Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of different water spray angles (0°, 15°, and 30°) on the thermal and energy performance of a split-type air-conditioning (AC) condenser installed on a concrete rooftop in a tropical climate. An experimental setup was designed to replicate actual concrete rooftop conditions, focusing on the condenser inlet temperature, compressor power consumption, and system coefficient of performance (COP). A 6-minute ON and 6-minute OFF intermittent spray cycle was employed to optimise water usage and minimise excessive humidity. Experimental measurements were conducted on a 9,000 Btu/h split-type unit equipped with a nozzle system connected to a 200 L water tank. The results demonstrated that the 0° spray angle achieved the most significant improvement, reducing the condenser inlet air temperature by up to 22.5% and decreasing the compressor power consumption by 7.7% compared with the baseline. This configuration also enhanced the COP from 2.77 to 2.93, representing a 5.8% improvement in performance. Wider spray angles (15° and 30°) yielded moderate improvements but were less effective because of droplet dispersion and reduced surface wetting. Thermal imaging confirmed that the 0° angle produced the most uniform cooling distribution on the condenser surface. These findings underscore that spray cooling with an optimised nozzle orientation is a cost-effective and sustainable retrofit solution for rooftop AC condensers in tropical environments, offering improved energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
Recommended Citation
Kennedy, Kennedy; Aryana, I N Frenki; and Basri, Basri
(2025)
"Spray Angle on the Performance of Split-Type AC Condenser Installed on Concrete Rooftop in Tropical Climate,"
Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST): Vol. 9:
No.
2, Article 12.
Available at:
https://citeus.um.ac.id/jmest/vol9/iss2/12