Performance evaluation of hybrid desiccant air conditioning system regenerated by waste heat from air cooled condenser: Experimental Investigation

Abstract

Heating ventilation and air conditioning units reject a large quantity of heat to the surroundings as waste. Thus proper reclamation of this unused heat could also enhance the COP of such arrangements and their lesser adverse effect on the environment. Therefore hybrid desiccant air conditioning unit using unused heat from condenser for regeneration can be more effective than the conventional air conditioning unit under hot and humid climatic conditions. In this paper, various performance parameters of hybrid desiccant air conditioning unit using unused heat from condenser is determined at different process air inlet temperatures (28, 29.5, 31, 32.5, 34, 35.5 and 37°C) and different process air inlet velocities, i.e. (1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 m/s) and at fix (2.5 m/s) air velocity at regeneration inlet. Refrigerating effect, heat rejection rate, VCOP, ECOP, dehumidification effectiveness, moisture removal capacity and DCOP decreases with increment in different air temperatures at process inlet. While compressor work, regeneration effectiveness and regeneration rate increases with increment in different air temperatures at process inlet. On the other hand, refrigerating effect, heat rejection rate, VCOP, ECOP, dehumidification effectiveness, regeneration effectiveness, and regeneration rate decrease with increased air velocities at process inlet. Whereas compressor work, moisture removal capacity and DCOP increases with an increase in air velocities at the process inlet. Thus, optimization of these performance parameters is determined to achieve the maximum efficiency of the hybrid desiccant air conditioning system under the above operating states.