Humidification Dehumidification Desalination System Research Articles

The Effect of Hydrogen as a Coolant on the Characteristics of Humidification-Dehumidification Desalination Systems

The air humidification-dehumidification (HDH) technique for water desalination can be useful in many water production applications. Researchers from all around the world have examined various implementations of this technology to improve it. The present research investigates the effect of three dehumidifier coolants on the system. These coolants include water, helium, and hydrogen. The impact of these coolants on the parameters of the humidification-dehumidification desalination system will be discussed. The investigation’s parameters are tested at various mass ratios, air flow rates, and air outlet heaters. The results show that when hydrogen is employed as a dehumidifier coolant, the gained output ratio (GOR) achieves its peak of 6.37 in the considered mass ratio range of 2.1 to 3. On the other hand, when hydrogen is utilized as a dehumidifier coolant, the system produces the maximum entropy, with the dehumidifier contributing the most. When the mass ratio changes from 2 to 3, the average entropy generation for the system using hydrogen in the dehumidifier increases by 3.8 and 2.9 times, respectively, compared to the average entropy generation for the system using water and helium. However, when hydrogen is used as a dehumidifier coolant, safety concerns must be addressed, as well as the size and cost of heat exchangers in comparison to water.

Effect of nanofluid on the performance of humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination system

Effect of nanofluid on the performance of humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination system

Thermal analysis of humidification–dehumidification desalination system based on evacuated tube solar air heater

Thermal analysis of humidification–dehumidification desalination system based on evacuated tube solar air heater

Experimental study on a compact solar driven two-stage humidification-dehumidification desalination system with shared dehumidifier

The low-cost and low-grade solar driven humidification-dehumidification desalination is considered a promising process for small and medium capacity freshwater production. Nevertheless, the enhancement of the unit volume water production rate is hindered by the disparity in mass transfer coefficient and the incongruity between heat and mass flow rate in the humidification and dehumidification process. This paper proposes a compact solar driven two-stage humidification-dehumidification desalination system with shared dehumidifier. It contains two humidifiers and a dehumidifier, wherein the dehumidifier is stacked between the vertically placed humidifiers. The circulating air is humidified by hot seawater in the top and bottom humidifiers respectively, and then goes to the middle dehumidifier to condense via a freshwater absorption process. Its design scheme and operating principle are introduced and a mathematical model describing its internal energy and mass flow process is established. An experimental setup with compound parabolic concentrator areas of 6 m2 is developed, and a sequence of experiments is carried out. The results indicate that its freshwater productivity can reach 29.6 kg/h with a gained output ratio of 0.84 when the feed seawater temperature is 80 ℃. Due to its compact structure, the freshwater production per volume unit per day reaches up to 224.1 kg/(day⋅m3). This work may promote the development of solar humidification and dehumidification systems towards low cost and high efficiency.

Anti-fouling rotating polymer-based heat exchanger for zero liquid discharge humidification-dehumidification desalination

The objective of this investigation is to assess the performance of various heat exchangers for application in a novel solar-powered zero liquid discharge humidification-dehumidification desalination system. In this study four heat exchangers (HX) having two different flow configurations namely counter flow (cf), cross flow (cr) made up of three different materials namely high-density polyethylene (HDPE), aluminum (Al), and Polypropelyne (PP) were compared in terms of their effectiveness and overall heat transfer coefficient under varying salinity levels (up to 10%) and mixing ratios (0.22–0.45). At a mixing ratio of 0.22 and 0% salinity, PP-HXcr and Al-HXcf exhibited similar effectiveness (∼85%), surpassing that of HDPE-HXcf (∼65%). Despite PP-HXcr's lower thermal conductivity in comparison to Al-HXcf, comparable effectiveness was achieved due to the superior flow distribution in PP-HXcr. Further investigations focused on the impact of salinity on heat exchanger performance. At 3.5% salinity, all heat exchangers experienced a decline in effectiveness and heat transfer coefficient (HTC), with Al-HXcf experiencing a more pronounced decrease compared to PP-HXcr. The higher thermal conductivity of Al-HXcf led to greater salt accumulation, while PP-HXcr demonstrated minimal fouling. As the experiment progressed, fouling increased for all heat exchangers, with the Al-HXcf being practically ineffective at 10% salinity with an effectiveness below 10%. To address the issue of fouling, a rotating cross-flow heat exchanger (RPP-HXcr) was introduced. While the effectiveness of the PP-HXcr drops from 85% to approximately 60% with increasing salinity from 0% to 10%, the RPP-HXcr demonstrates only a marginal decline in effectiveness with increasing salinity. For instance, at mixing ratio of 0.22 when the salinity is increased from 0% to 10%, the effectiveness of RPP-HXcr only drops from 83% to 77%. This exceptional performance was attributed to the continuous contact between the rotating tubes and the incoming feed, effectively preventing fouling and ensuring sustained efficiency. Rotating cross-flow heat exchanger (RPP-HXcr) is introduced and validated as a potentially reliable solution for mitigating fouling, as it demonstrates sustained efficiency and minimal performance degradation across different salinity conditions.

