International Conference on Advancements and Futuristic Trends in Mechanical and Materials Engineering (October 5-7, 2012)

Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-Kapurthala Highway, Kapurthala, Punjab-144601 (INDIA) 192

STUDY OF DESICCANT COOLING TECHNOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW
A.K. Asati
a
, Rakesh Kumar
b,*

a
Principal, Rayat Bahra college of Engineering and Nano-technology for women, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India.
E-mail ID: arunkasati@yahoo.com
b
Research scholar, Punjab Technical University Jalandhar, Punjab, India. E-mail ID:rkthaku99@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT

Energy conservation has become an area of wide attention due to global energy crisis. Energy consumption of air
conditioning equipments can be reduced with the application of desiccant based cooling technology. This
Technology also improves indoor air quality and brings environmentally friendly products. In hot and humid
regions, air humidity ratio is high and air-conditioning energy consumption is more. Because the huge energy is
used for dehumidification of the air, so this paper analyzes the utilization of different types of desiccant based
cooling technologies. The technology has the potential to significantly affect the air conditioning market and its
energy use. The working of three types of desiccant dehumidification systems; solid desiccant, liquid desiccant and
hybrid desiccant system, is studied in the current paper. After reviewing principle of operation, a comparative study
is presented as conclusions for different types of desiccant based systems.

Keywords: Energy, desiccant, humidity ratio, air conditioning, dehumidification systems.

1. Introduction

Desiccant cooling technology provides a tool for
controlling humidity levels for conditioned air
spaces. Desiccant systems work in conjunction with
conventional air conditioning systems to dehumidify
the air. Desiccant materials are those that attract
moisture due to differences in vapor pressure. Most
people are familiar with desiccants such as silica gel
packages that are included with new electronics or
textile products. Desiccants can be in the form of a
solid or a liquid. People have identified types of
desiccants that are appropriate as a component of
commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning
(HVAC) systems. These desiccants have been
selected based on their ability to hold large quantities
of water, their ability to be reactivated, and cost. In
order to be effective, the desiccant must be capable
of addressing the latent cooling load in a continuous
process. In order to accomplish this, commercial
desiccant systems consist of a process air path and a
reactivation air path. The desiccant that is in the
process air path has been prepared to have a lower
vapor pressure than the air passing over it. Thus, the
moisture in the air is transferred onto the desiccant
material.
Humidity control is important in many
engineering applications, such as space air
conditioning (AC), storage warehouses, process
industries and many others. In space AC, where
conventional vapor compression cooling is used,
humidity control is often accomplished by cooling
the air below its dew point. In hot and humid
climates, this method is inefficient, since it should be
followed by reheating the air to a safe temperature
before it is introduced into the conditioned space.
The evaporator in the vapor compression system
operates at a lower temperature than is required to
meet the sensible cooling load, leading to a lower
coefficient of performance and, consequently, higher
energy requirements. The effectiveness of
evaporative cooling relies heavily on the existence of
low relative humidity conditions, being higher as the
relative humidity decreases. The humidity puts an
extra load on the vapor compression AC systems and
renders the evaporative cooling systems ineffective.
Under high humidity conditions, energy efficient
vapor compression systems operate at higher
evaporator temperatures and found unable to
maintain the indoor relative humidity within a
comfortable range. This calls for dehumidifying the
air prior to entering the evaporator.
Separating the control of humidity and
temperature by means of desiccants could result in
energy savings, as well as improved humidity control
as explained by Oberg et al. (1998). Desiccants are
chemicals with great affinity to moisture. They may
be used effectively as a supplement to conventional
vapor compression systems to remove the latent part
of the cooling load. Desiccants are efficient in
handling latent loads (reducing the humidity),
whereas the evaporator of the vapor compression
system is efficient in handling the sensible cooling
loads (lowering the air temperature).
As the desiccant vapor pressure increases due to
the presence of the moisture that it has attracted, the
desiccant material is transferred to a reactivation
process. In the reactivation process, hot air is passed
over the desiccant. The vapor pressure of the hot air
International Conference on Advancements and Futuristic Trends in Mechanical and Materials Engineering (October 5-7, 2012)

Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-Kapurthala Highway, Kapurthala, Punjab-144601 (INDIA) 193
is lower than the desiccant surface which forces the
moisture to transfer from the desiccant surface into
the hot air stream. The moist hot air is then exhausted
from the system into the outdoor air. The desiccant
material that has had the trapped moisture removed is
now prepared to attract moisture as it is transferred
back into the process air path. The dry process air
leaving the desiccant is then passed over a
conventional cooling coil which addresses the
sensible cooling work required to meet the air
specification of the conditioned space.
Advances in the last decade have resulted in
successful application of the technology in niche
markets. However, penetration into the air
conditioning mass market requires further
improvement in efficiency and reliability, reduction
in size and cost, and improvement in technology
acceptance by the building community. Investments
in further research and development in materials,
components, and systems are needed and justified
considering the potential of the desiccant cooling
technology.
Desiccant technologies should be considered when
Moisture levels are high
- Latent/total cooling load ratio is >= 30%
- High levels of outdoor air make-up required in
building
- High building occupancy
Potential costs savings are significant
- High electrical demand charges
- Low natural gas rates
- Low cost central steam available
- Heat recovery options available
Tight control over moisture levels is required
- Hospital operating rooms
- Avionics repair laboratories
- Museums
- Munitions storage
Moisture is problematic to interior spaces such as:
- Ice Arenas (fogging)
- Hospitals (bacteria)
- Hotels/Apartments (moisture damage)
- Food Stores (freezer case moisture)
Occupant comfort cannot be compromised

2. Benefits of Dehumidification with Desiccants
Desiccant cooling has many benefits including lower
energy consumption, using renewable energy or
waste heat, lower use of CFCs, and improved indoor
air quality. Davanagere et al. (1999) listed the
advantages of using desiccant based systems.
Increased Comfort: Independent control of
humidity and temperature is possible in desiccant
cooling systems. Desiccant unit controls humidity
and conventional cooling system controls
temperature
Lower Operating Costs: This type of systems
utilize lower cost natural gas for regeneration.
Conventional cooling system operates at a higher
efficiency due to higher suction temperatures.
Lower Peak Electric Demand: Latent cooling
uses alternate energy sources i.e., natural gas,
steam, heat recovery.
CFC Free: Desiccant systems do not use CFC's
for moisture removal.
Improved Indoor Air Quality: indoor quality of
the air is improved by using appropriate levels of
fresh air and reduced levels of air borne bacteria.
such systems also uses chemicals with liquid
desiccants for air treatment.

3. Conventional Cooling System

A conventional cooling system lowers the
temperature of the air stream as the air passes over a
cooling coil. Energy is removed from the air in the
form of sensible cooling and latent cooling. Sensible
cooling is simply the reduction of the dry bulb
temperature of the air. Latent cooling is the removal
of moisture from the air or dehumidification. Latent
cooling takes place when the air is cooled below the
air dew point. Cooling below the dew point causes
the moisture in the air to condense and leave the air
stream. The air that leaves the cooling coil under
these conditions is near saturation. The air is then
mixed or reheated to the desired supply air
temperature. This process is illustrated on the
psychometric chart below.
State 1 to State 2: Air is cooled to the point of
saturation
State 2 to State 3: Further cooling causes moisture
to be condensed from the air as the temperature of
the air continues to drop.



Fig 1 Dehumidification and heating Process

State 3 to State 4: The air is then mixed or passes
through reheat to supply air at the desired
temperature.

4. Desiccant Dehumidification Types

Air dehumidification can be achieved by two
methods: (I) cooling the air below its dew point and
removing moisture by condensation, or (2) sorption
by a desiccant material. Desiccants in either solid or
International Conference on Advancements and Futuristic Trends in Mechanical and Materials Engineering (October 5-7, 2012)

Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-Kapurthala Highway, Kapurthala, Punjab-144601 (INDIA) 194
liquid forms have a natural affinity for removing
moisture. As the desiccant removes the moisture
from the air, desiccant releases heat and warms the
air, i.e., latent heat becomes sensible heat. The dried
warm air can then be cooled to desired comfort
conditions by sensible coolers (e.g., evaporator coils,
heat exchangers, or evaporative coolers.). To re-use
the desiccant, it must be regenerated or reactivated
through a process in which moisture is driven off by
heat from an energy source such as electricity, waste
heat, natural gas, or solar energy.
The design and operation of a desiccant system is
based on the desiccant material used to accomplish
the dehumidification. Desiccant materials attract
moisture through the process of either adsorption or
absorption. Adsorption is the process of trapping
moisture within the desiccant material similar to the
way a sponge holds water through capillaries. Most
adsorbents are solid materials. Absorption is the
process of trapping moisture through a chemical
process in which the desiccant undergoes a chemical
change. Different materials used in desiccant based
cooling systems are silica gel, lithium chloride,
lithium bromide, activated alumina, titanium silicate,
tri ethylene glycol and calcium chloride etc. More
details about desiccant types, properties and the
regeneration process are given by Kinsara et al.
(1996).
Different types of desiccant cooling systems are
Solid desiccant system, liquid desiccant system
hybrid desiccant system and Solar based desiccant
systems. Brief review of each type of desiccant
system is described in the following part of paper.

4.1 Solid Desiccant System
For industrial applications, solid desiccant cycles
use dual-column packed-bed dehumidifiers;
however, the most appropriate dehumidifier
configuration for air-conditioning applications is the
rotary wheel (Figure 2). The air to be dehumidified
enters the system, comes into contact with the
desiccant wheel, and exits the dehumidifier hot and
dry. The wheel is then rotated so that the desiccant
portion that has picked up moisture is exposed to hot
reactivation air and its moisture removed.

Fig 2. Solid Desiccant System

The air leaving the desiccant is heated because of the
release of heat adsorption; there is a need for cooling
the dried air in cooling applications. This can be
accomplished with a sensible heat exchanger such as
a heat pipe or with a standard vapor-compression
cooling coil.

4.2 Liquid Desiccant System
Figure 3 describes the liquid-desiccant
dehumidification system. In a liquid system, there are
two separate chambers; one to perform the
dehumidification and the other to regenerate the
desiccant. The processed air from the
dehumidification chamber enters into the conditioned
space.

Fig 3. Schematic of a Liquid Desiccant System

The desiccant, leaving the dehumidification chamber
containing absorbed moisture, goes through a heat
exchanger and down to the regenerator, where heat is
added to remove the moisture. The liquid desiccant is
pumped continually between the two chambers when
dehumidification is needed.
Fig. 4 shows the experimental set-up of a liquid
desiccant system. It is used for both air
dehumidification and desiccant regeneration. In the
air dehumidification mode, the air conditioned to the
required temperature and humidity is introduced into
the absorption tower from the bottom.

Fig 4. Liquid desiccant system used for both air
dehumidification and desiccant regeneration

International Conference on Advancements and Futuristic Trends in Mechanical and Materials Engineering (October 5-7, 2012)

Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-Kapurthala Highway, Kapurthala, Punjab-144601 (INDIA) 195
Desiccant at the required temperature and flow rate is
pumped into the top of the dehumidifier/regenerator
via the rotameter. The desiccant flowing
countercurrent relative to the humid air flow is
distributed over the packing and absorbs moisture as
it comes into contact with the humid air. The diluted
desiccant flows by gravity to the storage tank.
Uniform temperature and concentration of the
desiccant are ensured using an electric heater with
temperature controller as shown in Fig. 3. The flow
rate is monitored using a calibrated rotameter. The
dry bulb and wet bulb air temperatures are monitored
using mercury thermometers located at the inlet
(bottom) and exit (top) of the
dehumidifier/regenerator. Also, two more
thermocouples are used to measure the inlet (tower
top) and exit (tower bottom) desiccant temperatures.
The air flow rate is monitored using a vane type
anemometer.
The desiccant regeneration process used in this
work consists of pumping the liquid solution,
collected during the experiments, from the catch tank
to the heater tank where it is heated to about 55
o
C.
The heated solution is then pumped to the
dehumidifier/regenerator where the desiccant comes
into contact with dry and hot air supplied from the
AC unit. In this mode, very low flow rates for the
desiccant were used while the air flow rate was at its
maximum. The entire process described above may
be repeated until the required desiccant initial
concentration is restored.
In order to investigate the performance of packed-
type dehumidifiers, several design parameters that
are expected to affect the performance will be
studied. To predict the interaction of these
parameters, only one parameter at a time will be
allowed to vary over its range, while the other
variables were held constant at their intermediate
levels. The parameters that will be considered in this
work included air flow rate, desiccant flow rate,
desiccant inlet concentration, air inlet temperature,
desiccant inlet temperature, air humidity and
desiccant humidity.
The performance of the dehumidifier is evaluated by
calculating the moisture removal rate and the column
effectiveness. The rate of moisture removal from the
air is calculated from Eq. (1)
( ) A G Y Y m
out in
cond =
.
(1)

