Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
A Modified Surface for Condensation
Technology Category/Market
Category – Surface Modification & Condensation
Applications – Improves heat transfer efficiency of heat exchanger coils for heating, air conditioning and used for condensation and water collection for atmospheric water generators.
Industry – HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), Renewable Energy, Dehumidifiers, Desalination and Water Treatment
Market – The global surface treatment chemicals market size is valued at 6.5 billion in 2022 and is predicted to reach 12.98 billion in the year 2031 at an 8.9% CAGR during 2023 – 2031.
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Problem Statement
- Heat transfer plays a crucial role in heating and air conditioning industries. Phase change significantly enhances heat transfer due to the large latent heat involved.
- Researchers have demonstrated that surface engineering at micro- and nano-scales can improve phase change heat transfer across surfaces.
- The present invention aims to develop a method for creating a modified surface to achieve energy-efficient condensation.
- The method also seeks to improve sensible heat transfer.
- The problem is to find an effective and practical approach to enhance heat transfer during condensation processes, benefiting energy applications in heating and cooling systems.
Technology
- The present invention relates to a method of creating a modified surface for condensation by enhancing heat transfer of metallic surfaces by
- (1) fabricating hierarchical micro-nanostructured surfaces using etching processes, and
- (2) fabricating hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, using a printing or a coating technique, followed by etching. (Fig.3 &4)
- The hierarchical structures comprise of micron-cones of height ranging from 10-20 μm, covered with nanoscale bumps of nearly 500 nm height. (Fig.1)
- Creating such patterns localizes micro-nanostructures to specific regions enhancing the departure rate of condensed droplets from the surface and improving overall water collection rate.
- The test setup design was same as the atmospheric water generator design, shown in Fig. 2.
Key Features/Value Proposition
- Enhanced Condensation Efficiency
- Tailored Hydrophobic-Hydrophilic Patterns
- Improved Heat Transfer
- Scalability and Cost-Effectiveness
- Water Sustainability and Resourcefulness
- Energy Efficiency
- Environmentally Friendly
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
Research Lab
Prof. Pradeep .T
Department of Chemistry
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 1610
- IN 201741039127
- PCT/IN2019/050078 – Published
- US11536520 – Patent Granted
Technology Readiness Level
TRL – 4
Technology validated in lab.