SERI dehumidifier wheel promises cost-effective solar desiccant cooling

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Energy Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6154254

The Solar Desiccant Cooling Program directs research and development activities toward production of residential desiccant cooling systems able to compete in the marketplace. These efforts have resulted in successful completion and testing of three prototype systems. Other activities in the program have contributed to better understanding of desiccant cooling systems in the areas of materials, controls, and system configurations. At this point in the development of desiccant systems, it is appropriate to evaluate the state of the art and make reasonable predictions as to the potential for improvements in system performance. A recent study by Booz-Allen and Hamilton for the Gas Research Institute shows that for solar desiccant cooling systems to be competitive in the 1990s they must operate at coefficients of performance (COPs) of 1.2. Prototype systems currently perform at COPs of 0.5 to 0.6. This doubling of efficiency is a key to achieving the program goal. Shown is a system schematic of a desiccant cooling cycle operating in the ventilation mode. Outside air is dehumidified by passing it through a matrix of desiccant material such as silica gel. The air is heated simultaneously by release of the heat of absorption, cooled by a rotary heat exchanger, and finally passed through an evaporative cooler. In the evaporative cooler, the warm dry air is cooled by the evaporation of water.

• OSTI ID: 6154254
• Journal Information: Energy Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Eng.; (United States) Vol. 80:6; ISSN EENGD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
BUILDINGS
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE
COMMERCIALIZATION
COOLING
DEHUMIDIFICATION
DESICCANTS
EQUIPMENT
EVAPORATIVE COOLING
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PROCESS DEVELOPMENT UNITS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS