Condensing droplet behaviors on fin surface under dehumidifying condition. Part II: Experimental validation

• A visualization experimental rig for observing the droplet behaviors was built.
• The predicted droplet behaviors agree well with the visualization images.
• The predicted jm and jh agree well with the experimental data.

The objective of this paper is to validate the numerical model of condensing droplet behaviors proposed in Part I of the present study. An experimental rig for visualizing the droplet behaviors from the front view of the fin surface was built, and the visualization images of the condensing process was captured by employing a newly designed test section and sample. Experimental conditions cover inlet air velocity over a range from 0.5 m/s to 3.5 m/s, ReDc over a range from 500 to 3500, inlet air temperature over a range from 27 °C to 35 °C, inlet air RH over a range from 50% to 90%, and inlet water temperature over a range from 6 °C to 18 °C. The visualization images as well as the experimental data of heat and mass transfer characteristics obtained in the present study were used for the model validation. The validation results show that, the predicted droplet behaviors can qualitatively agree with the visualization images; the predicted mass transfer j factor agrees with 89% of the experimental data within a deviation of ±25%, and the predicted heat transfer j factor agrees with 94% of the experimental data within a deviation of ±20%.