Unveiling the benefits of reclaimed condensed water in Part II: Energy Saving and Application for Electric Vehicle cooling

The power consumption of water-cooled chillers depends on how effective the heat transfer from refrigerant to water, and from water to air is. The condensed water is conducive to descaling of the cooling water system ameliorates the heat transfer and reduces the compressor workload. The water scales deposited on heat exchanger surfaces diminish the heat transfer efficiencies. The institutional and educational data were reviewed that, at typical fouling factor 0.001 (0.1 mm thick water scales) of condenser, the compressor power consumption increases 4.1%. With the existing refrigerant R134a, the assessment results in every 1°C condensing refrigerant temperature (CRT) is lowered, the coefficient of performance (COP) theoretically improves 5.6% which correspondingly saves energy 4.2%. Having adopted condensed water with auto bleed-off control system, the actual measurement reflected every 1°C of CRT saved energy 6.9% and 13.1% before and after annual condenser tube cleansing respectively. Consequently, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is around 57,000 kg CO2e/yr per °C of CRT improvement. In regard to the electric transportation, this comprehensive review has dived into the condensed water benefits that provided a solid ground for their contributions to electric vehicle cooling and energy efficiency.