Abstract: Desiccant dehumidification systems, which are used to reduce the moisture (latent load) of the conditioned
air in buildings, are typically specified on the basis of grain depression (pounds of water removed per hour) for a given
volumetric flow rate of air at a specified dry-bulb or wet-bulb temperature. While grain depression gives some indication
of the performance of the system, it does not adequately describe the efficiency of the moisture removal process. Several
operating parameters, such as desiccant wheel speed, regeneration temperature, volumetric air flow rate, wheel thickness,
sector angle, and desiccant loading, affect the ability of the desiccant dehumidification system to remove moisture. There are so
many design parameters that influence the operation of a desiccant system that it is difficult to quantify the impact from
the interactions on system performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of varying some of these
operating parameters on the performance of a desiccant dehumidification system and to report the results using more
quantitative measures, such as latent capacity and latent coefficient of performance (COP), that better describe the efficiency
of the moisture removal process. The results will be used to improve the understanding of the operation of desiccant systems
and to optimize their performance by changing certain operating parameters or improving components.
Two desiccant loadings were tested; one at normal production level and the other with 25% more desiccant applied to the wheel.
For both desiccant loadings, the latent capacity and COP increased as desiccant wheel speed increased. As expected, latent capacity
improved significantly as air flow rates increased. It is noted, however, that the efficiency (latent COP) was quite sensitive to
air flow rate and showed a maximum at a particular flow rate that best matched other operating/design conditions of the system.
Finally, higher regeneration temperatures resulted in significant increases in latent capacity for both desiccant loadings, with
little or no change in latent COP. Therefore, cost-effective means of achieving higher regeneration temperatures should be investigated.
Keywords: desiccant, dehumidification, humidity control, latent capacity, latent COP, desiccant loading
Availability:
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers
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Reference:
ASHRAE Transactions 2000
Vol. 106, Pt. 1
pp. 87-94
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