Coupled heat and mass transfer characteristic in packed bed dehumidifier/regenerator using liquid desiccant

The dehumidifier and regenerator are two key components in liquid desiccant air conditioning systems. The heat transfer driving force and the mass transfer driving force influence each other, the air and desiccant outlet temperatures or humidity ratio may exceed the air and desiccant inlet parameters in the dehumidifier/regenerator. The uncoupled heat and mass transfer driving forces, enthalpy difference and relative humidity difference between the air and desiccant are derived based on the available heat and mass transfer model and validated by the experimental and numerical results. The air outlet parameter reachable region is composed of the air inlet isenthalpic line, the desiccant inlet equivalent relative humidity line and the linkage of the air and desiccant inlet statuses. Except the mass flow rate ratio and the heat and mass transfer coefficients, the air and desiccant inlet statuses and flow pattern have great effects on the dehumidifier/regenerator performance. The counter flow configuration expresses the best mass transfer performance in the dehumidifier and the hot desiccant driven regenerator, while the parallel flow configuration performs best in the hot air driven regenerator.