Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Civil Engineering (MCE)

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Singh, Harmohindar Dr.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to establish a guide line or an analytical frame work to predetermine the economic benefits associated with the installation of Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) condensate recovery systems to capture the air-handler’s condensate water and use it as makeup water for the cooling tower. Some factors should be considered such as; the location, building operation, amount of outside air required, type of energy recovery system, and indoor conditions setup. Experimental data was used from Emory University in Georgia, where a condensate recovery system was installed and the condensate water from four air-handler units at Winship Cancer Center building was metered for the year 2005. A simulation model was developed using Microsoft Excel to estimate the possible collected HVAC condensate water in different locations within the U.S. using the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning (ASHRAE) bin weather data. Theoretical results were verified by the experimental data. The analysis showed that the economical feasibility of the system is significant in hot, humid locations; conversely, it is insignificant in cold, dry locations. Also, it varies proportionally to the outside air ratio, the supply air flow, and the indoor conditions setup. However it varies inversely proportional to the latent effectiveness of the energy recovery device if found within the system. The adoption of the HVAC condensate recovery system as a nation wide application would save the U.S. around 96 billion gallons of water and an estimated $780 million per year.

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