Desiccant Cooling System Research Articles

Desiccant Cooling System Performance: A Simple Approach

A simple algebraic model of wave motion arising in the adiabatic fixed-desiccant bed dehumidification of an air stream is applied to the prediction of the performance potential of a desiccant air conditioning system. The model is used to explain the increase in cooling system performance that has been realized through the use of mixed inert-desiccant material adsorption beds. The response of cooling system performance to changes in external process conditions is examined and conclusions are drawn relative to optimization of system characteristics.

Second Law Analysis of Desiccant Cooling Systems

A second law analysis of constant pressure open cycle cooling systems was performed in order to assess the potential performance of desiccant cooling systems. The results yield upper bounds which are independent of the nature of the desiccant. Calculations carried out for a wide range of operating conditions show that the performance of these open cycle systems strongly depends on the humidity ratio. For ARI conditions, the reversible COP is about 4.66, and it approaches infinity at very low outdoor humidity ratios.

An Overview of Open-Cycle Desiccant-Cooling Systems and Materials

This paper has presented a review of the thermodynamics of three desiccant cooling cycles: the ventilation cycle, the recirculation cycle, and the Dunkle cycle. For the ventilation cycle the qualitative effects of changes in the effectiveness of individual components were analyzed. There are two possible paths to improved dehumidifier performance: changing the design of dehumidifiers using currently available desiccants so as to increase effectiveness without increasing parasitic losses, or developing new desiccants specifically tailored for solar cooling applications. The later part of this paper has considered the second option. A list of desirable desiccant properties was defined, properties of currently used solid and liquid desiccants were compared to this list, and a hypothetical desiccant type that would give improved system performance was discussed.