Solar-powered hybrid adsorption desalination/humidification-dehumidification system

Eco-friendly materials used in adsorption desalination system represent a good alternative to avoid the problems of pollution and global warming. Adsorption desalination technology has low relative performance and still needs more development. This work investigates novel configurations of solar-powered adsorption desalination system using composite sodium polyacrylate (SP) as adsorbent material integrated with humidification-dehumidification desalination system driven by solar energy or waste heat. Cost analysis of those novel configurations and weather effects were studied beside the performance. MATLAB and TRNSYS used hot regions' weather data to carry out the model. Sodium polyacrylate in the forms of raw sodium polyacrylate and SP/CaCl2 is used as adsorbent material. Findings reveal that for conventional solar adsorption desalination system using raw sodium polyacrylate or SP/CaCl2, the highest specific cooling power is introduced by the composite adsorbent. When utilizing raw sodium polyacrylate in the hybrid system with heat recovery, it gives relatively high values of specific daily water production, reaching 55.8 m3/ton in June, and it decreased to 41.7 m3/ton in December. Gained output ratio has been studied, and it changes from 1.73 in January to 1.58 in June and 1.75 in December. When utilizing SP/CaCl2, The hybrid system with heat recovery reached a SDWP value of 77.3 m3/ton in June, and it decreased to 51.8 m3/ton in December. Results also reveal that the SP/CaCl2 system powered by waste heat provides the cheapest desalinated water among all systems at 0.49 $/m3.

Experimental investigation of humidification-dehumidification desalination system based on double-ends open evacuated tube solar air heater with inbuilt heat storage unit

The scarcity of freshwater has become an increasingly serious concern for society. The adoption of small-scale and decentralized desalination techniques presents a viable solution to the issue of water scarcity by overcoming the challenges inherent in large-scale desalination techniques. The solar-based humidification-dehumidification (SBH-DH) process is considered to be a very appropriate approach for small-scale desalination. However, the available SBH-DH system was only operational during sunshine hours. The current study involves the experimental investigation of a novel SBH-DH system that incorporates a solar air heater (4.687 m2) based on phase change material (PCM), a humidifier having cellulose as packing material, and a dehumidifier. The performance of the SBH-DH system with and without phase change material is compared using a parametric study. The use of PCM increases the operating time by 3 h. But the yield of the system with PCM does not change significantly in comparison to the system without PCM. Moreover, the cost of the obtained yield increased by 41.4 %. Additionally, the thermal energy and exergy efficiencies of the system with PCM are estimated at three distinct flow rates. The results reveal that a higher air flow rate leads to greater mean energy efficiency (36.2 %) and exergy efficiency (4.40 %).

New and effective combination of an absorption desalination systems with adsorption and humidification-dehumidification desalination systems utilizing internal heat recovery methods

The fast growth in population and the need for human comfort leads to a significant rise in freshwater shortage and energy usage. This article provides new and effective combinations between absorption (ABDC), adsorption (ADDC), and humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination plants. Four new configurations employing different external and internal heat recovery methods between the plants and their components are proposed to enhance the overall system performance, water production, and utilization of the used energy. In all configurations, the solar water heating system is used to power the ABDC. While the ADDC and HDH were powered by the heat recovery from condensation, absorption, or generation processes. Internal heat recovery methods are also applied between the evaporator and condenser in ABDC and ADDC plants to increase energy utilization. The results are evaluated and compared with standalone ABDC results and with previous related studies at different conditions. The production share percentage (%) from each plant for the suggested configurations with regeneration temperatures is also investigated. The maximum water production is achieved by the fourth configuration (3 m3.day−1 with a gain output ratio (GOR) of 1.316 at 120 °C) when the ADDC is worked by the outlet hot water from the ABDC, and internal heat recovery utilized between the condensation and evaporation components of both ABDC and ADDC. The highest GOR is obtained from the second configuration (1.714 at 90 °C). The finding expressed that the proposed configurations have a better performance than traditional ABDC systems. Also, the proposed configurations express another advantage over traditional ABDC, that the configurations have the potential at low-temperature heat sources (55–65 °C) to improve the water productivity to about 455 % and GOR to about 120 %.

Analysis of heat pump operated two-stage humidification-dehumidification desalination system with subcooler and heat regenerator

The heat pump operated single-stage humidification-dehumidification desalination system, configured with a subcooler and a heat regenerator, has been proven highly effective in improving both freshwater productivity and energy efficiency. To investigate the potential benefits of increasing the number of humidification stages, this paper presents a heat pump operated two-stage humidification-dehumidification desalination system by adding a pre-humidifier. Subcooler and condenser of the heat pump are used as the heat sources of the main humidifier and the pre-humidifier, respectively. Through parametric studies, a comparative analysis is conducted on the thermodynamic and economic performances of both the heat pump operated single-stage system and two-stage system at various operating conditions. The results show that such system modification can greatly improve system performances. Compared to the single-stage system, the maximum freshwater productivity of the two-stage system is 42.89 kg/h, increased by 19.77 %; the peak gain output ratio is 7.93, up by 9.53 %; and the lowest specific electricity consumption is 79.34 kWh/m3, reduced by 15.15 %. Furthermore, the freshwater production cost for the two-stage system, ranging from 7.78 to 13.33 $/m3, is also superior that of the single-stage system, further demonstrating its substantial value in practical product development and market promotion.

Evaluation of two-stage humidification-dehumidification desalination systems operated by a modified heat pump

The humidification-dehumidification desalination system operated by a heat pump is ideal for the decentralized small-scale desalination plant, due to its advantages of low investment and stable freshwater provision. To overcome the heat source limitation of multi-stage humidification-dehumidification system, a modified heat pump with a subcooler is used to operate the two-stage humidification-dehumidification system. With the difference of heated object, two layouts of the heat pump operated two-stage humidification-dehumidification systems are proposed, which are twice water-heated system and twice air-heated system. A parametric study is conducted to analyze the effect of feed seawater temperature and water/air mass flow ratio on the thermodynamic and economic performances of the proposed systems. A performance comparison is also carried out to analyze the difference between water heating and air heating, together with advantages over the reported systems. According to the results, it can be concluded that optimal feed seawater temperature and water/air mass flow ratio exist for the proposed systems. The twice water-heated system outperforms the twice air-heated system with the maximum freshwater productivity and gain output ratio of 34.69 kg/h and 7.69, while the lowest specific electricity consumption and freshwater production cost of 89.18 kWh/m3 and 14.52 $/m3. These results are also superior to those of previously reported HP-HDH systems, fully demonstrating the value of research and development for this novel system and its promising market application prospects.

Energy, exergy, economic, exergo and enviro-economic analysis of solar powered humidification dehumidification desalination system: An experimental investigation

A solar-powered humidification dehumidification (SPHDH) desalination system presents an economically viable thermal desalination approach for satisfying the requirement of freshwater. The traditional solar air heater and saline water as the cooling fluid in the condenser, impose restrictions on the SPHDH system’s performance and lifespan. The present study involves a solar air heater, humidifier (packed bed type), and heat exchanger coupled with a direct evaporative cooler to develop a SPHDH desalination system. The collector employed in this study consists of double-end open evacuated tubes, while the cooling medium utilized is ambient air. Moreover, in the context of a humidifier, two distinct packing materials, specifically cellulose and aspen pads are employed in order to examine the impact of the packing material on the system. The performance evaluation is conducted through the energy, exergy, GOR, effectiveness, economic, exergo, and enviro-economic assessments. The findings indicate that the cellulose pad exhibits superior performance when compared to the aspen pad. This is due to lower air flow resistance and a greater contact surface area. The system’s highest mean energy and exergy efficiency is obtained with cellulose pads, i.e., 31.2 % and 5.10 %, respectively. Moreover, the cellulose pads have shown to achieve a maximum production of 3.12 kg/m2/day at a cost of 0.038 $/kg. The exergo-economic values based on energy and exergy are 14.76 kWh/$ and 2.56 kWh/$, respectively.

