Mathematical modeling of a packed-bed air dehumidifier: The impact of empirical correlations

Applying empirical correlations to estimate various parameters used in a mathematical model is inevitable. In this study, a mathematical model is developed for a packed-bed air dehumidifier and the impact of some well-known empirical correlations available in literature is evaluated on the model's predictions and accuracy. The results reveal that in designing an air dehumidifier, using different empirical correlations may lead to very different predictions for the required bed height. The equations of Onda et al. (1968) and Rocha et al. (1996) to calculate the effective interfacial area, the equation of Treybal (1981) to calculate the heat transfer coefficient, and the equations of Chung et al. (1996) to calculate the mass transfer coefficient show precise results and increase the reliability of the mathematical models.