An experiment and simulation on a solar-regenerated dehumidifier fabricated from composite desiccant coated fin-tube heat exchanger

Thermal environment in buildings in hot climate is conditioned for comfort by air-conditioning that is energy intensive. Presently, most air-conditioning systems in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia use electricity-driven vapor compression systems to cool down the air to the set-point temperature. Latent load due to condensation of air humidity forms a large part of the air-conditioning load. This paper presents the results of experiment and simulation on a dehumidifier constructed from a water-to-air heat exchanger coated with a composite desiccant of SB15 mesoporous silica gel and LiCl, regenerated by low-temperature solar heated water. The results include values of dehumidification performance indices, a conclusion that the optimum cycle duration for dehumidification is close to 200–240 s, and that the effectiveness of moisture removal increase with the regeneration temperature of up to 70 °C. The dehumidifier can from a part of an air ventilator that will substantially reduce cooling load of air-conditioning. The results also highlight the significance of simulation-based analysis, specifically regarding the use of robust mathematical models. © 2024