Energetic performance of a solar driven absorption refrigeration system integrated with humidification dehumidification desalination system

Integrating cooling and desalination systems with a single heat source is a shortcut technique to meet the shortage of fresh water and energy as well as enhancing the efficiency of energy utilization. In this paper, the energetic performance of a double effect vapor absorption refrigeration system integrated with humidification-dehumidification desalination system has been optimized·H2O–LiCl achieves higher system primary energy ratio and needs lower heat source temperature by 5 °C and 11 °C at evaporation temperature of 10 °C and 4 °C, respectively as compared with H2O–LiBr. Therefore, a parametric study has been performed to get the optimum operating conditions for the integrated system using H2O–LiCl as working pair by varying generation, condensation, and evaporation temperatures. The optimum system conditions are generation, condensation, and evaporation temperatures of 103 °C, 103 °C and 7 °C, respectively. The corresponding system COP, GOR and EUF are 1.471, 2.391 and 3.863, respectively. Finally, the transient performance of the proposed integrated system assisted by solar energy has been evaluated for Marsa-Matrouh city in Egypt. The proposed integrated system could save 71.2 % of the input energy without solar assistance and 88.5 % with solar assistance as compared with separated systems.

A parametric analysis of a solar humidification/dehumidification desalination system using a bio-inspired cascade humidifier

ABSTRACT Water scarcity is a significant challenge for a growing world’s population, particularly in remote locations where solar energy is plentiful. Of the existing solutions, the Humidification-Dehumidification (HDH) desalination technique can work effectively with low-grade energy sources, such as solar. However, HDH desalination systems often have a low yield, leading to a focus on ever-more complex humidification systems. This work aims to examine the performance of a novel bioinspired humidifier as a low-cost and effective solution to increase the yield of small-scale HDH desalination systems. To this end, an HDH desalination system using a cascade humidifier was conceptually developed and parametrically modelled. It was shown that the evaporation rate in the humidifier could be increased by increasing both the air and water flow rates. It was also found that an evaporation rate of 0.91 × 10−3 kg/s could be achieved for an evaporation area of 0.36 m2. Considering the entire desalination system, it was noted that increasing the water flow rate reduced the water temperature entering the humidifier and thus reduced production. Conversely, increasing the airflow rate enhanced the production rate. More importantly, it was shown that under appropriate conditions this novel desalination system can have a production of 10.2 litre/day/m2.

Design methodology based on multi-objective optimization with evolutionary algorithms for humidification-dehumidification desalination systems using updated approaches

This paper develops a methodology for multi-objective optimization using Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II). The methodology aims to address the problem of the close relation between variables based on a mathematical model that simulates design variants of humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination systems, where the variation of one parameter can affect another. The approach consists of an exhaustive study of the state of the art to incorporate as many results as possible, including variable and parameter constraints established by previous research. Energy efficiency and potable water production are optimized with respect to the total area of the system's active components and the ratio of seawater converted to potable water. The calculations generate 20 Pareto optimal solutions, with an average pure water production of 14.01 l/h, and an average of the total and solar heating areas of 22.43 m2 and 8.52 m2, respectively, including many other parameters with similar values compared to other publications. The methodology is flexible, updatable, and generates high efficiency values, confirmed by the comparison of equivalent parameters and the pinch analysis, also with respect to previous results. The sensitivity analysis performed, presents different trends in the relation between variables in this scenario contributing to feedback on the behavior of hyperparameters of the algorithm, indicating a very wide potential of solutions. For the water temperature entering the dehumidifier, the range between 30 and 37 °C is determined as the optimum range, however, this is not the only result from the trend analysis of these 20 solutions, compared with other references. This methodology is a contribution to the overall objective of improving the HDH technology design process; optimal solutions are obtained for systems of the configuration chosen to apply it, but it can be adapted to others.

