Evaluación de configuraciones geométricas para una sistema de captación de agua atmosférica mediante simulación CFD.
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
La escasez hídrica corresponde a un problema internacional con mas de un 50% de la población ubicada en zonas de alta escasez. Cercano a un 17% del uso de aguas es con fines domésticos y se proyecta un alza de un 20% a un 30% para el año 2050.
Con el fin de abastecer las necesidades de consumo, empresas han empezado a fabricar y utilizar generadores de agua atmosférico, maquinaria capaz de condensar, enfriar y asegurar el agua para zonas rurales como industriales, sin embargo, su baja eficiencia y acompañado de una carencia de estudios, han llevado a una baja comercialización por lo que son poco comunes como solución para la escasez.
Para mejorar la eficiencia de estos sistemas e identificar los parámetros claves en su funcionamiento, en esta memoria se propone realizar un estudio mediante simulaciones de dinámica de fluidos computacional de distintas características geométricas implementadas en un evaporador de un sistema de captación de agua atmosférica por compresión de vapor y refrigeración.
Se consideran características promedio del aire húmedo y un modelo computacional de Ansys Fluent, tomando en cuenta turbulencia, transmisión de energía y transferencia de masa, se realizan las simulaciones a un modelo geométrico de un evaporador base representativo con placas de 0,1 mm de espesor y tuberías de 10 mm de diámetro y a 8 modificaciones geométricas.
Las modificaciones geométricas indican una generacion de agua hasta en un 3.26% mayor a medida que se aumenta el espesor de las placas del evaporador, pero con un límite debido a la turbulencia generada por el impacto del aire con área transversal cuando el espesor de la placa supera los 0.2 mm. Resultados similares se obtienen cuando se aumenta el diámetro de la tubería donde un se llega a una reducción de hasta en un 3.16% en la generacion de agua en el evaporador con un diámetro de tubería de 5/8”, con una mejora máxima de un 0.13% cuando se reduce el diámetro de la tubería a un 1/4".
Water scarcity corresponds to an international problem with more than 50% of the population located in areas of high scarcity. About 17% of water use is for domestic purposes and an increase of 20% to 30% is projected by 2050. To supply consumption needs, companies have begun to manufacture and use atmospheric water generators, machinery capable of condensing, cooling and securing water for rural and industrial areas, however, their low efficiency and accompanied by a lack of studies, have led to low commercialization so they are uncommon as a solution for scarcity. To improve the efficiency of these systems and identify the key parameters in their operation, this report proposes to carry out a study through computational fluid dynamics simulations of different geometric characteristics implemented in an evaporator of an atmospheric water collection system by vapor compression and cooling. Average characteristics of the humid air and a computational model of Ansys Fluent are considered, considering turbulence, energy transmission and mass transfer, simulations were carried out to a geometric model of a representative base evaporator with 0.1 mm thick plates and 10 mm diameter pipes and 8 geometric modifications to this model. Geometric modifications indicate up to 3.26% higher water generation as the thickness of the evaporator plates is increased, but with a limit due to the turbulence generated by the impact of air with cross-sectional area when the thickness of the plate exceeds 0.2 mm. Similar results are obtained when the pipe diameter is increased, where a reduction of a 3.16% in water generation in the evaporator is achieved with a pipe diameter of 5/8", with a maximum improvement of 0.13% when the pipe diameter is reduced to 1/4".
Water scarcity corresponds to an international problem with more than 50% of the population located in areas of high scarcity. About 17% of water use is for domestic purposes and an increase of 20% to 30% is projected by 2050. To supply consumption needs, companies have begun to manufacture and use atmospheric water generators, machinery capable of condensing, cooling and securing water for rural and industrial areas, however, their low efficiency and accompanied by a lack of studies, have led to low commercialization so they are uncommon as a solution for scarcity. To improve the efficiency of these systems and identify the key parameters in their operation, this report proposes to carry out a study through computational fluid dynamics simulations of different geometric characteristics implemented in an evaporator of an atmospheric water collection system by vapor compression and cooling. Average characteristics of the humid air and a computational model of Ansys Fluent are considered, considering turbulence, energy transmission and mass transfer, simulations were carried out to a geometric model of a representative base evaporator with 0.1 mm thick plates and 10 mm diameter pipes and 8 geometric modifications to this model. Geometric modifications indicate up to 3.26% higher water generation as the thickness of the evaporator plates is increased, but with a limit due to the turbulence generated by the impact of air with cross-sectional area when the thickness of the plate exceeds 0.2 mm. Similar results are obtained when the pipe diameter is increased, where a reduction of a 3.16% in water generation in the evaporator is achieved with a pipe diameter of 5/8", with a maximum improvement of 0.13% when the pipe diameter is reduced to 1/4".
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniero/a Civil Aeroespacial.
Keywords
Agua Abastecimiento, Condensación, Dinámica de fluidos computacional, Intercambiadores de calor