Análise de viabilidade do aproveitamento da água do condensado proveniente dos ar-condicionados do bloco administrativo do IFPE - campus Caruaru

Abstract

Water, a natural resource of inestimable value and limited, plays a vital role in the existence and survival of humanity. Due to the frequent droughts that have occurred in recent years in Caruaru, Pernambuco, and the considerable waste of drinking water in public buildings, caused by a lack of awareness and in-depth studies to optimize the use of water, the study searches for effective approaches in wastewater management, which, without requiring high quality, can be applied to various activities, such as watering plants, cleaning external areas, floors, sidewalks, glass, among other uses. Therefore, this work aimed to carry out an in-depth study of the average production of condensed water in the refrigeration devices of the IFPE administrative block – Campus Caruaru. In view of this, a bibliographical research was carried out and subsequently estimated calculations and capture at different times on site of condensed water from two devices of different brands, to obtain the research results. This was done with the help of two thermo-hygrometers and Computer Aided Thermodynamic Tables 3 software, which through them and mathematical equations we were able to know the possible average number of liters of water that can be produced and one hour of air conditioning operation. Through these results, it was possible to discuss this work and two studies that during their development there was a large discrepancy between the amount of theoretical and collected water, giving a difference of over 20%. Given this scenario, it was possible to infer that both studies take into account that the air flow leaves the evaporator with 100% Relative Humidity, a fact that does not match reality. As evidenced in this work, the evaporator outlet sensor showed air flow with relative humidity below 100%, confirming what the psychrometric study claims. Therefore, this work brought a difference in the amount of volume stipulated and collected close to 10%, as it used data from thermo-hygrometers, thus being able to justify the difference caused by the lack of precision of thermo-hygrometers. Continuing, it was possible to estimate an average volume that can be produced by the 17 air conditioning units in the administrative block, if they are turned on during working hours, totaling more than 16 cubic meters of water per month. This volume represents approximately 20% of the monthly consumption of IFPE - Campus Caruaru. It is essential to consider not only the economic aspect, but also associate it with environmental benefits when evaluating the viability of this project, as this is the fundamental principle that guides its conception