Cover
Vol. 24 No. 1 (2024)

Published: February 29, 2024

Pages: 69-80

Review Article

An Overview of Enhancing the Efficiency of Vapor Compression Cooling Systems by the Implementation of Evaporative Condensers

Abstract

This paper explores the significance of energy conservation in the context of rising energy consumption and its impact on economic growth. With a focus on cooling systems, particularly evaporative condenser technology, the study aims to investigate its fundamentals, operating principles, and theoretical aspects. The paper delves into the various types of condensers used in cooling systems, emphasizing the role of evaporative condensers in enhancing heat transfer efficiency. The operating principles of evaporative condensers are detailed, considering factors such as air and water flow rates, wet bulb temperatures, and heat transfer coefficients. Theoretical models and mathematical approaches for evaluating evaporative condenser performance are also reviewed. The research includes an extensive review of existing literature on evaporative condenser technology, covering refrigeration models, HVAC systems, and various experimental studies. Theoretical models are discussed, highlighting the challenges in accurately modeling evaporative condenser behavior. The paper also presents achievements and advancements in research, including experiments that demonstrate the positive impact of evaporative cooling on air-cooled condenser systems. Various case studies and experimental validations showcase the potential energy savings and improved performance achieved through the incorporation of evaporative condensers in cooling systems. By switching from an air-cooled to an evaporatively-cooled condenser, one can reduce electricity consumption by 58%, according to research. This alternate condenser type improves performance by 113.4% at from 3 to 3000 kW of cooling power.

