2017/05/27 by Arseneau, Elyse, Philipp, Lucas
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Engineering · Materials Science · #Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer #Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control #Leidenfrost effect #Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity #droplet transport #engine efficiency #film boiling #heat transfer #saw-tooth surface
paper · doi:10.14288/cjur.v5i1.189391
openalex publication_date 2017/05/27 · openalex created_date 2025/11/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
Leidenfrost droplet transporting engine energy efficiencies were calculated to determine its feasibility and practicality for various industrial purposes. The engine relied on the Leidenfrost effect to transport water droplets across a superheated aluminum surface with ratchet-like topology (Cole et al., 2015; Linke et al., 2006; Wells et al., 2015). An established protocol was used, permitting an unbiased analysis of only relevant data. Acceleration-time data was collected using Logger Pro 3® motion-tracking software and work was calculated using a Riemann summation technique. A power meter measured the hot plate’s total power input over 3-hours. Average trial times were used to determine each trial’s energy input, and engine efficiencies were subsequently calculated. Droplet size and ratchet angle were varied as parameters in attempt to optimize engine efficiency. The results indicate that this linear Leidenfrost system has an extremely low average percent efficiency (2.86E-07%), analogous to that of a rotational Leidenfrost system (Wells et al., 2005). Varying the droplet size or ratchet angle, as a variation and extension of previous studies, did not influence the efficiency to any statistically meaningful extent.