Methods and apparatus for dropwise excitation heat transfer

US11300370B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army · US

Inventors

• Christopher P. Migliaccio · University Park, US
• Nathan S. Lazarus · Pittsburgh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 29, 2014
• Grant date: Apr 12, 2022
• Expiry date: Jul 5, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F28F13/04
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for heat transfer. In some embodiments, a heat transfer apparatus includes a body defining an inner volume; an inlet coupled to a vapor source; a coolant channel extending through the heat transfer apparatus; a condensing surface on which a vapor condenses, wherein the condensing surface is configured to cause the vapor to form as one or more drops on the condensing surface; and an actuator configured to excite the one or more drops at a resonant frequency of the one or more drops to remove the one or more drops from the condensing surface.