New Adsorption Air Conditioning System Powered by Solar Energy; Operation Principals and Winter Mode Modelling and Simulation

Abstract

This research focuses on the development of new adsorption air conditioning system powered by solar energy. The new system uses humidifier, heat exchanger, rotary desiccant and silica gel/water adsorption chiller. This unit is introduced to allow the production heat or cold with a good indoor air quality, and controls hygrometry. This system is powered by solar energy and does not “abuse” nature. The new design is made of five sections which are: the Pre-cooling / pre-heating, the drying, the energy recovery, the water adsorption chiller and the brewing. It permits three working modes according to the climatic conditions and to the season of the year. This work focuses on the design, modelling and numerical simulation of the air conditioning system working in winter mode. The simulation uses ambient temperature and solar flux for Gafsa city conditions to predict the behaviour of the system. Moreover, we present the evolution temperature during 24 hours in the building, the storage tank and at some point on the new system. This work includes a study of the building relative humidity, vs respectively, relative humidity at the outlet air of the humidifier and temperature of the water used for humidification