Dropwise condensation theory and experiment: A review

The paper reviews progress in dropwise condensation research from 1930 to the present. Particular attention is given to heat transfer measurements, theory, transition and effects of surface material. Although it has been known since the 1930s that heat transfer coefficients for dropwise condensation of steam are much higher than those for film condensation, there were, until the 1960s, wide discrepancies between the results of different investigators. Subsequently, more accurate measurements have shown good consistency and the mechanism and theory of the dropwise condensation have become better understood. There has been considerable controversy over the magnitude of the so-called ‘constriction resistance’ and the effect of the surface thermal conductivity on the heat transfer coefficient. The balance of evidence suggests that this is only significant at very low heat fluxes and for very small condensing surfaces. Measurements have also been made with sufficiently high cooling intensities to cover the range of dropwise to filmwise condensation transition. The detailed mechanism of transition is still not fully understood. Perhaps most importantly, the practical problem of promoting lasting dropwise condensation under industrial conditions remains to be solved despite considerable effort spanning more than 70 years.