I m doing a Project on designing a heat exchanger for a evporative cooling. any idears?
Arrange a column of water over a flat tray such that any evaporation in the tray would automatically be replenished by the column. Make the tray reflective (such as out of aluminum). If this is a research project and not a design project, this will make it much easier to find the surface area for thermal calculations. If it is a design project, carboard will provide a significant improvement in surface area and should be used instead in the conventional manner. If durability and mold resistance are important, may I suggest soaking some kind of air filter for the element? It could be out of an automotive intake, home A/C, etc.
You could use courrogated cardboard from a box and a small fan. Place the cardboard in a tray of water, the water be drawn into the cardboard by capillary action. The courrogations gives you more surface area for evaporation. Use the fan to blow air across the cardboard. As the water evaporates, it will remove heat from the system. I seem to remember a man in Arizona built a full scale evaporative cooling tower for his house back in the 80's using this technology. JeffM
