Analytical Solution of Water Vapor Condensation in Flow Channel of Battery Pack

Abstract

The analytical solutions for condensation (and evaporation) rates of laminar humid air flow in the channels of a battery pack at both entrance and downstream regions are obtained/modeled. The effects of the entrance fluid velocity profile and the aspect ratio of the flow channel are taken into consideration. Initially, an analytical solution for laminar humid air flows' condensation at the flow channel with infinite aspect ratio and fully developed flow profile at the entrance is obtained. The solution is in good agreement with the simulation result obtained from a correlated fluent condensation model. After performing simulations of water vapor condensation and evaporation in the flow channel for different aspect ratios and entrance velocity profiles, the analytical solutions of condensation and evaporation rate of water vapor are presented in analytic forms by adding appropriate coefficients/correction factors to the solution for the flow in the channel with infinite aspect ratio. The resulting model accurately captures the effects of the entrance velocity profile and aspect ratio.