Drop Dynamics during Condensation on Superhydrophobic Surfaces in Vapor Shear Flow

• Shaur Humayun, Brigham Young University - Provo
• R. Daniel Maynes, Brigham Young University - Provo
• Julie Crockett, Brigham Young University - Provo
• Brian D. Iverson, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow

Keywords

drop dynamics, superhydrophobic surfaces, drop jumping, drop mobility

Abstract

Accurate models for predicting drop dynamics, such as maximum drop departure sizes, are crucial for estimating heat transfer rates during condensation on superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces. Previous studies have focused on examining the heat transfer rates for SH surfaces under the influence of gravity or vapor flowing over the surface. This study investigates the impact of surface solid fraction and texture scale on drop mobility in a condensing environment with a humid air flow. Experiments recorded condensation with varying surface feature sizes from micro- to nano scale under different flow rates. Video analysis detected the drop-size distribution and maximum drop departure sizes. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) provided accurate shear force representations. Results showed that the maximum drop departure sizes decreased with lower surface solid fractions and higher flow rates. A force balance analysis revealed that coalescence-induced drop jumping aids drop departure. Different drop behaviors due to coalescence were linked to surface characteristics. The study quantified drop jump distances under shear force during condensation on SH surfaces, and found that jump distances increased when coalescing drop sizes were similar. Based on these findings, a method for tuning SH surfaces to control drop size at coalescence and departure was suggested. Drop mobility was measured in terms of Bond and Capillary numbers, showing a dependence on surface solid fraction and pitch size. By combining these into surface slip length, it was shown that drop mobility increases with increasing slip length.

Original Publication Citation

6. Humayun, S.*, Maynes, R. D., Crockett, J., and Iverson, B. D.§, 2025, "Drop dynamics during condensation on superhydrophobic surfaces in vapor shear flow," Langmuir, Vol. 41, pp. 2806-2820. DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c04683

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Humayun, Shaur; Maynes, R. Daniel; Crockett, Julie; and Iverson, Brian D., "Drop Dynamics during Condensation on Superhydrophobic Surfaces in Vapor Shear Flow" (2025). Faculty Publications. 9705.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/9705

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2025

Publisher

Langmuir

Language

English

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Copyright Status

© 2025 American Chemical Society

Copyright Use Information

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

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