A modified model of solar collector/regenerator considering effect of the glazing temperature

• A group of modified heat and mass transfer models of solar C/R were introduced originally.
• The thermal efficiency of heating solution reached twice that of heating air.
• There were optimum mass flow rates of air stream and solution filmin solar C/R.
• The regeneration efficiency ηr reached a maximum value at about 4 m.

Solar liquid collector/regenerator (C/R), combining the functions of solar collector and regenerator of absorbent solution together, can be effectively utilized in solar energy-driven liquid desiccant cooling systems. Based on thermal balance of the glazing of solar C/R, a group of modified heat and mass transfer models, validated by experimental results to reflect solution regeneration process more truly, were put forward in this paper. Numerical simulation showed only preheating air stream, keeping an equal humidity ratio, did raise the performance of solar C/R, but preheating solution increased the regeneration efficiencies to reach twice that of preheating air stream. There occurred optimum mass flow rates for both air stream and solution film reaching 36–48 kg m−1 h−1 and 4∼6 kg m−1 h−1 respectively for solar C/Rs of 3∼6 m long. As for effect of the length of solar C/Rs, the regeneration efficiency ηr reached a maximum value at about 4 m and shorter or longer solar C/Rs failed to increase solution regeneration efficiencies.