Simulations and Economic Analyses of Desiccant Cooling Systems

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6114035· OSTI ID:6114035

Shelpuk, Benjamin C.; Hooker, Douglas W.; Jorgensen, Gary J.; Bingham, Carl E.

The progress to date in the development and analysis of computer simulations of solar-powered desiccant cooling using an axial-flow disc-type dehumidifier wheel, solar-powered space heating, and electrically driven, standard vapor-compression air-conditioning systems for residential use is documented. Computer simulations for both solar and conventional heating and cooling systems were performed for 12-month heating and cooling seasons. Annual thermal performance and the resulting life cycle costs for both types of systems were analyzed and compared. The heating/cooling season simulations were run for five U.S. cities representing a wide range of climatic conditions and insolation. With the informaion resulting from these simulations, the optimum air-conditioning system was chosen to maximize the conservation of fossil fuels and minimize operating costs. Because of the increasing use of residential air conditioning employing electrically driven vapor-compression coolers, the five locations were studied to determine if it would be beneficial (in terms of both economics and fossil fuel displacement) to displace fossil-fuel-powered vapor-compression coolers and natural gas space heaters with solar-powered heating and desiccant cooling systems.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 6114035
• Report Number(s): SERI/TR-34-90
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
AIR CONDITIONERS
AIR CONDITIONING
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
computerized simulation
COOLING LOAD
COST
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DEHUMIDIFIERS
desiccants
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
HEATING
HEATING LOAD
LIFE-CYCLE COST
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PERFORMANCE
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SIMULATION
SIZE
solar air conditioners
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SPACE HEATING
VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE