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U.S. Department of Energy
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Design of a solar energy assisted air conditioning system

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7310799

Energy consumption in air conditioning systems can be reduced by reducing the water content of air before cooling. This reduction in humidity can be accomplished by contacting the humid air with a hygroscopic solution in a spray tower. The hydroscopic solution, diluted by water from the air, can be reconcentrated in a solar evaporator. A solar evaporator for this purpose was evaluated by formulating simultaneous energy and mass balances for forced air convection through the evaporator. Temperatures in the evaporator were calculated by numerical integration of the mathematical model. The calculations indicated that the salt solution cannot be reconcentrated in a forced convection evaporator because of the large energy losses associated with the air stream passing through the evaporator.

Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Oak Ridge, TN (USA). School of Chemical Engineering Practice
OSTI ID:
7310799
Report Number(s):
ORNL/MIT-229
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English