Technical Paper
A Porous Media-Based Heat Exchanger: Experimental Measurements of Moisture Condensation
2006-07-17
2006-01-2037
Temperature and humidity control using condensing heat exchangers in microgravity requires condensation and separation of liquid from the air stream. A layered porous media-based condensing heat exchanger where capillary suction is used to imbibe and selectively remove the condensed water from a flowing air stream provides an attractive alternative to current designs. Experiments using a porous flat-plate, consisting of top and bottom halves with cooling tubes embedded in the middle, show that a hydrophilic porous graphite substrate can condense, and imbibe moisture without forming a liquid layer on both the top and bottom parts of the condensing surface. Measured condensation and heat transfer rates for a porous graphite substrate for a range of inlet air temperature and relative humidity at atmospheric pressure are presented in this paper.