Sunday 24 July 2011

Free Window Cleaning Production Water from Air Conditioning


Free Window Cleaning Production Water from Air Conditioning: An alternative to collecting rainwater - For those lucky enough to live in a hot climate (or not so lucky, however you may see it) air conditioners automatically act as dehumidifiers when they chill the air and thus need to handle the reject accumulated water. Newer window units direct the condensed water to increase cooling of the condensing coils (warm side) which evaporates the water into the outdoor air, while older units (the ones that are easy to collect the beneficial reject water for wfp) simply allow the water to drip outside. Air conditioning units need to be connected to a drain & this is where the reject water is passed to. After recording a number of total dissolved solids tests - I'm happy to report that the reject water is well within the bounds for using directly on to windows. In normal testing I've found results to be between .010 to as low as .003. A simple sponge filter can be set up to get rid of non-mineral particulates on the outlet. Make sure the filter medium doesn't cause the water to back up to the air conditioning unit! By collecting your reject condensate water in 25L drums the water can be utilised via pumps in your water fed pole system.

How does it work? An air conditioner is very similar to a dehumidifier. Air in a dehumidifier passes over a series of cooling coils (the evaporator) and then over a set of heating coils (the condenser). It then goes back into the room as drier air with its temperature elevated. However in an air conditioner, air passes over the cooling coils (the evaporator) and then directly into the room. The heated refrigerant then goes through a tube outside the volume being cooled where the heating coils (the condenser) are located, and outside air passes over it and then stays outside. The water which condenses on the evaporator in a dehumidifier is caught in the drain pan or drain hose. The water that condenses on the evaporator in an air conditioner runs thorough a duct to the outside of the window as reject water.

How to Save Water From an Air Conditioner (U.S): Condensation from the cooling process is a by-product of air conditioning. Over time, several gallons of water can drip into the ground or a drain. Collecting the condensation from an air conditioning system in the home is a good source of many gallons of water for us.

1. Prepare a location for the rain water collection barrel. Locate the drain for the condensation and smooth the area below the drain with a shovel.
2. Place a 3- to 4-inch-deep layer of gravel on the ground where the barrel will be positioned.
3. Set the rain water collection barrel in position below the drain.
4. Measure the distance between the rain barrel and the end of the PVC condensation drain, using a tape measure. Cut a length of PVC of the same diameter with a fine-tooth saw.
5. Attach a PVC coupling to the end of the condensation drain. Install the extension length of PVC that was cut into the opposite end of the coupling.
6. Place another coupling on the end of the extension length of PVC tubing. Attach a PVC drain trap to the opposite end of the coupling.
7. Place another coupling on the end of the drain elbow and attach a PVC elbow to the coupling.
8. Position the elbow so that water will flow into the water collection opening in the top of the rain barrel.

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