Desiccant residential cooling: new systems improve solar economics
Residential space cooling systems which employ solid desiccants are discussed. The process by which water is removed by a desiccant is most often absorption on the solid desiccants, and absorption in the liquid desiccants. Solid desiccants are typically lithium chloride, silica gel, activated alumina, anhydrous calcium sulfate (Dierite), magnesium perchlorate (Anhydrone), barium and calcium oxide, and activated carbon. In warm, dry desert climates, residential cooling is successfully accomplished using simple evaporative cooling devices which evaporate moisture into the dry air thereby cooling and humidifying the air which will be circulated through the residential space. However, in warm-to-hot climates with high relative humidity, evaporative coolers will not work because the atmospheric air already carries a high moisture content and further evaporation of moisture into the atmospheric air produces insignificant cooling and a saturated, hot air stream which no one is willing to pay for.
- Research Organization:
- Southwest Solar Industries, Albuquerque, NM
- OSTI ID:
- 5719897
- Journal Information:
- Sol. Mag.; (United States), Journal Name: Sol. Mag.; (United States)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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