where G and A are the air flow rate and the column
cross-sectional area respectively.
The dehumidification effectiveness,
y
is an air-
side characteristic parameter which is related to the
mass transfer effectiveness during the
dehumidification operation.
The effectiveness is defined as the ratio of the
actual change in moisture content of the air leaving
the absorber to the maximum possible change in
moisture content under a given set of operating
conditions. The dehumidifier effectiveness,
y
, is
expressed mathematically as:


equ in
out in
y
Y Y
Y Y

= (2)
where Y
in
and Y
out
are the absolute humidity of the
air at the inlet and outlet conditions respectively. Y
equ

is the absolute humidity of the air, which is at
equilibrium with the desiccant solution at the inlet
concentration and temperature.

4.3 Hybrid Desiccant System
In a hybrid system, the desiccant dehumidifier
handles the latent cooling load and VCS/VAS
handles the sensible cooling load. Fig. 5 shows a
hybrid system where the solution chilled by a VCS is
passed through the absorber to simultaneously cool
and dehumidify the air. In contrast, a hybrid solid
desiccant system has to first dehumidify the air in a
desiccant wheel and then cool it in a cooling coil. In
both the cases the required chemical
dehumidification would be less than the stand alone
DCS, as no further moisture needs to be added (in an
evaporative cooler) to achieve cooling. Further, as
the cooling coil is maintained at higher apparatus
dew point (ADP) than a stand alone VCS, the overall
COP is also high. Waste heat from condenser may
also be used for regeneration (part or full) of
desiccant. So considerable energy savings can be
achieved by using these systems instead of
conventional systems using refrigerated coils alone,
especially for high latent load and low humidity
applications.


Fig 5. Hybrid Desiccant Cooling System

International Conference on Advancements and Futuristic Trends in Mechanical and Materials Engineering (October 5-7, 2012)

Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-Kapurthala Highway, Kapurthala, Punjab-144601 (INDIA) 196
Many studies have been carried out using renewable
energy sources especially solar energy [8, 10] that
tend to increase the energy savings while also
increasing the complexity and cost of the unit. The
performance of the desiccant systems and thus the
actual savings, depends primarily on the performance
of the dehumidifier and the thermodynamic cycle
representing the system configuration, as most of the
other components have evolved to a large extent.
Oberg and Goswami [11] presented a review of
liquid desiccant dehumidification equipment and the
various thermodynamic cycles. Thermodynamic
analysis of several liquid desiccant cycles has been
reported by Jain et al. [12].

4.4 Solar based Desiccant Cooling System
According to this principle, author established a
compound solar liquid desiccant air-conditioning
system (CSLDAS), and through the numerical
simulation, analyzed the performance and operation
energy consumption. Results indicate that CSLDAS
is more economical and energy-saving.
The composition of CSLDAS is introduced in
Fig.6. In the dehumidification process, use of natural
cold source to cooling and dehumidify fresh air,
reduce dehumidifier air inlet humidity ratio and
temperature, pretreated fresh air direct contact with
desiccant within dehumidifier, the air moisture will
be further absorbed by desiccant, the air is dried, and
achieved to the supply air status, later, feed into the
air-conditioning room, to removal indoor latent
cooling load. In this process, air humidity ratio and
desiccant concentration will be down respectively.



Fig 6. Solar based Desiccant cooling system

In the regeneration process, use of indoor return air
as renewable air, and heated by environment heat
(return air heating device), to diminish the relative
humidity of renewable air. In the regenerator,
renewable desiccant would be heated, and renewable
air in direct contact with heated desiccant, mass and
heat transfer will be processed between them, the
heated desiccant moisture was absorbed by
renewable air, the desiccant concentration increasing,
concentrated desiccant would be distributed into
dehumidifier again, spray the fresh air.

5. Application Issues

Desiccant dehumidification is an established
technology that has been used successfully for many
years in institutional and industrial applications.
Commercial applications are now gaining
acceptance. Desiccant systems have been applied
successfully in supermarkets and ice rinks. Hotels
and motels, office buildings, and restaurants provide
the next opportunity. Lowering the cost of desiccant
dehumidification systems and improving their
performance will clearly provide more opportunities
for desiccant dehumidification technology.
Currently, a number of cost-effective applications in
the market will result in increased sales during the
next several years; but as in other technologies,
further R&D and demonstration programs will
enhance broader applications of the technology. Low
temperature desiccants can effectively use waste heat
from electric air conditioners and improve their
efficiency and effectiveness-an area that utilities and
EPRI need to participate for further development.
Desiccant dehumidification systems as add-on
modules to electrical refrigeration systems could help
solve the challenges facing the HVAC industry in the
1990s: increased ventilation rates, need for improved
indoor air quality and better humidity controls,
phase-out of CFCs, national standards requiring
higher efficiency for cooling systems, and desire for
lowered peak electric demands. These factors, and
the ability for desiccant systems to solve specific
problems, are driving these desiccant technologies to
the mainstream of the air-conditioning market.

Table1. Typical Applications and Benefits for Desiccant
Dehumidification

Application
Benefits of Desiccant
Dehumidification
Supermarket
Energy savings through reduced
refrigeration display compressor
loads
Fewer defrost cycles in
refrigerated display systems
Eliminates condensation on
display cases
Ice Rinks
Energy savings through reduced
latent loads
Less ice resurfacing
Eliminates fogging
Reduced building maintenance
Refrigerated
Warehouse
Energy savings through reduced
latent loads
Eliminates temperature
fluctuations
International Conference on Advancements and Futuristic Trends in Mechanical and Materials Engineering (October 5-7, 2012)

Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-Kapurthala Highway, Kapurthala, Punjab-144601 (INDIA) 197
Reduces workplace hazards
Hospital
Operating
Room
Eliminates perspiration of
surgeons
Eliminates fungal amplification in
ductwork
Eliminates condensation in
operating room
Movie
Theater
Increased customer comfort
Allows increased ventilation in
response to ASHRAE Standard 62
Increases useful life of seats and
carpets that are damaged by the
presence of high moisture levels
School
Reduced health risks associated
with air-borne infectious agents
Decreased levels of indoor CO2
Lower energy costs
Fast Food
Restaurant
Allows increased ventilation in
response to ASHRAE Standard 62
Increased customer comfort
Lower energy costs
Hotel
Increased customer comfort
Allows increased ventilation in
response to ASHRAE Standard 62
Increases useful life of wallpaper,
tapestries and carpets that are
damaged by the presence of high
moisture levels

