Feasibility of Condensate Recovery in Humid Climates

Abstract

This study investigates the practicality of using the air-conditioning condensate as an additional source of water. The scarcities of natural water resources, especially in arid regions, represent a major obstacle restraining sustainable development. Exploring new sources of water supplies, like condensate recovery, address this issue. A model is developed to predict the condensate production for any location using hourly weather data and detailed psychrometric analysis. It is further used to investigate influence of climate condition and space occupancy on the amount of condensate generated. Results reveal that the large cost of implementing a recovery system is still justifiable for buildings with high fresh air percentage and in countries with a hot, humid and arid climate. The feasibility of using the collected condensate as cooling tower make-up water is examined. Abu-Dhabi, a city with dry climate, is selected for further study to find the cost of an economically justifiable recovery system.