Solid-infused condenser surfaces for enhanced dropwise
This technology creates specially textured surfaces where a thin polymer coating fills only part of a microscale rough substrate, leaving some tiny surface peaks exposed. The result is a hybrid surface that repels liquids differently than either a plain rough surface or a fully coated one, enabling more efficient droplet formation and shedding. The primary application highlighted is improving condensation heat transfer — the process by which steam or vapor gives up heat as it turns back to liquid — which is a critical step in power generation, HVAC, and electronics cooling. The manufacturing approach appears to involve controlled roughening of a substrate followed by partial polymer infusion, rather than fully coating the surface.
What you could build
Treated condenser tubes or heat exchanger plates with enhanced dropwise condensation performance, sold to industrial HVAC manufacturers, power plant equipment suppliers, or electronics thermal management companies seeking to improve energy efficiency without redesigning core hardware.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based defense contractors, data center operators (Northern Virginia is a global data center hub), and naval shipyard supply chain companies all have material interests in improved thermal management surfaces.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Ranga PITCHUMANI, Ryan STODDARD
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed November 7, 2023
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20240240036A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.