title: Edge effects on water droplet condensation.
abstract: In this study we investigate the effect of geometrical or thermal discontinuities on the growth of water droplets condensing on a cooled substrate. Edges, corners, and cooled and noncooled boundaries can have a strong effect on the vapor concentration profile and mass diffusion around the drops. In comparison to growth in a pattern where droplets have to compete to catch vapor, which results in a linear water concentration profile directed perpendicularly to the substrate, droplets near discontinuities can get more vapor (outer edges, corners), resulting in faster growth or less vapor (inner edges), giving lower growth. When the cooling heat flux limits growth instead of mass diffusion (substrate with low thermal conductivity, strong heat exchange with air), edge effects can be canceled. In certain cases, growth enhancement can reach nearly 500% on edges or corners.
authors.affiliation: Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, UMR 7636 CNRS-ESPCI-Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Université Paris Diderot, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France and LPMC Université de Nice, CNRS-UMR 7336, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Gabrielle
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Medici
authors.affiliation: Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, UMR 7636 CNRS-ESPCI-Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Université Paris Diderot, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mongruel
authors.affiliation: Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université Paris Diderot and CNRS UMR 7057, 10 Rue Domont et Duquet, 75205 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Royon
authors.affiliation: Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, UMR 7636 CNRS-ESPCI-Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Université Paris Diderot, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France and Service des Basses Températures, CEA-Grenoble and Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beysens