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Analysis of basic airflow configurations for separate sensible and latent cooling systems with indoor air recirculation

Journal Article · · International Journal of Refrigeration
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
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Separate sensible and latent cooling (SSLC) is a technology with efficiency and comfort advantages over conventional cooling systems used for space conditioning of buildings. Using multiple cooling processes at different temperatures allows SSLC to save energy by raising the evaporation temperature of the sensible cooling process. In this paper, all possible airflow configurations of SSLC systems are enumerated under the following constraints: exactly two heat exchangers are used, and air is recirculated to the conditioned space (no exhaust or outdoor air treatment). Seven designs are identified, with varying free operating variables, and each is modeled. Analysis reveals that several configurations are equivalent, and there is only one unique basic airflow SSLC configuration: the one with the sensible and latent heat exchangers placed in series. The efficiency of the SSLC system is compared against that of the conventional system. Under standard conditions, an SSLC system can improve the coefficient of performance by 14.8%. In addition to the numerical simulation, the optimal operating condition of the basic air configuration of the SSLC system is derived analytically. The basic SSLC system is shown to offer the highest performance improvement when the outdoor temperature is relatively cool and the space sensible heat ratio is high.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1785207
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1809328
Journal Information:
International Journal of Refrigeration, Journal Name: International Journal of Refrigeration Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 127; ISSN 0140-7007
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (5)

Studies on solid desiccant based hybrid air-conditioning systems journal January 2001
Use of liquid desiccant cooling to improve the performance of vapor compression air conditioning journal August 2001
Inherent operational characteristics and operational stability of a variable speed direct expansion air conditioning system journal February 2017
Theoretical study on separate sensible and latent cooling air-conditioning system journal May 2010
Membrane processes for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning journal May 2014

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Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
Airflow configurations
Cooling
Heat exchangers
Latent
Sensible
Separate