Experimental investigation of a thermo-responsive composite coated heat exchanger for ultra-low grade heat utilization

Abstract

There is a growing interest in desiccant coated heat exchanger (DCHE)-based systems due to characteristics of isothermal dehumidification and compact structure. To enhance the dehumidification efficiency and reduce the regeneration temperature of DCHE-based systems, a thermo-responsive composite desiccant coated heat exchanger (PSLCHE) was developed. This study focuses on investigating the influence of operating parameters (such as air temperature, relative humidity, regeneration temperature and adsorption/desorption time ratio) on the dynamic performance, average dehumidification capacity (Davg) and thermal coefficient of performance (COPth) of the system. Under the air condition of 30 °C & 60% RH, the PSLCHE demonstrates remarkable performance with the Davg of 7.3 g·kg−1 and COPth of 0.93 at 40 °C. This study provides a route to the design of highly efficient air conditioning systems using thermo-responsive composite for ultra-low grade thermal energy at 40 °C.