Performance Enhancement of Hybrid Solid Desiccant Cooling Systems by Integrating Solar Water Collectors in Taiwan

Abstract

A hybrid solid desiccant cooling system (SDCS), which combines a solid desiccant system and a vapor compression system, is considered to be an excellent alternative for commercial and residential air conditioning systems. In this study, a solar-assisted hybrid SDCS system was developed in which solar-heated water is used as an additional heat source for the regeneration process, in addition to recovering heat from the condenser of an integrated heat pump. A solar thermal collector sub-system is used to generate solar regeneration water. Experiments were conducted in the typically hot and humid weather of Taichung, Taiwan, from the spring to fall seasons. The experimental results show that the overall performance of the system in terms of power consumption can be enhanced by approximately 10% by integrating a solar-heated water heat exchanger in comparison to the hybrid SDCS system. The results show that the system performs better when the outdoor humidity ratio is large. In addition, regarding the effect of ambient temperature on the coefficient of performance (COP) of the systems, a critical value of outdoor temperature exists. The COP of the systems gradually rises with the increase in ambient temperature. However, when the ambient temperature is greater than the critical value, the COP gradually decreases with the increase in ambient temperature. The critical outdoor temperature of the hybrid SDCS is from 26 °C to 27 °C, and the critical temperature of the solar-assisted hybrid SDCS is from 27 °C to 30 °C.

Performance of an Adsorptive Heat-Moisture Regenerator Based on Silica Gel–Sodium Sulphate

“…The proposed air conditioning unit was able to ensure thermal and humidity comfort over 90% of the time in an arid climate, whereas only 50% to 60% comfort time share was experienced in a warm humid climate. A solar-based heat pump-assisted system was modelled by Luo et al [31] in Taiwan, and it was found to be suitable for application in such a warm and humid climate; the results were corroborated by Ukai et al [32] who also incorporated the effect of optimised system regulation.…”

Special Issue on Selected Papers from IEEE ICKII 2019

“…Luo et al, reported "Performance Enhancement of Hybrid Solid Desiccant Cooling Systems by Integrating Solar Water Collectors in Taiwan" [8]. In this study, a solar-assisted hybrid Solid Desiccant Cooling System (SDCS) was developed, in which solar-heated water is used as an additional heat source for the regeneration process, in addition to recovering heat from the condenser of an integrated heat pump.…”

Water Heating and Operational Mode Switching Effects on the Performance of a Multifunctional Heat Pump

“…At present, heat pump technology has been developed for several decades to reduce the energy consumption in residential and commercial buildings. In recent years, heat pumps have been widely applied, not only in applications for medium-and high-energy consumption users but also in broad applications in hospitals, hotels, schools, swimming pools, nursing homes, and households for hot water generation [1][2][3]. The heat pump was originally a single-function heating system and discharged cold energy to the ambient environment.…”