Thermodynamic investigation of solar-powered integrated humidification-dehumidification and vapor compression refrigeration system

Abstract

Throughout the functioning of an air conditioner working on the principle of vapor compression (VCR system), the heat which is taken up by its evaporator, is thrown away by its condenser. The heat rejected by the condenser is frequently wasted, and it actually causes thermal pollution by increasing the temperature of the surrounding air. Aside from this, freshwater shortage is a severe issue in many regions. With the use of the waste heat of VCR system, it is intended to combine the air conditioning and humidification-dehumidification (HDH) water desalination, and to address these problems. The system supplies potable water, cool air, and warm water whilst avoiding the thermal pollution. Though the integration of the cooling and the desalination units has attracted the interest of some scholars, the duct construction in the current work is the new idea. In this study, the required spray water temperature in humidifier is found considering the human comfort inside the cabin. The impacts of ambient conditions, temperature of saline water, and efficiency of the humidifier on output and performance parameters are explored. The thermodynamic model developed in this research is validated by experimental studies. For the provided operating conditions, the gained output ratio (GOR), the cooling performance (CP), the energy performance coefficient (COEP), and the exergetic efficiency are 2.26, 0.70, 1.94, and 18.67%, respectively.