Research PaperExperimental evaluation of a solid desiccant system integrated with cross flow Maisotsenko cycle evaporative cooler

- Solid desiccant dehumidifier was integrated with cross flow Maisotsenko cooler.
- Performance of MC-DAC was experimentally investigated over a wide range of operating conditions.
- MC-DAC can provide comfort conditions at low regeneration temperatures of 70 °C in subtropical climatic conditions than DAC.
- MC-DAC system is 60-65% more efficient than conventional DAC in terms of COP.

This paper presents the performance investigation of a solid desiccant dehumidifier integrated with Maisotsenko cycle (M-Cycle) based cross flow heat and mass exchanger (MC-DAC). The experimental test rig consisting of a silica gel based desiccant wheel and a heat recovery wheel is coupled with M-Cycle indirect evaporative cooler. The effect of wide range of inlet air parameters such as ambient temperature, humidity ratio, and regeneration temperature on the performance of integrated system was analyzed and compared with the conventional desiccant air conditioning (DAC) system. Set of experiments were carried out for both systems at constant process as well as return air mass flow rates under different operating conditions. MC-DAC system was observed to be around 60-65% more efficient than the other system in terms of COPth providing same supply air conditions at low regeneration temperatures.