Experimental Apparatus For Demonstrating The Thermo Siphon Heat Recovery System Concept

A portable thermo-siphon heat recovery system experimental apparatus was designed, developed, and constructed for the undergraduate mechanical engineering laboratory at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Fort Wayne. The purpose of this experimental apparatus is to demonstrate heat transfer principles and the concept of thermo-siphon heat recovery system. This paper presents an experimental setup that will help the undergraduate mechanical engineering students in understanding the basic heat transfer processes by utilizing real life applications such as using waste heat from a window type air conditioner to heat water for residential and commercial use. Heat recovery from an air conditioner by thermo-siphon is attractive because it eliminates the need for a circulating pump. This project was completed with the assistance of an Undergraduate Senior Project Grant from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE).