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Title: Enhancing Condensers for Geothermal Systems: the Effect of High Contact Angles on Dropwise Condensation Heat Transfer

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OSTI ID:965974

Phase change heat transfer is notorious for increasing the irreversibility of, and therefore decreasing the efficiency of, geothermal power plants. Its significant contribution to the overall irreversibility of the plant makes it the most important source of inefficiency in the process. Recent studies here have shown the promotion of drop wise condensation in the lab by means of increasing the surface energy density of a tube with nanotechnology. The use of nanotechnology has allowed the creation of surface treatments which discourage water from wetting a tube surface during a static test. These surface treatments are unique in that they create high- contact angles on the condensing tube surfaces to promote drop wise condensation.

Research Organization:
Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FG36-08GO88161
OSTI ID:
965974
Report Number(s):
DOE/GO/NIREC-01; TRN: US201208%%307
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English