Performance investigation of a heat pump driven, vacuum liquid desiccant regeneration system

Abstract

Abstract In the present study, a heat pump driven, vacuum liquid desiccant regeneration system was proposed as a potential substitute to traditional liquid desiccant regeneration system. The proposed system is composed of three parts, a generator, a condenser and a heat pump system. Diluted solution is regenerated in generator and steams boiled from the solution condenses in condenser. Heat pump provides heating and cooling capacity for boiling and condensing process, respectively. Compared to traditional system, regenerator operates under vacuum environment and no regeneration air is needed for the regeneration process. Heat and mass transfer model for the proposed system was built and adopted to analyze the effects of different influencing factors. The system has showed a relatively good regeneration performance, with a regeneration COP among 4~7 when concentration of inlet solution (LiBr) varies from 45.5% to 53.5%. Inlet solution concentration and required regeneration rate has been found to be the two most important influencing factors for the system performance.