Improvements in solid desiccant cooling

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Drying Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/07373939308916848· OSTI ID:6527842

Waugaman, D; Kini, A; Kettleborough, C F ^[1]

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1. Texas A and M Univ., College Station (United States)

The DINC (Direct-Indirect Evaporative Cooling) cycle was proposed in 1986 by Texas A and M researchers. The idea was to combine the benefits of direct and indirect evaporative cooling with desiccant dehumidifying using a rotating solid silica-gel dehumidifier. Recent parametric studies completed for the Texas Energy Research in Applications Program have developed a computer design for a nominal 3-ton system that would minimize the energy consumption (both thermal and electric) while maintaining a sensible heat ratio of 75% or less. That optimum design for the original 1986 DINC cycle was modified to improve its energy efficiency. The modifications described in this paper were: (1) staging the desiccant regeneration air and (2) recirculation of the primary air to the secondary side of the indirect evaporative cooling. Computer simulations were run to study the effect of the modifications on the performance of the system. American Refrigeration Institute (AIR) standard conditions (Ambient air at 35C, 40% R.H. and Room air at 26.7C, 50% R.H.) were used for all the modifications. Results were also compared to the familiar Pennington (ventilation) cycle. The study indicated that recirculating the indirect evaporative cooler air only degenerated the performance. However, staging a portion of the regeneration air could improve the thermal coefficient of Performance by 25% over the non-staged DINC cycle. Compared to a similar staged-regeneration Pennington cycle it is a 16% improvement in thermal COP and the sensible heat ratio was 70%.

• OSTI ID: 6527842
• Journal Information: Drying Technology; (United States), Vol. 11:3; ISSN 0737-3937
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AIR CONDITIONERS
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE
COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN
CIRCULATING SYSTEMS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEHUMIDIFIERS
DESICCANTS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EVAPORATIVE COOLING
MODIFICATIONS
REGENERATION
SILICA GEL
ADSORBENTS
COOLING
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
SIMULATION
320106* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Building Equipment- (1987-)