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Evaluation of a liquid desiccant-enhanced heat pipe air preconditioner.

Author(s) : PESARAN A. A., PARENT Y. O., MECKLER M., NOVOSEL D.

Summary

Recent increases in outside ventilation rates from 5 cubic feet minute (cfm) per person to 15 to 20 cfm per person, per ASHRAE Standard 62-1989, will impose additional sensible and latent loads on buildings. The paper 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 and triethylene glycol (TEG) solutions, were tested in the 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 lithium chloride. 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-optimal gas/liquid contact. Further research and development could improve this performance into the 80 to 90% range.

Details

  • Original title: Evaluation of a liquid desiccant-enhanced heat pipe air preconditioner.
  • Record ID : 1996-1773
  • Languages: English
  • Source: ASHRAE Transactions.
  • Publication date: 1995/01
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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