PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON FIFTY YEARS OF CONDENSATION HEAT TRANSFER RESEARCH

This paper discusses some of the experimental and theoretical work on condensation heat transfer with which I have been involved over many years. The explosion in publications in recent years precludes a comprehensive survey of the general field. The paper is based on an unpublished presentation I gave at the 8th Experimental Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics Conference (ExHFT-8) held in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2013. It focuses on the topics of dropwise condensation, which has recently again become fashionable after many years, and condensation of metals. In both of these fields the interface temperature discontinuity plays a crucial role. Also discussed is work on condensation on integral finned tubes, in microchannels, and finally on Marangoni condensation of mixtures.