Methods for forming interfacial heat-mass exchange surface in flowing air contact with water

A review of methods for forming interfacial heat-mass exchange surface in contact devices for air steam treatment is given. An effective method for creation of heat-mass exchange surface in air flow contact with water in the course of adiabatic wetting in air conditioning systems is proposed: by use of a plate head-piece with a mechanical vibration exciter. A method of defining area of the interfacial heat-mass exchange surface for these conditions is developed on the base of number of transfer units. The criterion equations to describe heat and mass transfer which occur when a plate head-piece with a vibration exciter is used for adiabatic air wetting are obtained. Use of a plate head-piece with vibration exciter as a contact device reduces energy consumption due to reduction of aerodynamic resistance of the air path and process intensification. (paper)