Innovative Parametric Study on Water Extraction from Atmospheric Moisture in a Sealed Chamber via Vapor-Compression Refrigeration

Sokhangouy, Seyed Erfan; Varmazyar, Mostafa

doi:10.22075/jhmtr.2026.36305.1662

Innovative Parametric Study on Water Extraction from Atmospheric Moisture in a Sealed Chamber via Vapor-Compression Refrigeration

Document Type : Full Length Research Article

Authors

Seyed Erfan Sokhangouy

Mostafa Varmazyar

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Iran

10.22075/jhmtr.2026.36305.1662

Abstract

In this study, a cycle for water production from air trapped in a closed chamber is simulated and analyzed. The cycle comprises two sections: humid air and refrigerant. Humid air flows over evaporator coils, condensing water vapor into droplets. Various parameters affecting the cycle's performance, including the temperature and flow rate of incoming humid air, and the refrigerant temperature, are investigated. Through numerical modeling and parametric analysis, it is found that lower refrigerant temperatures in the evaporator significantly increase water production, especially at temperatures below 5°C. Furthermore, increasing the humid air flow rate up to 0.05 kg/s enhances dehumidification, but further increases beyond this rate reduce dehumidification as the cooling capacity is primarily used to lower air temperature. Additionally, it is observed that higher inlet air temperatures initially increase water production, with optimal flow rates varying based on temperature conditions. The ratio of latent heat to compressor power consumption improves with higher flow rates up to 0.05 kg/s, after which efficiency decreases. While the Coefficient of Performance (COP) improves with increased air flow rates, higher evaporator coil temperatures lead to reduced moisture extraction. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing water production cycles, offering strategies to enhance efficiency for industrial and environmental applications.

Keywords

Numerical modeling

Humid air

Water extraction

Sealed chamber

Vapor-Compression refrigeration

Subjects

Multiphase flow

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