Enhanced condensation with active methods
Name
971119051-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
5.45 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
6db4e1a05b534031c5881450d1b6ccb7
Author(s)
Sarathy, Sudarshan
Advisor(s)
Kripa K. Varanasi.
Date Issued
2016
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Condensation of low surface tension fluids is important in liquefied natural gas processing and refrigeration systems. Current state of the art low surface energy low hysteresis coatings are not able to achieve dropwise condensation below 10 mN/m. Surface acoustic waves are proposed as an active method to shed thin condensate films to reduce their thermal resistance and improve heat transfer coefficients. Interdigitated electrode patterns were fabricated on piezoelectric LiNbO3 wafers and SAW waves were generated with RF voltages in the 12.5 - 100 MHz regime. These were tested in the in-house condensation rig with Ethanol, Pentane, Hexane and Perfluorohexane. Heat transfer coefficients showed more than 2X improvement over standard filmwise condensation. Further, the effect of refrigerant side heat transfer enhancement in a condenser operating in a vapor compression refrigeration cycle is studied as a potential application.
Description
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2016.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 59-64).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Terms of Use
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