Development of an Algorithm for Calculating Condensate Production in Air Handling UnitsCase Study: A Residential Building in Tehran

Research and statistics indicates that Iran is in a situation of water scarcity and perhaps water crisis. This dilemma, on the one hand, and the main policy of sustainable development which is strongly dependent on water and energy management, on the other hand, makes reduction of water consumption in all sectors to an inevitable necessity.Condensate produced in air conditioning systems is a qualitative water source which sometimes is quantitatively significant. Unfortunately this source of water is typically wasted in most of the buildings.Due to the founded lack in previous research and in order to quantify the amount of produced condensate, an algorithm is developed to calculate hourly amount of condensate production in air handling units. Thermodynamic modeling of all states during cooling process is done based on non-estimated mathematical relationships and with considering all required details. In the following, an algorithm and also a computer code is developed to calculate hourly amount of produced condensate.Developed algorithm is applied on a four story residential building in Tehran and hourly condensate production profiles for hot months are presented. Then, possible potentials for collecting and utilizing this source of water is evaluated.The results show that, recovering and using produced condensate by air conditioning systems can cover all or part of water needs such as supplying makeup water in cooling towers, supplying makeup water in industrial processes, irrigation, providing water for evaporative cooling systems, street cleaning, toilet flushing, providing water for fountains and washing the cars.

Keywords:

Air Conditioning , Air Handling Unit , Condensate , Water Saving , Sustainable Development