Condenser DesignA condenser involves the transformation of water vapor to liquid by mechanical means. Although water is one of the most of versatile liquids on earth, it can be difficult to isolate water going from one phase to another. Thus, condensers are devices involved in the dehumidification of air. There are generally three methods to dehumidify air; absorption of water vapor by a liquid solution, adsorbent materials (silica gel or activated alumina), and shell and tube convection. For the desalination design in this IPRO, convection will be examined as a means for condensation.
In the initial assessment of condenser design, it became clear that the most popular type of condenser used is a simple shell and tube condenser. Therefore the initial start point for the design was a multi-pass cross flow condenser. This design however lacks sufficient surface area contact with the incoming water vapor, especially for the purposes of this project. Looking at other options led to the concept of a spray condenser. After doing the necessary research and information gathering, the option of designing a spray condenser with an additional external heat exchanger and external cooler was decided upon. |