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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN Print: 0-89116-130-9

International Heat Transfer Conference 6
August, 7-11, 1978, Toronto, Canada

DROPWISE CONDENSATION OF MERCURY -FURTHER HEAT-TRANSFER MEASUREMENTS

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC6.290
pages 483-488

Abstract

Mercury was condensed in the dropwise mode on the surface of a thin (0.27 mm) stainless-steel sheet bonded (using a technique giving good thermal contact) to a copper block which was cooled on the reverse side. Precise measurements of heat flux and vapour-to-surface temperature difference were made by observing the temperature distribution through the copper block using nine accurately-located fine-wire thermocouples for a range of vapour pressures and coolant flow rates. Tests were carried out in which all of the vapour supplied by the boiler was condensed on the vertical test surface and also when a secondary condenser (located below the test condenser) was used to generate cross flow over the test surface. Care was taken to ensure that the all-welded stainless-stееl test loop was vacuum tight and well outgassed. The present results are broadly in line with three earlier investigations. Differences between the four data sets are, however, significant and may be attributable to differences in the nature of the four steel condensing surfaces rather than to experimental error. Preliminary comparisons with theory suggest that the thermal resistance associated with interphase matter transfer is the dominating factor for dropwise condensation of mercury.