Experimental analysis of energy recovery for humidity control in split A/C system

This study presents a proposed idea about making use of the thermal energy rejected by the condenser in a water-cooled split-air-conditioning systems to decrease the relative humidity of the cold air supplied by such air conditioners. Most of split air-conditioner systems cool air without controlling its humidity. An amount of heat is rejected from the air conditioner, through the condenser, into the surrounding in order to allow the refrigerant to cool down and condense, thus, part of the lost energy can be exploited to decrease the relative humidity of the sub-cooled air that leaves the evaporator as saturated humid air. Four variables, viz. the coil type (single or double), the amount of flowing water, water, temperature, and the cooled air velocity were studied to find out the optimum conditions required for this purpose. The requisite amount of heat that may adjust the relative humidity of the conditioned air was also determined. The experimental results suggest an optimum design of a heat exchanger for performing the use of the heat rejected from the condenser to achieve the aim. As a result, the proposed heat recovery concept can be worthily adopted to achieve economic results in large-scale systems.

► Maximum decrease in relative humidity occurs at maximum water temperature and flow rate, more rows of heat exchanger and less air speed.
► Heat rejected from the condenser is used to raise water temperature.
► COP of systems containing double-row coil favors that of single row.
► Heat recovery concept can be adopted in large-scale systems.