Condenser Designs for Greenhouse Desalination

Abstract

Innovative condenser designs were created in this study. The plate channelled condenser and the vibrating plastic surface condenser, first condenser design consisting of a cooled plate surface upon which water vapor, carried by saturated air, condenses at its outer surface. The plates are made of plastic and are constantly cooled by coolant flowing through internal passages within the plate. The second condenser design which is the vibrating plastic surface condenser consists of a very thin plastic sheet mounted on a frame. The plastic sheet vibrates by the impingements action of pressurized water sprayed from the rear side. Experimental tests were done to investigate condensate production rate per unit area. These results were then compared to conventional vertical fin-tube bank condenser designs used by other investigators. The comparison showed that a higher rate of condensate production (an increase of 16.4%) is achieved using the plate channelled which is simpler and less expensive condenser than other designs. On the other hand, the vibrating plastic surface condenser did not meet the expected performance