Performance assessment of PCM-based solar energy assisted desiccant air conditioning system combined with a humidification-dehumidification desalination unit

Abstract-An innovative tri-generation system powered by solar energy for water desalination, air-conditioning, and electrical power production is proposed and investigated numerically in this paper. The system is designed for small and medium-sized buildings in countries that are rich in solar energy but poor in fossil fuels and water resources. The devised system includes a solar system (evacuated tube collectors and thermal energy storage unit), an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), a Humidification and Dehumidification (HDH) water desalination system, and a Desiccant Cooling System (DCS). A detailed parametric study of the developed system is carried out for a wide range of operating conditions and design parameters on the system’s productivity and performance parameters. It is found that: (i) The proposed tri-generation system can deliver high electrical power, fresh water, space cooling capacity, and Energy Utilization Factor (EUF) of 104.5kW, 72.37kg/h, 25.48kW, and 0.2643 respectively. In comparison to the basic system, the EUFimp and ASC,sav parameters were enhanced having maximum values of 69.9% and 41.14% respectively. General numerical correlations derived from the numerical data can predict the system productivity and performance parameters within reasonable error.

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“…The efficiencies of the desiccant wheel are considered to be at the high level and about 1 F η = 0.05 and 2 F η = 0.95 [28].…”

Section: Desiccant Cooling Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermodynamic and Performance Assessment of an Innovative Solar-Assisted Tri-Generation System for Water Desalination, Air-Conditioning, and Power Generation

Fouda¹,

Elattar²,

Rubaiee³

et al. 2022

Eng. Technol. Appl. Sci. Res.

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“…With proper design and control strategies, using this hybrid unit to drive the desiccant wheel showed great potential under Brisbane's weather conditions. Similarly, a PVT-PCM-based solar-assisted desiccant evaporative cooling system combined with a desalination unit has been assessed by Wang et al [82]. According to the study, the maximum COP of the cooling system and water production was 0.411 and 4.9 L/h at a mass flow rate of 0.78 kg/s.…”

Section: Improvement In Solid Desiccant Sub-systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaporative Cooling Integrated with Solid Desiccant Systems: A Review

et al. 2021

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Evaporative cooling technology (ECT) has been deemed as an alternative to the conventional vapor-compression air conditioning system for dry climates in recent years due to its simple structure and low operating cost. Generally speaking, the ECT includes two types of different technologies, direct evaporative cooling (DEC) and indirect evaporative cooling (IEC). Both technologies can theoretically reduce the air temperature to the wet-bulb temperature of outdoor air. The major difference between these two technologies is that DEC will introduce extra moisture to the supply air while IEC will not. The enhanced IEC, Maisotsenko-cycle (M-cyle) IEC, can even bring down the air temperature to the dew point temperature. The ECT integrated with solid desiccant systems, i.e., solid desiccant-assisted evaporative cooling technologies (SDECT), could make the technology applicable to a wider range of weather conditions, e.g., weather with high humidity. In this paper, the recent development of various evaporative cooling technologies (ECT), solid desiccant material and the integration of these two technologies, the SDECT, were thoroughly reviewed with respect to their configuration, optimization and desiccant unit improvement. Furthermore, modeling techniques for simulating SDECT with their pros and cons were also reviewed. Potential opportunities and research recommendations were indicated, which include improving the structure and material of M-cycle IEC, developing novel desiccant material and optimizing configuration, water consumption rate and operation strategy of SDECT system. This review paper indicated that the SDECT system could be a potential replacement for the conventional vapor-compressed cooling system and could be applied in hot and humid environments with proper arrangements.

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“…Among the existing desalination technologies, the humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination method showed some advantages, including a simpler structure, lower capital and maintenance costs, and compatibility with low-grade heat energy [23]. These features make it suitable for providing freshwater to residents in remote areas [24]. Therefore, hybridising the M-cycle cooling with HDH desalination for co-producing a cooling load and water has received significant research interest in these years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cooling and Water Production in a Hybrid Desiccant M-Cycle Evaporative Cooling System with HDH Desalination: A Comparison of Operational Modes

et al. 2023

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In this paper, the cooling and freshwater generation performance of a novel hybrid configuration of a solid desiccant-based M-cycle cooling system (SDM) combined with a humidification–dehumidification (HDH) desalination unit is analysed and compared in three operational modes: ventilation, recirculation, and half recirculation. The HDH unit in this system recycles the moist waste air sourced from the M-cycle cooler and rotary desiccant wheel of the SDM system to enhance water production. A mathematical model was established and solved using TRNSYS and EES software. The results of this study indicate that the recirculation mode exhibited superior cooling performance compared to the other two modes, producing up to 7.91 kW of cooling load and maintaining a supply air temperature below 20.85 °C and humidity of 12.72 g/kg under various ambient conditions. All the operational modes showed similar water production rates of around 52.74 kg/h, 52.43 kg/h, and 52.14 kg/h for the recirculation, half-recirculation and ventilation modes, respectively, across a range of operating temperatures. The recirculation mode also exhibited a higher COP compared to the other modes, as the environmental temperature and relative humidity were above 35 °C and 50%. However, it should be noted that the implementation of the recirculation mode resulted in a higher water consumption rate, with a maximum value of 5.52 kg/h when the inlet air reached 45 °C, which partially offset the benefits of this mode.

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Performance assessment of PCM-based solar energy assisted desiccant air conditioning system combined with a humidification-dehumidification desalination unit

Cited by 40 publications

References 55 publications

Thermodynamic and Performance Assessment of an Innovative Solar-Assisted Tri-Generation System for Water Desalination, Air-Conditioning, and Power Generation

Thermodynamic and Performance Assessment of an Innovative Solar-Assisted Tri-Generation System for Water Desalination, Air-Conditioning, and Power Generation

Evaporative Cooling Integrated with Solid Desiccant Systems: A Review

Cooling and Water Production in a Hybrid Desiccant M-Cycle Evaporative Cooling System with HDH Desalination: A Comparison of Operational Modes

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