Abstract
Using desiccant cooling systems could help to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from climate control systems in buildings, because this cooling technology employs an environmentally friendly refrigerant and low-grade energy sources such as solar energy. Here, the results obtained from a model of a desiccant cooling system are presented, as is the validation of that model using experimental data. The effectiveness of each component of the system (which included a desiccant wheel, heat exchanger, and two evaporative coolors) was assumed to be constant in the model. The main objectives of this work were to carry out a performance comparison of the ventilation, recirculation, and Dunkle cycles when the system was used in the hot and dry climate of Gabès (Tunisia), and to investigate the impact of the ambient conditions on the ventilation performance. Results showed that among the three cycles, the ventilation cycle presented the best coefficient of performance (1.89), while the coefficients of performance of the recirculation and Dunkle cycles were 1.13 and 1.71, respectively. Moreover, the ventilation mode was found to be strongly influenced by the ambient conditions and to be more efficient when the outside humidity ratio was below 18 g/kg.
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs41207-020-00210-x/MediaObjects/41207_2020_210_Fig1_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs41207-020-00210-x/MediaObjects/41207_2020_210_Fig2_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs41207-020-00210-x/MediaObjects/41207_2020_210_Fig3_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs41207-020-00210-x/MediaObjects/41207_2020_210_Fig4_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs41207-020-00210-x/MediaObjects/41207_2020_210_Fig5_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs41207-020-00210-x/MediaObjects/41207_2020_210_Fig6_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs41207-020-00210-x/MediaObjects/41207_2020_210_Fig7_HTML.png)
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- COP:
-
Coefficient of performance
- F 1 :
-
First potential function characteristic
- F 2 :
-
Second potential function characteristic
- H :
-
Specific enthalpy (kJ/kg)
- HBE:
-
Heat balance error
- Q COOL :
-
Specific cooling load (kJ/kg)
- Q reg :
-
Specific supplied heat (kJ/kg)
- T :
-
Air temperature (K, °C)
- w :
-
Absolute humidity of the air (kg water/kg dry air)
- ε :
-
Effectiveness
- \(\varphi\) :
-
Relative humidity (%)
- exch:
-
Heat exchanger
- hum:
-
Humidifier
References
Abbassi Y, Baniasadi E, Ahmadikia H (2017) Comparative performance analysis of different solar desiccant dehumidification systems. Energy Build 150:37–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.05.075
Bourdoukan P, Wurtz E, Joubert P (2010) Comparison between the conventional and recirculation modes in desiccant cooling cycles and deriving critical efficiencies of components. Energy 35:1057–1067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2009.06.021
Castaing JL (2003) Air humide: propriétés thermodynamique, opération unitaire et technologies associées à son employ. Université de Peau et des pays de l’Adour, Pau, pp 2–21
Daou K, Wang RZ, Xia ZZ (2006) Desiccant cooling air conditioning: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 10:55–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2004.09.010
Demis P, Anna P, Aleksandra C, Sergey A, Paweł D, Borys V, Vladimir V (2018) Multi-stage desiccant cooling system for moderate climate. Energy Convers Manag 177:77–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.09.061
Dezfouli MMS, Mat S, Pirasteh G, Sahari KSM, Sopian K, Ruslan MH (2014) Simulation analysis of the four configurations of solar desiccant cooling system using evaporative cooling in tropical weather in Malaysia. Inter J Photoenergy. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/843617
Erdem C, Zaid N, Pinar Mert C, Farooq S, Neighbour GB (2017) Strategies for ideal indoor environments toward low/zero carbon buildings through a biomimetic approach. Int J Ambient Energy 40:86–95. https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.2017.1372807
Erdem C, Farooq S, Hamad S, Pinar Mert C, Tamer G, Besir AB (2019) Sustainable ventilation strategies in buildings: CFD research. Sustain Energy Technol Assess 36:100540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2019.100540
Farooq S, Aiki K, Fatih G, Hamad S (2019) Sustainable energy saving alternatives in small buildings. Sustain Energy Technol Assess 32:92–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2019.02.003
Henning HM (2007) Solar assisted air conditioning of buildings—an overview. Appl Therm Eng 27:1734–1749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.021
Hürdoğan E, Büyükalaca O, Yılmaz T, Hepbaşlı A (2010) Experimental investigation of a novel desiccant cooling system. Energy Build 42(11):2049–2060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.06.014
IEA (2018) The future of cooling. International Energy Agency, Paris
Join S, Dhar PL, Kaushik SC (1995) Evaluation of solid-desiccant-based evaporative cooling cycles for typical hot and humid climates. Int J Refrig 18(5):287–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-7007(95)00016-5