The impact of a balanced humidification-dehumidification desalination system driven by a vapor-compression heat-pump system

This study adopts a numerical thermo-economic investigation of a novel desalination system. In this system, a vapor compression (VC) heat pump is used to drive a balanced humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination unit with multiple extractions. The mathematical model of the proposed VC-HDH system is validated experimentally. The system is examined for water production under a condenser temperature of 45 °C, evaporator temperature of −5°C, feed saline water temperature of 30 °C, feed saline water flow rate of 1 kg/s, and an energy effectiveness value of 0.85 for the HDH unit’s components. The results show that without air extraction, the system can produce 6.62 kg/h of desalinated water for 0.011 $/l with a gained-output-ratio (GOR) value of 9.1. On the other hand, when a single air extraction is applied, about 20 kg/h of desalination water is produced by the system for 0.0042 $/l and 29 GOR. Increasing the number of air extractions to two yields a freshwater production rate of approximately 40 kg/h for 0.0026 $/l and a GOR value of 57. A considerable positive effect of the HDH unit’s performance is found on the system’s performance on both thermodynamic and economic scales. For better desalination performance, it is found that the feed water temperature should be maintained between 25 °C and 30 °C. Finally, the theoretical ceiling of the proposed system’s GOR is estimated.

Performance analysis of a novel two-bed adsorption humidification-dehumidification desalination system using Metal-organic framework 801

Adsorption desalination techniques have been increasingly studied over the last century as a sustainable option for meeting the rapidly growing demand for fresh water. One of the attractive factors for using adsorption desalination systems is the use of low-grade thermal energy normally wasted in the atmosphere. The current study introduces a novel adsorption desalination system integrated with a humidification dehumidification system for producing potable water. Four system configurations are presented. The main distinction between them is the source of hot water used for the humidifier. Scheme #1 utilizes the heat of condensation, Scheme #2 applies the heat of condensation plus the heat of adsorption, while Scheme # 3 adds the outlet of heating water from the desorber as a source of heat to the humidifier. Scheme #4 is a standalone adsorption desalination system that applies chilled water to cool the condenser. The novelty of this system is the application of the chilled water from the evaporator to the dehumidifier to create the highest possible temperature difference necessary for the humidification and dehumidification process. This advantage allows larger water productivity, especially in hot humid regions. In this case, it is possible to extract water vapour in the ambient humid air, water vapour gained from the humidification process and water vapour condensed in the condenser of the adsorption desalination system. Moreover, we have used a novel material Metal Organic Frameworks 801 as an adsorbent for a highly efficient process. Based on the results, Scheme #3 produced the maximum amount of fresh water, 210 kg/h while Scheme #2 obtained the maximum gained output ratio, 4.4 with a minimum cost of 0.0079 $/L. A standalone adsorption system produced the minimum amount of distillate water and the lowest gained output ratio. It is not advisable to use a standalone adsorption system to produce distillate water; as the full desalination potential is not achieved.

Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E’s) analysis of a solar driven humidification-dehumidification desalination system: An experimental investigation

A solar-driven humidification-dehumidification (SDH-DH) desalination system has shown to be a highly efficient and viable solution to meet the freshwater needs of a community. However, the solar air heater based on flat plate collector, imposes constraints on their efficiency. The current work focuses on the development of an SDH-DH desalination system. This system is comprised of a solar air heater that utilizes a double-ends open evacuated tube collector, a humidifier equipped with cellulose pad packing material, and a dehumidifier based on a direct evaporative cooler. The current SDH-DH desalination system is operated in two modes, namely open loop and closed loop, at four distinct process air flow rates. The system's performance indices are evaluated based on energy, exergy, environmental and economic analysis. The solar air heater is capable of generating hot air at an approximate average temperature of 100 °C, while maintaining an airflow rate of 150 kg/h. This enhances the efficiency of the humidifier, resulting in a freshwater production rate of about 2.43 L/m2/day at a cost of 0.027 $/L. Moreover, the use of an evaporative cooler-based dehumidifier effectively mitigates the issue of fouling that arises during the condensation process. The system achieved the maximum mean energy efficiency of 25.39 % and exergy efficiency of 4.59 % in a closed loop configuration, with an air flow rate of 150 kg/h. The total CO2 reduction amounts to 119.08 tons during the designated duration.

