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Power plant water usage is a coupling of the energy–water nexus; this research investigates water droplet motion, with implications for water recovery in cooling towers. Simulations of a 2.6 mm-diameter droplet motion on a hydrophobic, vertical surface were conducted in xflow using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). Results were compared to two experimental cases; in the first case, experimental and simulated droplets experienced 30 Hz vibrations (i.e., ±0.1 mm x-direction amplitude, ±0.2 mm y-direction amplitude) and the droplet ratcheted down the surface. In the second case, 100 Hz vibrations (i.e., ±0.8 mm x-direction amplitude, ±0.2 mm y-direction amplitude) caused droplet ejection. Simulations were then conducted for a wide range of frequencies (i.e., 10–100 Hz) and amplitudes (i.e., ±0.018–50 mm), resulting in maximum accelerations of 0.197–1970 m/s2. Under low maximum accelerations (e.g., <7 m/s2), droplets rocked upward and downward in rocking mode, but did not overcome the contact angle hysteresis and, therefore, did not move. As acceleration increased, droplets overcame the contact angle hysteresis and entered ratcheting mode. For vibrations that prompted droplet motion, droplet velocities varied between 10–1000 mm/s. At capillary numbers above approximately 0.0044 and Weber numbers above 3.6, liquid breakup was observed in ratcheting droplets (e.g., the formation of smaller child droplets from the parent droplet). It was noted that both x- and y-direction vibrations were required for droplet ejection.

Engineering innovations—including those in heat and mass transfer—are needed to provide food, water, and power to a growing population (i.e., projected to be 9.8 × 109 by 2050) with limited resources. The interweaving of these resources is embodied in the food, energy, and water (FEW) nexus. This review paper focuses on heat and mass transfer applications which involve at least two aspects of the FEW nexus. Energy and water topics include energy extraction of natural gas hydrates and shale gas; power production (e.g., nuclear and solar); power plant cooling (e.g., wet, dry, and hybrid cooling); water desalination and purification; and building energy/water use, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration technology. Subsequently, this review considers agricultural thermal fluids applications, such as the food and water nexus (e.g., evapotranspiration and evaporation) and the FEW nexus (e.g., greenhouses and food storage, including granaries and freezing/drying). As part of this review, over 100 review papers on thermal and fluid topics relevant to the FEW nexus were tabulated and over 350 research journal articles were discussed. Each section discusses previous research and highlights future opportunities regarding heat and mass transfer research. Several cross-cutting themes emerged from the literature and represent future directions for thermal fluids research: the need for fundamental, thermal fluids knowledge; scaling up from the laboratory to large-scale, integrated systems; increasing economic viability; and increasing efficiency when utilizing resources, especially using waste products.

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