Improving performance of condensors in power & desalination plants with lubricated, nanotextured sur

Most of the world's power plants use condensors to turn steam into water after it comes out of the turbine that turn the generators. The condensors play a crucial role in the desalination plants which are rapidly being adopted as a source of fresh water. Not much was done in the recent times that'd boost the performance of the condensors. However, a team of researchers from MIT has found a way to use nano-textured and lubricated surfaces to address the problem. The team has recently published a paper titled "Enhanced Condensation on Lubricant-Impregnated Nanotextured Surfaces" on #-Link-Snipped-#.



The key to creating a water shedding (hydrophobic) surface is forming tiny bumps or posts just 10 micrometers (millionths of a meter) and coating it with a lubricant. The capillary action, because of the tiny gaps between the posts holds the oil in place. In their experiments, the researchers found out that water moved 10k times faster than the surface with just hydrophobic patterning. This faster velocity of movement of water on the surface is key to improvement of heat exchange; which results into improved performance of the condensors. The technique requires minimal amount of oil usage.

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