Characterization of desiccant wheels with alternative materials at low regeneration temperatures

A number of new desiccant materials have been proposed which have the potential to improve the performance of desiccant wheels being regenerated at low temperature. Desiccant wheels containing two such desiccant materials (zeolite and superadsorbent polymer) were compared with a conventional silica gel desiccant wheel. The superadsorbent polymer desiccant wheel achieved greater dehumidification than the silica gel wheel when dehumidifying high relative humidity air with low temperature (50 °C) regeneration air. The temperature of dehumidified air exiting the polymer wheel was also lower. The zeolite desiccant wheel was generally less effective at dehumidifying air and had a higher pressure drop.

► Performance data for a polymer desiccant wheel is presented for the first time.
► Performance is compared with silica gel and zeolite wheels at unusually low regeneration temperature (50 °C).
► The polymer wheel gives best performance at low regeneration temperature and high humidity.
► Dehumidified air exiting the polymer wheel had the lowest temperature.