Modelling of a rotary desiccant wheel: Numerical validation of a Variable Properties Model

Compared to the traditional models, significant improvements in the agreement between numerical predictions and experimental data have been observed. It was found that mean relative error between measured and VPM calculated data were always significantly lower than those between the same experimental data and values calculated according to widespread literature models which consider moist air properties constant with temperature; as a consequence, it can be inferred that neglecting variations of moist air properties with temperature leads to unacceptably low accuracy variables estimation.