References

  1. C. F. Gao, W. L. Lee, and H. Chen, “Locating room airconditioners at floor level for energy saving in residential buildings,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 50, no. 8, pp. 2009–2019, Aug. 2009.
  2. Z. Xu, H. Wu, and M. Wu, “Energy performance and consumption for biogas heat pump air conditioner,” Energy, vol. 35, no. 12, pp. 5497–5502, Dec. 2010.
  3. J. C. Lam, “Energy analysis of commercial buildings in subtropical climates,” Building and Environment, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 19–26, Jan. 2000.
  4. B. Choudhury, P. K. Chatterjee, and J. P. Sarkar, “Review paper on solar-powered air-conditioning through adsorption route,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 14, no. 8, pp. 2189–2195, Oct. 2010.
  5. H. Liu, Q. Zhou, Y. Liu, P. Wang, and D. Wang, “Experimental study on cooling performance of air conditioning system with dual independent evaporative condenser,” International Journal of Refrigeration, vol. 55, pp. 85–92, Jul. 2015.
  6. M. M. Rahman and H. Y. Rahman, “Performance of Newly Developed Integrated Space Conditioning and Domestic Water Heating Device,” Journal of Energy and Environment, vol. 3, no. 1, Mar. 2013.
  7. K. A. Jahangeer, A. A. O. Tay, and Md. Raisul Islam, “Numerical investigation of transfer coefficients of an evaporatively-cooled condenser,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 31, no. 10, pp. 1655–1663, Jul. 2011.
  8. N. Kalkan, E. A. Young, and A. Celiktas, “Solar thermal air conditioning technology reducing the footprint of solar thermal air conditioning,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 16, no. 8, pp. 6352–6383, Oct. 2012.
  9. Wimolsiri P. Solar cooling and sustainable refrigeration, http://www.egi.kth.se/proj./courses/4A1623/files/ARHPT SustainRefrig2005WP.pdf
  10. J. C. Lam, “Residential sector air conditioning loads and electricity use in Hong Kong,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 41, no. 16, pp. 1757–1768, Nov. 2000.
  11. T. T. Chow, Z. Lin, and X. Y. Yang, “Placement of condensing units of split-type air-conditioners at low-rise residences,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 22, no. 13, pp. 1431–1444, Sep. 2002.
  12. Y. A. Cengel, M. A. Boles, Thermodynamics: an engineering approach, 3rd edition, Boston, McGraw-Hill, 1998.
  13. N. Sharma and J. Singh, “Study and optimization of parameters of air-conditioner by using wastewater of water-cooler,” International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering, vol.4, Issue 8, pp. 513-518, 2014.
  14. R. J. Dossat, Principal of refrigeration, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 1991.
  15. C. Backman et al., “Evaporative Condenser Lab and Field Test Results,” Jan. 2012.
  16. H. M. Ettouney, H. T. El-Dessouky, W. Bouhamra, and B. Al-Azmi, “Performance of Evaporative Condensers,” Heat Transfer Engineering, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 41–55, Jul. 2001. https://doi.org/10.1080/014576301750215797
  17. E. Hajidavalloo, “Application of evaporative cooling on the condenser of window-air-conditioner,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 27, no. 11–12, pp. 1937–1943, Aug. 2007.
  18. W. K. Brown, “Fundamental concepts integrating evaporative techniques in HVAC systems”, ASHRAE Trans, vol. 96, Part 1, pp. 1227-1235, 1990.
  19. K. A. Manske, “Performance optimization of industrial refrigeration systems”, M.Sc. thesis, Mechanical Engineering, Solar Energy Laboratory, University of Wisconsin Madison, United States, 1999.
  20. A. I. ElSherbini and G. P. Maheshwari, “Impact of shading air-cooled condensers on the efficiency of airconditioning systems,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 42, no. 10, pp. 1948–1951, Oct. 2010.
  21. V. Vakiloroaya, B. Samali, and K. Pishghadam, “A comparative study on the effect of different strategies for energy saving of air-cooled vapor compression air conditioning systems,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 74, pp. 163–172, May 2014.
  22. E. Bari, J.-Y. Noël, G. Comini, and G. Cortella, “Aircooled condensing systems for home and industrial appliances,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 25, no. 10, pp. 1446–1458, Jul. 2005.
  23. M. Hosoz and A. Kilicarslan, “Performance evaluations of refrigeration systems with air-cooled, water-cooled and evaporative condensers,” International Journal of Energy Research, vol. 28, no. 8, pp. 683–696, May 2004.
  24. D. Murphy, “Cooling towers for free cooling”, ASHRAE Journal, pp. 16-26, 1991.
  25. H. Goshayshi, J. F. Missenden, R. Tozer, G. G. Maidment, “Improving cooling tower performance for sustainable refrigeration”, Proceedings of Joint CIBSE/ ASHRAE Conference, 2000
  26. T. D. Saulles, Free cooling system: design and application guidance, Bracknell UK: BSRIA; Volumes 16-96, 1996.
  27. H. Chen, W. L. Lee, and F. W. H. Yik, “Applying water cooled air conditioners in residential buildings in Hong Kong,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 49, no. 6, pp. 1416–1423, Jun. 2008.
  28. K. Sreejith, S. Sushmitha, and V. Das, “Experimental investigation of a household refrigerator using an aircooled and water-cooled condenser”, International Journal of Engineering and Science, vol. 4, Issue 6, pp. 13-17, 2014.
  29. S. S. Hu and B. J. Huang, “Study of a high efficiency residential split water-cooled air conditioner,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 25, no. 11–12, pp. 1599–1613, Aug. 2005.
  30. Y. Chang, R. Tsai, and J.-W. Hwang, “Condensing heat transfer characteristics of aluminum flat tube,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 17, no. 11, pp. 1055–1065, Nov. 1997. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1359-4311(97)00011-2
  31. ASHRAE, HVAC systems and equipment handbook, Atlanta, GA: ASHRAE, Inc.; 1992.
  32. E. Hajidavalloo, “Increasing COP of window air conditioner in very hot weather of Khoozestan”, Research Project Report to Management and Programming Organization, 2001.
  33. D. D. Wile, “Evaporative condenser performance factors”, Refrigeration Engineering, Vol. 58, pp. 55-63, 1950.
  34. W. Goodman, “The evaporative condenser, Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning”, Vol. 10, pp. 165-168, 1938.
  35. E. G. Thomsen, “Heat transfer in an evaporative condenser”, Refrigeration Engineering, vol. 5, pp. 425443, 1946.
  36. R. O. Parker, R. F. Treybal, “The heat, and mass transfer of evaporative coolers”, Chemical Engineering Progress Symposium Series, vol. 57, 1961.
  37. D. Peterson, D. Glasser, D. Williams, and R. Ramsden, “Predicting the Performance of an Evaporative Condenser,” Journal of Heat Transfer, vol. 110, no. 3, pp. 748–753, Aug. 1988. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3250555
  38. A. A. Dreyer, “Analysis of evaporative coolers and condensers”, M.Sc. thesis, University of the Stellenbosch, Rep of South Africa, 1988.
  39. M. Poppe, H. R. Gener, Evaporative cooling systems, VDI Warm eatlas, Section Mh, 1984.
  40. T. Mizushina, R. Ito, H. Miyashita, “Experimental study of an evaporative cooler”, International Journal of Chemical Engineering, vol. 7, pp. 727-732, 1967.
  41. T. Mizushina, R. Ito, and H. Miyashita, “Characteristics and Methods of Thermal Design of Evaporative Cooler,” Kagaku kōgaku, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 55-61, a1, Jan. 1968.
  42. A. Bykov, В. А. Гоголин, and N. V. Tovaras, “Investigation of heat, mass transfer and fluid flow characteristics in evaporative condensers,” vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 342–347, Nov. 1984.
  43. F. W. Yu and K. T. Chan, “Application of Direct Evaporative Coolers for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Air-Cooled Chillers,” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, vol. 127, no. 3, pp. 430–433, Jul. 2005.
  44. B. A. Qureshi and S. M. Zubair, “A comprehensive design and rating study of evaporative coolers and condensers. Part I. Performance evaluation,” International Journal of Refrigeration, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 645–658, Jun. 2006.
  45. X. Hao, C. Zhu, Y. Lin, H. Wang, G. Zhang, and Y. Chen, “Optimizing the pad thickness of evaporative air-cooled chiller for maximum energy saving,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 61, pp. 146–152, Jun. 2013.
  46. W. Zalewski and P. Gryglaszewski, “Mathematical model of heat and mass transfer processes in evaporative fluid coolers,” vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 271–280, Jul. 1997.
  47. H. Salah, M. A. Youssef, “Theoretical model for a rotating disk evaporative con-denser used in a split air conditioner”, Journal of Engineering Technology, vol. 32, pp. 1-20, 2013.
  48. M. Youbi-Idrissi, H. Macchi-Tejeda, L. Fournaison, and J. Guilpart, “Numerical model of sprayed air cooled condenser coupled to refrigerating system,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 48, no. 7, pp. 1943– 1951, Jul. 2007.
  49. F. W. Yu and K. T. Chan, “Improved condenser design and condenser-fan operation for air-cooled chillers,” Applied Energy, vol. 83, no. 6, pp. 628–648, Jun. 2006.
  50. M. M. Nasr and M. S. Hassan, “Experimental and theoretical investigation of an innovative evaporative condenser for residential refrigerator,” Renewable Energy, vol. 34, no. 11, pp. 2447–2454, Nov. 2009.
  51. M. Q. Shaheen and S. H. Hmmadi, “Combined evaporative air cooler and refrigeration unit for water purification and performance enhancement of air-cooling system”, University of Thi-Qar Journal for Engineering Sciences, vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 79-90, 2019.
