UNS: Spatial Control of Condensate and Wetting Regimes using Heterogeneous and Hierarchical Surface Structures for Enhanced Heat Transfer

该项目的目标是开发非均质表面结构，并研究空间变化的表面润湿性和导热性对凝结过程中润湿和传热速率的影响。该项目旨在通过保持对液体-蒸汽界面的精确控制和分离工程表面上的湿区和非湿区来提高传热速率。因此，该项目的结果可以改善传热系统的设计，并提高各种应用的能源效率，包括电子冷却、海水淡化和水净化以及化学处理。该项目将涉及研究生和本科生，并计划开展外展活动，以吸引当地学生，特别是那些来自代表性不足群体的学生。该项目将结合生物模板纳米制造技术和初始化学气相沉积（iCVD）技术来制造具有润湿性和导热性变化的异质表面。生物模板工艺使用烟草花叶病毒的自组装和金属化来创建一个均匀的高表面积纳米结构层。iCVD用于在纳米结构表面涂覆低表面能聚合物材料的薄层。混合润湿性和混合导电性的结合将提供对冷凝液滴的空间控制，以增强传热。研究人员将使用共聚焦扫描激光显微镜和高速成像技术，在冷凝和冷凝去除过程中表征表面的性能和异质结构的影响。结果可以指导从业者通过精确控制冷凝动力学来提高冷凝传热率。

CBET - 1511453PI: McCarthy, MatthewThe goals of this project are to develop heterogeneous surface structures and investigate effects of spatially varying surface wettability and thermal conductivity on wetting and heat transfer rates during condensation. The project seeks to improve heat transfer rates by maintaining precise control of the liquid-vapor interfaces and segregating wetted and non-wetted regions on engineered surfaces. Thus, results of the project could improve the design of heat transfer systems and increase energy efficiency for a variety of applications, including electronics cooling, desalination and water purification, and chemical processing. The project will involve graduate and undergraduate students, and outreach activities are planned to engage local students, especially those from under-represented groups.The project will combine bio-templated nanofabrication techniques and initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) to create heterogeneous surfaces with patterned variations in wettability and thermal conductivity. The bio-templating process uses self-assembly and metallization of the Tobacco mosaic virus to create a uniform layer of high surface area nanostructures. iCVD is used to coat the nanostructured surfaces with thin layers of low surface energy polymeric materials. The combination of mixed wettability and mixed conductivity will provide spatial control over condensate droplets to enhance heat transfer. The investigators will use confocal scanning laser microscopy and high-speed imaging during condensation and condensate removal to characterize the performance of surfaces and the effects of heterogeneous architectures. Results could guide practitioners in improving condensation heat transfer rates by enabling precise control over condensate dynamics.