Performance assessment of integrated PV/T and solid desiccant air-conditioning systems for cooling buildings using Maisotsenko cooling cycle

Hot summer days coincide with high solar insolation periods and high peak demands in the UAE. Solid desiccant air conditioning systems are capable of utilizing low-grade sources of energy such as solar energy. In this paper, two new air conditioning systems combining solid desiccant and Maisotsenko coolers are examined for use in humid climates such as the UAE. Solar energy in the form of a solar PV/T module is selected as the primary source of energy to operate the desiccant air cooling systems while an auxiliary heater is devised for supplementary air heating. A detailed thermodynamic analysis is performed to illustrate and evaluate the proposed air conditioning systems' performance in the UAE under different operating conditions. A comparative analysis is carried out to signify the advantages and disadvantages of integrating the Maisotsenko cooler with conventional desiccant air conditioning units. In addition, a seasonal analysis is conducted to examine the performance of the proposed systems throughout a summer day in Abu Dhabi. Average COP for two proposed configurations during the investigated period are 0.2495 and 0.2713. Furthermore, their corresponding solar shares are 32.2% and 36.5%, respectively. Finally, with PV/T module collectors' area of 681.0 m2 and 656.3 m2, annual electricity generation of 145.0 MWh and 139.7 MWh are reported, respectively.