Passive Anti-frosting Surface Comprised of Microscopic Wettability Patterns Containing Sacrificial Ice

Abstract

A method and device for reducing ice and frost on a surface comprising a wettable pattern on a surface. The pattern is wetted with water which is frozen into ice to create overlapping hygroscopic that cover the surface.

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         15 . A method of reducing ice and frost on a surface comprising the steps of:
 providing a pattern of stripes on said surface;   filling said stripes with water;   freezing said water in said stripes to form ice in said stripes;   said ice in said stripes creates overlapping hydroscopic zones; and   said hydroscopic zones overlap to cover the entire surface of said substrate.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said hydroscopic zones are in-plane. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said hydroscopic zones keep siphoning nearby water vapor, keeping the rest of the surface completely dry from condensation and frost. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said stripes are spaced apart, said spacing between stripes is less than twice the value of a hydroscopic zone. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said stripes are formed into linear arrays. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said linear arrays include fins having grooves thereon, said fins having varying heights and varying spaced apart distances.