Optimization and Comparative Performance Analysis of Conventional Air Conditioning System and Desiccant Air Conditioning System with Complete Waste Heat Reclamation: Experimental Investigation

Abstract

A desiccant air conditioning unit provides a compelling alternative to a conventional air conditioning system to eliminate moisture. In order to resolve the issue of more energy consumption for the regeneration of desiccant wheel, structures containing desiccant wheel can utilize full waste heat or thermal energy to restore desiccant material. Here, the performance of conventional and desiccant air conditioning systems have been evaluated. During experimentation, these two systems were operated and compared at process air inlet humidity ratios ranging (0.01580-0.01740 kg/kg) and process air inlet velocities ranging (1.5-4.5 m/s). Besides, the desiccant air conditioning system was regenerated by using complete waste heat from the condenser (50-58.8℃) for regeneration of the desiccant wheel at a minimum (2.5 m/s) and a maximum (4.5 m/s) regeneration air inlet velocity. Thus, optimization of performance parameters, i.e. VCOP, ECOP, DCOP, wheel effectiveness in the adsorption sector and regeneration sector, adsorption rate and regeneration rate have been examined for achieving maximum efficiency of conventional and desiccant air conditioning systems under the above operating conditions.