Calculate Water Condensation from Cold Plate

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    Condensation Water
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the amount of water that can be obtained from a cold plate operating below the dew point, considering factors such as air flow, temperature, relative humidity, and the size of the plate. The context includes practical applications in air duct systems.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the calculation of water condensation from a cold plate, mentioning variables like air flow (cfm), air temperature, relative humidity, and plate size.
  • Another participant asks for additional details regarding the plate material and its initial temperature, as well as the behavior of the plate when water condenses.
  • A participant specifies that the plate material would be aluminum or plastic to prevent corrosion, and describes the operational conditions, including air flow of 6000-7000 cfm, air temperature between 22-30°C, and relative humidity of 50-80%.
  • One reply suggests that the scenario resembles an ordinary cooling coil, stating that the amount of water collected depends on the energy removed from the air and the coil's heat transfer effectiveness, providing a rough estimate of power requirements.
  • Another participant expresses concern about deviating from the original question and requests a formula for calculating the amount of water collected, emphasizing the need for the plate size in the calculation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants have not reached a consensus on a specific formula for calculating water collection from the cold plate, and there are differing views on the necessity of additional mechanisms for water removal.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the need for specific definitions regarding the setup and assumptions about the efficiency of the cooling process, as well as the lack of a clear formula for calculating water condensation based on the provided parameters.

carlosinteria
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How can I calculate the amount of water can be obtained from a cold plate (below dew point) considering the air flow (cfm), air temp, relative humidity % and size of the plate?
Thank you.
 
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Do you know plate material? Its initial temperature? What happens to the plate when water condenses?
 
The plate material would be aluminium or plastic to prevent corrosion, the target is to remove as much water as posible from an air duct. The initial temperature is going to be just below dew point because the plates would be refrigerated, to save energy. Depending on the number of plates needed I'm planning to remove water vibrating the plates, just gravity or trying a kind of a wiping system. Air flow is around 6000-7000 cfm, air temp 22-30°C and R. Humidity 50-80%
 
What you are describing is an ordinary cooling coil. The amount of water collected will be a fuction of the energy you are removing from the air via the coil and that will depend on what is causing the coil to get cold and the coil's heat transfer effectiveness.

For 6,000 CFM, the power required to drop the air to a dew point of 55 F with a generic split-ac system will be somewhere on the order of 50 kW.

Note, you don't need to vibrate the plates. The water will collect on them and drip off.
 
Don't mean to be a fuddy duddy but I think we got off the subject of the question. Is there a setup formula that can caculate the amount of water collected from a plate. I realize you also need to know the size of the plate in question. Please keep on topic and not redirect answer to another idea. thanks
 

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