Sliding of water droplets onto a textured metal surface

Abstract

Technologies for catching fluid from a steam mixture in the form of small droplets using the lattices or metal plates located at a certain angle are used in many industrial installations. Conducting experimental studies of the processes of collision and draining the drops of fluid on the surfaces of the metal is relevant for increasing the efficiency of gathering fluid from the steam-air mixture in industrial plants. Accordingly, the purpose of this work was to analyze the effect of the texture of the metal surface on the characteristics of the process of spreading water drops after their fall. The experiments were carried out at the setup, which is based on the shadow technique. The height of liquid droplets and the angle of the substrate inclination were varied. To assess the effect of texture on the characteristics of the spreading of water drops on the surface of brass substrates, microgrooves were applied by a grinder. It was found out that after dosing, the drop stretched along the grooves. The left and right contact angles (LCAs and RCAs), measured perpendicular to the grooves, increased by 15% compared to the angles measured on the polished surface of the substrate. It was established that after pinning the drops on the tilted surface, the difference between the LCAs, measured in parallel and perpendicular to the grooves, increased by more than 35%.