Model of droplets’ growth and coalescence during dropwise condensation

The classical modelling to determine the heat transfer during dropwise condensation combines the calculation of heat transfer through a single droplet and the drop-size density distribution. The heat transfer by a single drop is determined from the thermal resistances involved during DWC, while the drop-size density distribution is evaluated using a statistical approach based on population balance. The aim of the present work is to develop an algorithm that simulates the droplet’s lifecycle, from nucleation to coalescence up to sliding-off from the surface by means of the thermal resistance model. In order to validate this model, the drop-size density distribution obtained from the present model was compared with the one obtained from the experimental analysis of videos recorded with a high-speed camera.