Abstract
This study provides comprehensive details of evaporative cooling options for building air-conditioning (AC) in Multan (Pakistan). Standalone evaporative cooling and standalone vapor compression AC (VCAC) systems are commonly used in Pakistan. Therefore, seven AC system configurations comprising of direct evaporative cooling (DEC), indirect evaporative cooling (IEC), VCAC, and their possible combinations, are explored for the climatic conditions of Multan. The study aims to explore the optimum AC system configuration for the building AC from the viewpoints of cooling capacity, system performance, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. A simulation model was designed in DesignBuilder and simulated using EnergyPlus in order to optimize the applicability of the proposed systems. The standalone VCAC and hybrid IEC-VCAC & IEC-DEC-VCAC system configurations could achieve the desired human thermal comfort. The standalone DEC resulted in a maximum COP of 4.5, whereas, it was 2.1 in case of the hybrid IEC-DEC-VCAC system. The hybrid IEC-DEC-VCAC system achieved maximum temperature gradient (21 °C) and relatively less CO2 emissions as compared to standalone VCAC. In addition, it provided maximum cooling capacity (184 kW for work input of 100 kW), which is 85% higher than the standalone DEC system. Furthermore, it achieved neutral to slightly cool human thermal comfort i.e., 0 to −1 predicted mean vote and 30% of predicted percentage dissatisfied. Thus, the study concludes the hybrid IEC-DEC-VCAC as an optimum configuration for building AC in Multan.
Highlights
Air-conditioning (AC) loads of buildings are increasing rapidly due to the increase in population, urbanization, and standards of living [1]
A simulation model was designed in DesignBuilder and simulated using EnergyPlus to optimize the applicability of the proposed seven systems (Figure 2) for the studied building in Multan (Pakistan)
A simulation model was designed in DesignBuilder and simulated studied hybrid system options (i.e., direct evaporative cooling (DEC)-vapor compression AC (VCAC), indirect evaporative cooling (IEC)-VCAC and IEC-DEC-VCAC) performed using EnergyPlus to optimize the applicability ofsystem the proposed seven systems
Summary
Air-conditioning (AC) loads of buildings are increasing rapidly due to the increase in population, urbanization, and standards of living [1]. Many environment friendly AC systems are used nowadays that are free from HCFC/HFC refrigerants. There are many environmentally harmful systems that are still under practice to control/regulate temperature and humidity. Increasing AC use is somehow responsible for global warming and CO2 emissions around the globe [2]. Heat-driven adsorption/ absorption-based environment friendly AC systems are in practical use [3,4]. In 2017, worldwide global electricity consumption in the residential sector was around 496,583 and 398,729 ktoe in commercial and public sector buildings, respectively [5]
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