discovered that some areas of the surface did not appear to have droplets but were still contributing to condensation. These areas had droplets that formed so early in the process that they were not visible. The classical theory did not account for the speed at which their new surface could collect and shed these droplets. Deepak Monga, a research scientist in Dai's team, emphasized the role of speed in their findings. He explained that their new model includes how quickly droplets disappear as part of the condensation process. Dr. Yaqing Jin, another researcher, helped measure and visualize the behavior of tiny droplets using advanced imaging techniques. This allowed the team to observe how droplets move on the surface. Monga has already applied the new theory to design a surface that he showcased at a recent engineering conference, earning recognition for his presentation.