drain condensation on cold plate surface in ambient

[CanosSSCS]

Hello all,

I'm looking for advice on how to develop a drain method for an aluminum coldplate. The piece is about 6" x 4" x 2", and fluctuates in temperature between 2 and 100 C. The coldplate is exposed to ambient temperature and significant condensate forms along the surface of the piece. The fluid builds up as round clumps. The coldplate is set horizontally and must remain fixed. Appreciate any suggestions, and more than happy to clarify.

Thanks.

 

[TugboatEng]

You can boil water with ultrasound.

https://youtu.be/ZakZQ5lNL3c

 

[EdStainless]

Can you machine very small grooves in it? They can slope (get deeper) toward the edges.
Too late but you shouldn't have made it dead flat.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[hendersdc]

You could blow it off one side with compressed air.

 

[Tmoose]

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-2...ilver/product-reviews/B00HRX6N0Y?pageNumber=4

https://www.amazon.com/Rain-X-800002250-Glass-Treatment-Trigger/dp/B000BVRZ74

Can the "horizontal" requirement be met with one edge tipped/low .02" ?

 

[Compositepro]

Water beads-up on surfaces due to the surface tension of water being greater than the surface energy of the aluminum. This is what water repellents do, which have been suggested above. To prevent beading you increase the surface energy, which improves wettablity. Then the water will form a continuous film on the surface, which will drain by gravity and capillary action. The correct type of anodizing will do this. The water may be beading simply due to residual oil on the surface. Try cleaning the surface with detergent.

While ultrasonics can boil water by putting heat into the water, the video above does not show water boiling. The water is being atomized into very small droplets to create a cold fog. I guess that could still work to remove drops of water, but don't touch the surface with anything else.