Experimental investigations on desiccant wheels

Experimental investigations on several commercially available and newly fabricated rotors are conducted in two different laboratories to evaluate performance trends. Experimental uncertainties are analysed and the parameters determining the rotor performance are investigated. It is found that the optimal rotation speed is lower for lithium chloride or compound rotors than for silica gel rotors. Higher regeneration air temperatures lead to higher dehumidification potentials at almost equal dehumidification efficiencies, but with increasing regeneration specific heat input and enthalpy changes of the process air. The influence of the regeneration air humidity was also notable and low relative humidities increase the dehumidification potential. Finally, the measurements show that rising water content in the ambient air causes the dehumidification capacity to rise, while the dehumidification efficiency is not much affected and both specific regeneration heat input and latent heat change of the process air decrease. For desiccant cooling applications in humid climates this is a positive trend.

► New experimental results on a range of desiccant wheels.
► High dehumidification capacities and low enthalpy changes for process air high water content.
► Higher regeneration temperature increases capacity, but lowers energy efficiency.