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Theoretical study of the effect of liquid desiccant mass flow rate on the performance of a cross flow parallel-plate liquid desiccant-air dehumidifier

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Abstract

A computer simulation using MATLAB is investigated to predict the distribution of air stream parameters (humidity ratio and temperature) as well as desiccant parameters (temperature and concentration) inside the parallel plate absorber. The present absorber consists of fourteen parallel plates with a surface area per unit volume ratio of 80 m2/m3. Calcium chloride as a liquid desiccant flows through the top of the plates to the bottom while the air flows through the gap between the plates making it a cross flow configuration. The model results show the effect of desiccant mass flow rate on the performance of the dehumidifier (moisture removal and dehumidifier effectiveness). Performance comparisons between present cross-flow dehumidifier and another experimental cross-flow dehumidifier in the literature are carried out. The simulation is expected to help in optimizing of a cross flow dehumidifier.

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Abbreviations

c p :

Specific heat (kJ kg−1/°C)

D :

Mass diffusivity (m2 s−1)

g :

Acceleration of gravity (m s−2)

H :

Height of dehumidifier (m)

h :

Height of plate (m)

L :

Thickness of dehumidifier (m)

M>de :

Moisture removal rate in dehumidifier (g s−1)

m :

Mass flow rate (kg s−1)

P>at :

Atmospheric pressure (bar)

P>w :

Wetted parameter (m)

P>ws :

Saturation pressure (bar)

P>wz :

Partial pressure of water vapor in the solution (bar)

qi :

Mixing heat (kJ kg−1)

u:

Velocity (m s−1)

T :

Temperature (°C)

w :

Width channel between two plates (m)

w>a :

Humidity ratio of air (kgH2O/kgdry)

w>e :

Equilibrium humidity ratio of air (kgH2O/kgdry)

ξ :

Solution concentration (%)

μ:

Viscosity (N s m−2)

ρ:

Density (kg m−3)

α:

Thermal diffusivity (m2 s−1)

δ>s :

Solution thickness (m)

ε :

Dehumidifier effectiveness (%)

λ:

Thermal conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

υ:

Kinematic viscosity (m2 s)

a:

Air

e:

Equilibrium

in:

Inlet

s:

Solution

out:

Outlet

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Solar Energy Research Institute, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Abdulrahman Th. Mohammad, Sohif Bin Mat, M. Y. Sulaiman, K. Sopian & Abduljalil A. Al-abidi

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baqubah Technical Institute, Foundation of Technical Education, Baghdad, Iraq

    Abdulrahman Th. Mohammad

Authors
  1. Abdulrahman Th. Mohammad
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  2. Sohif Bin Mat
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  3. M. Y. Sulaiman
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  4. K. Sopian
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  5. Abduljalil A. Al-abidi
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Correspondence to Abdulrahman Th. Mohammad.

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Mohammad, A.T., Mat, S.B., Sulaiman, M.Y. et al. Theoretical study of the effect of liquid desiccant mass flow rate on the performance of a cross flow parallel-plate liquid desiccant-air dehumidifier. Heat Mass Transfer 49, 1587–1593 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-013-1198-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-013-1198-8

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