Idea for an air cooled condenser.

[Hügelwilli]

Let's see what the math says:

Air has a heat capacity of 1.005 kJ/kg/K what is 0.28 Wh/kg/K. This means to heat up 1kg air 1°C needs 1h 0.28W.

Now lets assume you have air inlet temperature 20°C and outlet 80°C. This means you have a span of 60°C.

Now 0.28Wh/kg/K x 60deltaK = 16.8Wh/kg. This means each kg air can handle 15.8Wh.

So 5500W / 16.8Wh/kg = 327kg/h
This is 327000lt/h air, because 1kg air = 1000lt
And 327000lt/h = 91lt per second air.

So you need minimum 91lt per second air no matter how large your condenser is. The only way to reduce this is less wattage or a colder air. With air at 0°C you would have a span of 80°C instead of 60, what means you would need only 91 x 60 / 80 = 68lt air per second.

[Yummyrum]

Nice math Hugel
What practical fan would you suggest that could move that volume of air ?

[Hügelwilli]

I have no idea.
My post is meant to see if this project will fail due to the efforts and to show that you cannot solve it with more and more surface area like with added fins for example.

[shadylane]

Now lets assume you have air inlet temperature 20°C and outlet 80°C.

I know the answer.
It's going to get hot enough to kill skitters in the still shed.

[shadylane]

you cannot solve it with more and more surface area like with added fins

I think the more surface area provided by cooling fins, the better.

[Hügelwilli]

you cannot solve it with more and more surface area like with added fins

I think the more surface area provided by cooling fins, the better.

To get to the 80°C after the condenser, added fins can help. But I don't know if they are needed. If you get 80°C air temperature after the condenser without fins, added fins won't help, because -assuming the vapor temperature is 80°C-, this won't heat up air to more than 80°C. The heat hast to go to somewhere. If the air is already at 80°C, nothing will help to get more cooling.

[googe]

The fins have to be at a minimum the amount of energy output, the fan has to match the conductivity of the fins. Huge is right.

[squigglefunk]

Let's see what the math says:

Air has a heat capacity of 1.005 kJ/kg/K what is 0.28 Wh/kg/K. This means to heat up 1kg air 1°C needs 1h 0.28W.

Now lets assume you have air inlet temperature 20°C and outlet 80°C. This means you have a span of 60°C.

Now 0.28Wh/kg/K x 60deltaK = 16.8Wh/kg. This means each kg air can handle 15.8Wh.

So 5500W / 16.8Wh/kg = 327kg/h
This is 327000lt/h air, because 1kg air = 1000lt
And 327000lt/h = 91lt per second air.

So you need minimum 91lt per second air no matter how large your condenser is. The only way to reduce this is less wattage or a colder air. With air at 0°C you would have a span of 80°C instead of 60, what means you would need only 91 x 60 / 80 = 68lt air per second.

[Hügelwilli]

So he doesn't like it and can help only with a meme.

[shadylane]

If the air outlet temp is 80'c I'd use a bigger fan.

[Hügelwilli]

If I ran a fan that moves 91lt air per second in my shed I would not think about using a bigger one.

[Chauncey]

200 cfm bathroom exhaust fan may work...

[shadylane]

200 cfm bathroom exhaust fan may work...

Now that I've thought about it.
The 6" inline fan I suggested earlier only flows 170 cfm.
I don't think that's a big enough fan either.
I used a cheap window fan, It's rated at something like 2000 cfm.

If you want small and high CFM.
Ya need a blower instead of a fan.

[Chauncey]

I'm looking hard at Mason jars design...I'm thinking I can take that and improve upon it some...

[squigglefunk]

So he doesn't like it and can help only with a meme.

no I was just saying I am bad at math and it confuses me lol