Jain S, Dhar PL, Kaushik SC (2000) Experimental studies on the dehumidifier and regenerator of a liquid desiccant cooling system. Appl Therm Eng 20:253–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-4311(99)00030-7
Jani DB, Manish M, Saho PK (2015) Performance studies of hybrid solid desiccant—vapor compression air-conditioning system for hot and humid climates. Energy Build. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild
Joudi KA, Dhaidan NS (2001) Application of solar assisted heating and desiccant cooling systems for a domestic building. Energy Convers Manag 42:995–1022. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904(00)00111-4
Jurinak JJ (1982) Open cycle solid desiccant cooling component models and system simulations. PhD thesis. University of Wisconsin‐Madison, Madison
Kanoglu M, Özdinç Çarpinlioglu M, Yildirim M (2004) Energy and exergy analyses of an experimental open-cycle desiccant cooling system. Appl Therm Eng 24(5–6):919–932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2003.10.003
Kodama A (2000) Entropic analysis of adsorption open cycles for air conditioning. Part 1: first and second law analyses. Int J Energy Res 24:251–262. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-114X(20000310)24:3%3c251::AID-ER578%3e3.0.CO;2-U
Kodama A, Jin W, Goto M, Hirose T, Pons M (2000) Entropic analysis of adsorption open cycles for air conditioning. Part 2: interpretation of experimental data. Int J Energy Res 24:263–278. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099114X(20000310)24:3%3c263::AID-ER579%3e3.0.CO;2-M
Kottek M, Grieser J, Beck C, Rudolf B, Rubel F (2006) World map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorol Zeitschrift 15(2006):259–263
Krishna SM, Murthy SS (1989) Experiments on silica gel rotary dehumidifier. Heat Recov Syst CHP 9:467–973. https://doi.org/10.1016/0890-4332(89)90150-6
Maclaine-Cross IL, Banks PJ (1972) Coupled heat and mass transfer in regenerators—prediction using an analogy with heat transfer. Int J Heat Mass Trans 15:1225–1242. https://doi.org/10.1016/0017-9310(72)90187-1
Muzaffar A, Vladimir V, Hafiz MA, Nadeem AS (2018) Performance analysis of solar-assisted desiccant cooling system cycles in world climate zones. J Sol Energy Eng 140(4):041009. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4039426
Muzaffer A, Vladimir V, Nadeem AS, Ali HM (2015) Performance investigation of solid desiccant evaporative cooling system configurations in different climatic zones. Energy Convers Manag 97:323–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.03.025
Nie J, Li Z, Hu W, Fang L, Zhang Q (2017) Theoretical modelling and experimental study of air thermal conditioning process of a heat pump assisted solid desiccant cooling system. Energy Build 153:31–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.07.075
Nilofar A, Mohamad HA, Alghoul MA, Marzieh B, Masita M, Gasaymeh SS, Kamaruzzaman NAS (2019) Key factors of desiccant-based cooling systems: materials. Appl Therm Eng 159:113946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.113946
Panaras G, Mathioulakis E, Belessiotis V, Kyriakis N (2010) Experimental validation of a simplified approach for a desiccant wheel model. Energy Build 42:1719–2172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.05.006
Reza D, Erdem C, Pinar Mert C, Farooq S (2018) Concentrating photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) collectors and systems: theory, performance assessment and applications. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 81:473–492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.08.013
Severns WH, Fellows JR (1966) Air conditioning and refrigeration. Wiley, New York
Shahrooz M, Hadi P (2020) Regeneration energy analysis and optimization in desiccant. J Build Eng 27:100980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2019.100980
Sheridan JC, Mitchell JW (1985) A hybrid solar desiccant cooling system. Sol Energy 34(2):187–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(85)90179-3
Sphaier LA, Nóbrega CEL (2012) Parametric analysis of components effectiveness on desiccant cooling system performance. Energy 38:157–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(85)90179-3
Threlkeld JL, Ramsey JW, Kuehn TH (1998) Thermal environmental engineering, 3rd edn. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs
Wu XN, Ge TS, Dai YJ, Wang RZ (2019) Investigation on novel desiccant wheel using wood pulp fiber paper with high coating ratio as matrix. Energy 176:493–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.04.006
Xingchao Z, Roger R (2019) Experimental investigation for a non-adiabatic desiccant wheel with a concentric structure at low regeneration temperatures. Energy Convers Manag 201:112165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.112165
Funding
No funding was received.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Communicated by Sudip Chakraborty, Chief Editor.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Belguith, S., Meddeb, Z. & Ben Slama, R. Performance analysis of desiccant cooling systems in a hot and dry climate. Euro-Mediterr J Environ Integr 6, 2 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-020-00210-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-020-00210-x