Use of unglazed transpired solar collectors for desiccant cooling
- National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
The use of unglazed transpired solar collectors for desiccant regeneration in a solid desiccant cooling cycle was investigated because these collectors are less expensive than conventional glazed flat-plate collectors. Using computer models, we studied the performance of a desiccant cooling ventilation cycle integrated with either unglazed transpired collectors or conventional glazed flat-plate collectors. We found that the thermal coefficient of performance of the cooling system with unglazed collectors was lower than that of the cooling system with glazed collectors because the former system did not use the heat of adsorption released during the dehumidification process. Although the area required for the unglazed collector array was 70% more than that required for the glazed collector array in a 10.56 kW (3 ton) solar cooling system, the cost of the unglazed array was 45% less than the cost of the glazed array. The simple payback period of the unglazed collector was half of the payback period of the glazed collector when replacing an equivalent gas-fired air heater. Although the use of unglazed transpired collectors seems to make economic sense relative to use of glazed conventional collectors, some practical considerations may limit their use for desiccant regeneration.
- OSTI ID:
- 7202519
- Journal Information:
- Solar Energy (Journal of Solar Energy Science and Engineering); (United States), Journal Name: Solar Energy (Journal of Solar Energy Science and Engineering); (United States) Vol. 52:5; ISSN SRENA4; ISSN 0038-092X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Desiccant cooling using unglazed transpired solar collectors
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Related Subjects
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
141000 -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DEHUMIDIFICATION
DESICCANTS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
PAYBACK PERIOD
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
UNGLAZED SOLAR COLLECTORS