DROPwise condensation analysis using thermal resistances

This work represents an experimental and numerical study ofDROPwise condensation of a pure vapor on a horizontal facing up plate.An experimental investigation was undertaken in which DROPwisecondensation was conducted on the upper side of 0.4 mm thicknesshorizontal stainless steel and 0.1 mm thickness horizontal coppercondensing plates. The lower side of the condensing plate wasconvectively cooled and the temperatures of the two sides of the platewere measured using thermocouples. Results of experiments andcompanson with other researchers revealed effect of condensing wallorientation, wall thickness and wall thermal conductivity on thermalresistance in DROPwise condensation.A theoretical model was proposed, the governing equations werewritten with their boundary conditions. The equations were solvednumerically by finite element technique using a computer program.Numerical results showed effect of DROPlet diameter, condensing wallthickness and wall thermal conductivity on temperature distribution andheal transfer in DROPwise condensation.