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Have you ever lived in an old apartment building? If so, you've
probably heard a water hammer, that pounding sound in the pipes. Water hammers
happen when a valve in a fluid-filled pipe is suddenly opened or closed. The resulting
high-pressure wave travels down the length of the pipe, causing vibrations and that
tell-tale pounding sound.
Water hammers are more than just a nuisance, however. They can
cause surfaces to wear and pipes to burst – and not just in old apartment
buildings. That's why researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) are studying superhydrophobic surfaces that cause water droplets to
decelerate rapidly. Surfaces that are textured with bumps and pillars can have a "water
shedding effect", but only if the size and spacing of these features is
just right.
Engineers could use superhydrophobic surfaces in both desalination plants and steam-based water plants. But there's
more to gain than some extra life for turbine blades and other water-hammered components. According
to the MIT researchers, superhydrophobic surfaces could enable even highly-efficient, steam-based
power plants to provide up to 5% more power.
If
the MIT research can extend the life of water-containing components for the
power generation industry, will laboratory applications be far behind? Would
you pay more for lab equipment with superhydrophobic suraces?
Sources:
LABMATE
Online and MIT
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Re: Superhydrophobic Surfaces in the Laboratory
