Radiation-cooled Dew Water Condensers Studied by Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD)

Harvesting condensed atmospheric vapour as dew water can be an alternative or complementary potable water resource in specific arid or insular areas. Such radiation-cooled condensing devices use already existing flat surfaces (roofs) or innovative structures with more complex shapes to enhance the dew yield. The Computational Fluid Dynamic - CFD - software PHOENICS has been programmed and applied to such radiation cooled condensers. For this purpose, the sky radiation is previously integrated and averaged for each structure. The radiative balance is then included in the CFD simulation tool to compare the efficiency of the different structures under various meteorological parameters, for complex or simple shapes and at various scales. It has been used to precise different structures before construction. (1) a 7.32 m² funnel shape was studied; a 30° tilted angle (60° cone half-angle) was computed to be the best compromise for funnel cooling. Compared to a 1 m² flat condenser, the cooling efficiency was expected to be improved by 40%. Seventeen months measurements in outdoor tests presented a 138 % increased dew yield as compared to the 1 m² flat condenser. (2) The simulation results for 5 various condenser shapes were also compared with experimental measurement on corresponding pilots systems: 0.16 m² flat planar condenser, 1 m² and 30° tilted planar condenser, 30 m² and 30° tilted planar condenser, 255 m² multi ridges, a preliminary construction of a large scale dew plant being implemented in the Kutch area (Gujarat, India).