  52. S. H. Hammadi, and M. Fadhil, “Energy Saving in a Split-Type Air Conditioner with Evaporative Cooling System”, University of Thi-Qar Journal for Engineering Sciences, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 116-126, 2017.
  53. A. A. Eidan, K. J. Alwan, A. AlSahlani, and M. Alfahham, “Enhancement of the Performance Characteristics for Air-Conditioning System by Using Direct Evaporative Cooling in Hot Climates,” Energy Procedia, vol. 142, pp. 3998–4003, Dec. 2017.
  54. M. Gr. Vrachopoulos, A. E. Filios, G. T. Kotsiovelos, and E. D. Kravvaritis, “Incorporated evaporative condenser,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 27, no. 5–6, pp. 823– 828, Apr. 2007.
  55. H. M. Ertunc and M. Hosoz, “Artificial neural network analysis of a refrigeration system with an evaporative condenser,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 26, no. 5– 6, pp. 627–635, Apr. 2006.
  56. K. A. Manske, D. T. Reindl, and S. A. Klein, “Evaporative condenser control in industrial refrigeration systems,” International Journal of Refrigeration, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 676–691, Jul. 2001.
  57. Y. Hwang, R. Radermacher, and W. Kopko, “An experimental evaluation of a residential-sized evaporatively cooled condenser,” International Journal of Refrigeration, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 238–249, May 2001.
  58. American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc. Methods of testing for seasonal efficiency of unitary air conditioners and heat pumps (ASHRAE Standard ANSI/ASHRAE 116-1995). Atlanta (GA).
  59. M. Hosoz and A. Kilicarslan, “Performance evaluations of refrigeration systems with air-cooled, water-cooled and evaporative condensers,” International Journal of Energy Research, vol. 28, no. 8, pp. 683–696, May 2004.
  60. J. Yang, K. T. Chan, X. Wu, X. Yang, and H. Zhang, “Performance enhancement of air-cooled chillers with water mist: Experimental and analytical investigation,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 40, pp. 114-120, 2012.
  61. F. W. Yu and K. T. Chan, “Modelling of improved energy performance of air-cooled chillers with mist pre-cooling,” International Journal of Thermal Sciences, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 825–836, Apr. 2009.
  62. M. R. Islam, K. A. Jahangeer, and K. J. Chua, “Experimental and numerical study of an evaporativelycooled condenser of air-conditioning systems,” Energy, vol. 87, pp. 390–399, Jul. 2015.
  63. T. Wang, C. Sheng, and A. G. A. Nnanna, “Experimental investigation of air conditioning system using evaporative cooling condenser,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 81, pp. 435–443, Oct. 2014.
  64. P. Sarntichartsak and S. Thepa, “Modeling and experimental study on the performance of an inverter air conditioner using R-410A with evaporatively cooled condenser,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 51, no. 12, pp. 597–610, Mar. 2013.
  65. G. N. Tolesa and T. S. Workneh, “CFD modeling of airflow inside unloaded evaporative cooler, Coolbot-airconditioner and combined operations,” Acta Horticulturae, no. 1275, pp. 293–302, Mar. 2020.
  66. M. D. Adarsh, D. Aditya, V. Akshay, “Improving efficiency of the air conditioner by cellulose pad”, Int J Eng. Sci Humanit, vol. 3, 2013.
  67. E. Hajidavalloo and H. Eghtedari, “Performance improvement of air-cooled refrigeration system by using evaporatively cooled air condenser,” International Journal of Refrigeration, vol. 33, no. 5, pp. 982–988, Aug. 2010.
  68. E. Hajidavalloo, “Application of evaporative cooling on the condenser of window-air-conditioner,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 27, no. 11–12, pp. 1937–1943, Aug. 2007.
  69. C. Chaktranond, P. Doungsong, “Energy saving in a domestic spilt-type air conditioner with evaporative cooling system”, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, Thailand.
  70. Wanga S, Liua Z, Lib Y, Zhaob K, Wangb Z. Experimental study on split air conditioner with new hybrid equipment of energy storage and water heater all year round. Energy Convers Manag. 2005; 46:3047 30. Engineering, Thammasat University, Thailand, 2009.
  71. D. Y. Goswami, G. D. Mathur, and S. M. Kulkarni, “Experimental Investigation of Performance of a Residential Air Conditioning System with an Evaporatively Cooled Condenser,” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, vol. 115, no. 4, pp. 206–211, Nov. 1993.
  72. E. Hajidavalloo, “Increasing COP of window air conditioner in very hot weather of Khoozestan”, Research Project Report to Management and Programming Organization, 2001.