Conformally anodizing hierarchical structure in a deformed tube towards energy-saving liquid transportation
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The creation of drag-reducing surfaces in deformed tubes is of vital importance to thermal management, energy, and environmental applications. However, it remains a great challenge to tailor the surface structure and wettability inside the deformed tubes of slim and complicated feature. Here, we describe an electrochemical anodization strategy to achieve uniform and superhydrophobic coating of TiO2 nanotube arrays throughout the inner surface in deformed/bend titanium tubes. Guided by a hybrid carbon fibre cathode, conformal electric field can be generated to adaptatively fit the complex geometries in the deformed tube, where the structural design with rigid insulating beads can self-stabilize the hybrid cathode at the coaxial position of the tube with the electrolyte flow. As a result, we obtain a superhydrophobic coating with a water contact angle of 157° and contact angle hysteresis of less than 10°. Substantial drag reduction can be realised with an overall reduction up to 25.8 % for the anodized U-shaped tube. Furthermore, we demonstrate to spatially coat tubes with complex geometries, to achieve energy-saving liquid transportation. This facile coating strategy has great implications in liquid transport processes with the user-friendly approach to engineer surface regardless of the deformation of tube/pipe.
Date Issued
2022-03
Date Acceptance
2021-11-17
Citation
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022, 431, pp.1-7
ISSN
1385-8947
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
1
End Page
7
Journal / Book Title
Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume
431
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894721053201?via%3Dihub
Subjects
Chemical Engineering
0904 Chemical Engineering
0905 Civil Engineering
0907 Environmental Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
133746
Date Publish Online
2021-11-22