Presents the results of an experimental evaluation of enhancing the dehumidification performance of a heat pipe heat recovery unit by incorporating a liquid desiccant dehumidification function. A commercial heat pipe thermal recovery unit with an indirect evaporative cooling feature was modified by incorporating a liquid desiccant contacting/recirculation loop on the supply-air side. Two liquid desiccants, lithium chloride (LiCl) and triethylene glycol (TEG) solutions, were tested in this device. The cooling capacity of the heat pipe with desiccants increased 20% to 40%. The cooling performance of the heat pipe system using TEG was about 10% less than when using LiCl. The efficiency of the dehumidification operation was estimated to be only on the order of 40% to 50% of the equilibrium dehumidification potential because of less-than-optimum gas/liquid contact. Further research and development could improve this performance into the 80% to 90% range. The outcome suggests that the liquid-desiccant-enhanced heat pipe device could be a viable system for preconditioning ventilation air.
KEYWORDS: year 1995, calculating, desiccants, heat pipes, ventilation, dehumidifying, performance, heat recovery, unit air conditioners, lithium chloride, testing, cooling, efficiency, experiment, comparing.
Citation: Symposium, ASHRAE Trans. 1995, Vol.101, Part 1, Paper number CH-95-1-1, 525-527
Product Details
- Published:
- 1995
- File Size:
- 1 file , 1.5 MB
- Product Code(s):
- D-16852
