Condenser performance benefits afforded by dropwise condensation have long been unattainable in steam cycle power plant condensers due to the unavailability of durable and long-lasting hydrophobic surface treatments. However, recent work in superhydrophobic coating technology shows promise that durable coatings, appropriate for use on condenser tubes in steam cycle power generation systems, may soon become a reality. This work presents a nanoscale, vapor phase deposited superhydrophobic coating with improved durability comprised of several layers of rough alumina nanoparticles and catalyzed silica with a finishing layer of perfluorinated silane. This coating was applied to solid, hemicylindrical test surfaces fabricated from several common condenser tube materials used in power generation system condensers: Titanium, Admiralty brass, Cupronickel, and Sea Cure stainless steel as well as 304 stainless steel stock. The development evolution of the coating and its effect on condensation behavior on the above materials are presented. Results show that the performance enhancement, measured in rate of heat transfer spikes corresponding to condensate roll-off events, was best for the titanium surface, which produced 64% more events than the next most active material when coated using the most durable surface treatment tested in this work.
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October 2018
Technical Briefs
Development of a Durable Vapor Phase Deposited Superhydrophobic Coating for Steam Cycle Power Generation Condenser Tubes
Andrew C. Bates
Andrew C. Bates
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Christopher M. Duron
Jie Zhong
Allan E. David
William R. Ashurst
Sushil H. Bhavnani
Jacob R. Morris
Andrew C. Bates
Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS. Manuscript received July 4, 2017; final manuscript received February 6, 2018; published online May 21, 2018. Assoc. Editor: Mohamed S. El-Genk.
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. Oct 2018, 10(5): 054501 (4 pages)
Published Online: May 21, 2018
Article history
Received:
July 4, 2017
Revised:
February 6, 2018
Citation
Duron, C. M., Zhong, J., David, A. E., Ashurst, W. R., Bhavnani, S. H., Morris, J. R., and Bates, A. C. (May 21, 2018). "Development of a Durable Vapor Phase Deposited Superhydrophobic Coating for Steam Cycle Power Generation Condenser Tubes." ASME. J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. October 2018; 10(5): 054501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4039783
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