How quickly is heat transferred away from water in air?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on the heat transfer dynamics of a chilled calcium chloride solution in a condenser, specifically how quickly heat is transferred from the surrounding air to the solution. The context includes both theoretical and practical considerations related to cooling efficiency and thermal management.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Experimental/applied
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the need to determine how fast the air delivers heat to the cylinder, suggesting that this is typically assessed through experimental methods.
  • Another participant proposes that the highest heat exchange would occur with forced convection, indicating that the temperature change is proportional to the temperature difference.
  • Concerns are raised about the formation of a cooler area around the cylinder, which may slow the warming process, and the potential impact of thermal insulation on heat transfer rates.
  • Participants inquire about the specifics of the setup, including whether the condenser is placed in a freezer, the material of the container, and whether the liquid can be transferred to a different container for cooling.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of understanding the constraints and providing a more complete description of the setup to explore ways to accelerate the cooling process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying viewpoints on the best methods to enhance cooling efficiency and the factors affecting heat transfer, indicating that multiple competing views remain without a clear consensus on the optimal approach.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on specific experimental conditions, the need for more detailed information about the setup, and the unresolved nature of the heat transfer calculations.

slekce
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I'm not really sure where to put this, but the homework section seems most appropriate, even though this pertains to research I'm doing, rather than homework.

I have 1.1 liters of saturated (31% by mass) calcium chloride solution which is sitting in a condenser so that it forms a cylinder that is 10 inches tall and has a radius of 1.5 inches (a surface area of 0.0699m2), and it's been chilled to -45 Celsius.
I'm trying to figure out how long it will take to get to 0 degrees with the room temperature at 27 degrees, but I'm really struggling. Pretty basic calculations will let you know that it's going to take around 150KJ, but I can't get past that.

Here are the other numbers that I know so far:
-the density of the solution is 1.31kg/L, which gives a mass of 1.441kg.
-the specific heat of saturated calcium chloride brine is 2600KJ/kg*K

I've been spending $300 a month on dry ice to cool this condenser, so I'm trying to come up with better ways of doing it. Any help is truly appreciated!
 
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From the description, you want to know how fast the air delivers heat to the cylinder.
This is something that you usually determine by experiment ... the theoretical best would be the reverse of "Newtonian cooling" (look it up) ... so the highest heat exchange would be to have forced convection, so the temperature change is proportional to the temperature.

In practice the cylinder will create a cooler area around it, which slows warming, and you may have thermal insulation as well.

You purpose appears to be to slow the rate that heat is delivered so you don't have to use so much dry ice to cool it down. The approaches start with more thermal insulation and work up to whatever your budget will extend to. Compared to the dry ice saved, probably not much more. Do the cooling inside an old chest-freezer?
 
Are you placing the condenser in the freezer? Is the container glass? Are any surfaces silvered? Can you transfer the liquid into a different container to cool it?

There are lots of ways to accelerate the process. We need to know your constraints and a more complete description of your setup would be very helpful.
 
Thanks for the help guys!

The condenser is not in a freezer (and can't be put there, since I need the water to be liquid in order to drain the water that is condensing on it). It is made of regular silica glass and is surrounded by a carbon dioxide atmosphere with some water vapor from evaporation that is at 27 degrees. Since it starts at -45, it is warming up slowly, and I want to know how long I can trust it to condense the in the surrounding atmosphere before it warms up too much to be effective any longer.
 

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