6. Concluding Remarks

Desiccant dehumidification systems are widely
used in many industries including HVAC, for air-
conditioning needs. These are commonly operated in
a hybrid mode with vapor compression systems, to
offer better indoor air quality (IAQ) and higher
energy efficiencies especially for low sensible heat
ratio and high humidity applications. The comparison
of experimental performance of dehumidifiers
reveals that proper selection of type of column with
its operating parameters including solution to air
flow rates, inlet concentration of desiccant and
packing size results in high dehumidification
effectiveness of about 0.9 or more. Internal cooling
could help effectiveness values to exceed 1. A
critical analysis of different empirical
dehumidification effectiveness correlations for
packed bed columns using three desiccant solutions
viz. triethylene glycol, lithium chloride and calcium
chloride has been reported in this paper. The analysis
shows wide variations in effectiveness values
ranging from 10% to 50% or more, with higher
deviations occurring for lower ratios of liquid to gas
flow rates. It emerges from the study that there is a
need to develop more comprehensive empirical
models for performance prediction of desiccant
dehumidifiers. Further, standardized testing
procedures need to be evolved to enable easier
comparison of different designs of dehumidifiers.
Overall, the use of liquid desiccant may be
advantageous compared to solid desiccants. Some
advantages of liquid desiccant include a small air
pressure drop and heat fact that a liquid can be
transported directly to the source of regeneration
heat. The ability to pump the liquid desiccant makes
it possible to connect several small desiccant
dehumidifiers to a larger regeneration unit which
would be especially beneficial in large buildings.
Using a liquid desiccant also enables more efficient
heat transfer since highly efficient liquid-liquid heat
exchanger may be employed. Finally, since a liquid
desiccant system does not require simultaneous air
dehumidification and desiccant regeneration, it is
possible to store the dilute liquid until regeneration
heat is available.

Acknowledgement
Authors are thankful to the IET Bhaddal
Technical Campus Ropar and Punjab Technical
University for their valuable support to carryout the
research.

References

1. Kinsara A, Elsayed M, Al-Rabghi OM., (1996), Proposed
energy-efficient air- conditioning system using liquid
desiccant, Appl Therm Eng 1996;16:791806.

2. Oberg V, Goswami DY.,(1998) Experimental study of the heat
and mass transfer in a packed bed liquid desiccant air
dehumidifier, J Solar Energy Engg 1998;120:28997.

3. Marsala J, Lowenstein A, Ryan WA., (1998), Liquid desiccant
for residential applications, ASHRAE Trans 1989;95:82834.

4. Oberg V, Goswami DY., (1998), A review of liquid desiccant
cooling. Advances in Solar Energy, American Solar Energy
Society Publishers 1998;12:43170.

5. Davanagere BS, Sherif SA, Goswami DY.(1999), A feasibility
study of a solar desiccant air-conditioning system-part I:
psychometrics and analysis of the conditioned zone, Int J
Energy Res, 23:721.

6. Jain S, Dhar PL, Kaushik SC., (2000), Experimental studies on
dehumidifier and regenerator of a liquid desiccant cooling
system, Appl Therm Eng 2000;20:25367.

7. Jain S., (2001), Desiccant augmented evaporative cooling: an
emerging air-conditioning alternative, Indian Institute of
Technology Delhi, Department of Mechanical Engineering, New
Delhi, India.

8. Fumo N, Goswami DY., (2002), Study of an aqueous lithium
chloride desiccant system: air dehumidification and desiccant
regeneration, Solar Energy 2002;72(4):35161.

9. Manuel R. Conde, (2004), Properties of aqueous solutions of
lithium and calcium chlorides:formulations for use in air
conditioning equipment design, International Journal of
Thermal Sciences 43, pp-367382.

10. X.H. Liu, K.Y. Qy, Y. Jiang, (2006), Empirical correlations
to predict the performance of the dehumidifier using liquid
desiccant in heat and mass transfer, Renewable Energy 31 (10)
1627e1639.

International Conference on Advancements and Futuristic Trends in Mechanical and Materials Engineering (October 5-7, 2012)

Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-Kapurthala Highway, Kapurthala, Punjab-144601 (INDIA) 198
11. Yonggao Yin, Xiaosong Zhang, Qingyan Chen, (2008), A
New Liquid Desiccant System for Air- Conditioned Spaces with
High Latent and Cooling Load, International Refrigeration
and Air Conditioning Conference, Purdue, pp- 2346(1-4).

12. Jin Wang, Cun_Nan Li1, Jian_Hua Liu1, Si_Chang
Liu,(2009), A New Air-conditioning System of Liquid
Desiccant and Evaporation Cooling, IEEE.

13. PAN Chengjuna, TANG Yidab, (2011), Analysis of Solar
Liquid Desiccant Air-Conditioning in Hot-humid Regions,
IEEE, pp104 -108.