Heat and mass transfer of ambient air flowing over cold fins

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Moisture condensation takes place as ambient air is contacting a surface with a temperature lower than the dew point. In the current investigation, a theoretical model predicting heat and mass transfer of ambient air flowing over a cold flat plate is developed. The model consists of continuity, momentum, energy and mass transfer equations. Using variables, partial differential equations and their boundary conditions are transformed into ordinary differential equations, which can be readily solved by numerical method. The moisture condensation rate of ambient air flowing over a cold plate was studied including the effects of airflow rate, relative humidity, air temperature, and surface temperature. Using the same approach, the moisture condensation occurring in a heat sink is studied. The model can consider the effects of air velocity, relative humidity, fin thermal conductivity, fin height, fin length, fin thickness, and fin gap. The model can be used to predict moisture condensation occurring in cold fins, which would help improve efficiency of industrial products such as dehumidifiers.