Potential of a desiccant-evaporative cooling system performance in a multi-climate country
Abstract In this paper, a desiccant-evaporative cooling system introduced and applied to a Ventilation and Makeup mode operating cycle. Desiccant part of hybrid cooling system is a heat driven component and effective in area where the use of thermal energy is more economical than electrical power. First, mathematical model of desiccant component based on transient and coupled heat and mass transfer derived. Then the hybrid system model applied to predict the system performance under various operational conditions. The numerical results validated using experimental measurements. The effects of various outdoor design conditions on COP and output of hybrid cycle temperature presented in contour plot forms. Based on these contour plots, COP and output cycle temperature can easily obtain under various ambient conditions. In addition, the potential of presented hybrid desiccant-evaporative cooling system to provide thermal comfort in various outdoor design conditions evaluated and compared with direct and direct–indirect evaporative cooler. The results show these systems are more effective than direct and direct–indirect evaporative cooling systems and provide a better thermal comfort even in hot and humid area. Moreover, introduced systems successfully provide better thermal comfort condition in a multi-climate country (Iran) especially in the area where the evaporative coolers are not applicable.