Advances in dropwise condensation heat transfer: Chinese research

A brief state-of-the-art review is presented on research progress on dropwi se condensation heat transfer in China. During the past 10 years, Chinese r esearchers have put forward some new proposals on the mechanism of dropwise condensation, and developed some new surface materials for promoting dropw ise condensation. In particular, successful applications of dropwise conden sation heat transfer surfaces in industrial condensers have provoked intere st around the world and inspired the further investigation on the dropwise condensation. Since much of the work had been published in Chinese, it was considered appropriate to give a review in English. This review includes: ( 1) micro mechanisms and heat transfer characteristics for dropwise condensa tion; (2) methods for promoting dropwise condensation and (3) industrial ap plications of dropwise condensation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rig hts reserved.