Study on the Heat and Mass Transfer Characteristics of Humidifiers in Humidification–Dehumidification Desalination Systems

The humidifier plays a key role in a humidification–dehumidification (HDH) desalination system; it directly affects both the freshwater production efficiency and energy consumption ratio of the system. In this study, for a humidifier in an HDH system, a heat–mass coupled differential equation model of spray water and air on the surface of the packing material was established, and the effects of parameters such as the spray water temperature (tw), mass flow rate of spray water (mw), air temperature (ta), and air mass flow rate (ma) on the humidification performance of humidifiers composed of eight different types of packing materials were investigated. The results show the following: (1) Under the same inlet spray water and air conditions, the humidification performance of different packing materials from good to bad is as follows: cellulose paper, polypropylene, hackettes, saddles, snowflakes, wooden slats, polyvinyl chloride, gunny bag cloth. (2) Increasing the tw can significantly improve the humidification performance. To achieve higher humidification energy efficiency, it is recommended to increase the tw to above 80 °C. (3) With the increase in the mw, although the humidification efficiency (εhum) decreases slightly, the humidification rate (mhum) increases, and the specific humidification energy ratio (ηhum) decreases accordingly. To maintain a high mhum and a low ηhum, it is advisable to control the mw at not less than 0.5 kg/s. (4) Increasing the humidifier inlet ta can improve the mhum, εhum, and ηhum, although not as effectively as increasing tw. (5) Increasing the ma can improve mhum and εhum. However, it simultaneously increases the ηhum. The results of this study can provide theoretical guidance for the selection of efficient packing materials and the optimization of humidifier operating conditions in HDH desalination systems.

Thermodynamic comparison of the operation of the HDH system with water heating or air heating in closed water circulation and semi-open-air circulation

The present study focuses on doing a thermodynamic analysis of a desalination system that utilizes the humidification–dehumidification (HDH) process with semi-open-air (SOA) circulation. The HDH desalination system is a notable example of a developed system utilized for freshwater production. This system has the advantage of being able to derive its energy from solar sources. The categorization of desalination units is determined by the configuration of their components, the direction of water and air movement, and the kind of heating employed for each stream. The present study noted that the utilization of this particular air circulation strategy, while maintaining a constant maximum system temperature, leads to enhanced system efficiency when combined with water heating. However, no substantial impact was detected when this method was employed in conjunction with air heating (AH). Each type of HDH desalination system has a different ratio of mass flow rates (MFRs) for the streams. This means that the efficiency of the system stays the same, no matter how the air moves through the system. The examination of temperature and relative humidity characteristics in the environment has indicated that this particular desalination unit is applicable in places characterized by both arid and humid conditions. Furthermore, in both air and water heating modes, it has been observed that the system employing SOA circulation has superior efficiency when the environment temperature is elevated. In the context of water and/or air heating, when a specific value is assigned to the MFR ratio of the two streams, modifying the mode of air circulation does not have an impact on the overall efficiency of the system. It is shown in this article for HDH with air heater the highest GOR is attained at either FCR = 1 or FCR = 0, depending on the operational temperature of the system. Also The system clearly works at its most efficient (GOR = 3.4) when it's in a Semi-open-air mode (FRC = 0.77) and the temperature is 50 °C. On the other hand, the system efficiency is 2.94 when the air exchange system is closed (FRC = 1). In the same way, the overall efficiency is 2.88 if the air flow is open (FRC = 0).

Investigations on a solar humidification dehumidification desalination system equipped with various packing materials and multi-stage bubble column dehumidifier.

This work presents the theoretical and experimental investigation of a solar-powered humidification dehumidification desalination (HDD) system with different humidifier packing materials and a two-stage bubble column dehumidifier (BCD). Naturally available coconut shells (CS) and coconut shells with drilled holes (CSH) on the surface to improve water permeability were used as packing materials in the humidifier, and their performance was compared with that of commercial-type pall ring (PR) and raschig ring (RR) packings. An in-house developed numerical model of the HDD system in conjunction with a flat plate solar water collector was used in this study. Steady-state experimental results showed that CSH packing exhibited the highest volumetric mass transfer coefficient (0.00852kg/s), resulting in maximum humidifier efficiency (96%) and freshwater yield (2.16kg/hr), followed by PR (0.00841kg/s, 94%, and 2.137kg/hr), CS (0.00831kg/s, 90%, and 2.127kg/hr), and RR (0.0081kg/s, 81%, and 2.087kg/hr) at feedwater mass flow rate of 1.5kg/min and humidifier inlet temperature of 75 [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, transient outdoor test results showed that using a two-stage configuration in a BCD increased the daily average effectiveness to 0.93, as against 0.79 for a single-stage BCD. Employing CSH instead of PR and RR packings in the humidifier reduced freshwater costs by 6.2% and 7.6%, respectively.