Parametric study and optimisation of operating parameters of a centrifugal humidifier using response surface methodology

Abstract

Present work aimed at the new approach of determination of the performance parameters of a mixed flow centrifugal dynamic humidifier and the parameters are optimized to yield maximum performance. Input and output parameters were set using the design of experiments and the influence of significant parameters on performance was determined using ANOVA. Input parameters such as air velocity, water flow rate and rotor speed were chosen as input parameters and parameters such as humidification efficiency, coefficient of performance, evaporation rate, and energy consumption were used as performance parameters. The results obtained by the model are compared with the experimental results obtained by the fully constructed centrifugal humidifier. Results indicated that anticipated results agreed with the actual experimental values, with an average error of 4.12%. Maximum performance is obtained for input parameters air flow rate of 0.83 m/s, water flow rate of 0.48 LPM and a rotor speed of 94 rpm. System yielded humidification efficiency, coefficient of performance and energy consumption equal to 62.7%, 5.4, 0.475 g/s and 463.2 Watts, respectively. The confirmation results indicated a good correlation between response surface methodology predicted and experimental results.

Keywords

• Centrifugal
• dynamic
• energy consumption
• optimisation
• surface methodology
• Dr Pham D T, Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland