Design and Optimization of Compressed Air Coolers

Introduction

Compressed air coolers form an integral and important part of air compressors. Cost wise they constitute about 20 to 25% of the total compressor cost. Till now the traditional design approach that is prevalent in the Indian Industry takes the latent load into consideration, but, ignores the improvement in overall heat transfer coefficient taking place due to the condensation phenomenon. This results in oversizing of the air coolers. In the present work a design procedure for such wet surface heat exchanges based on the Colburn-Hougen method has been adopted. A user friendly computer program has been developed to size as well as optimize compressed air coolers using this approach. A number of after coolers designed by this software package have been fabricated and tested in field. Experimental results show good agreement with the calculations.

Salient features:

User Friendly computer program. Program takes into account the condensation phenomenon which improves overall heat transfer coefficient. Reduces size of air cooler.

Prospective Users: Compressed air cooler manufacturing industry. e.g. Parkaire Engineering Company (P) Ltd.

Keywords: Compressed Air cooler, Colburn-Hougen method, Heat exchanger.

Type of Technology: Software

Developed by : Prof. P L Dhar
Department: Mechanical Engineering

Contact:

Managing Director
Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT)
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016, INDIA
Tel : 91-011-26597167, 26857762, 26581013, 26597153
Fax : 91-011-26851169
E-mail : drkdpn@gmail.com