Natural induced flow due to concentration gradient in a liquid desiccant air dehumidifier

•The natural induced flow due to change of concentration in a loop is investigated.•The natural flow originates from heat sink toward the heat source.•The unique features of the system explained.•The natural closed loop acts as an air dehumidifier.•The near zero energy liquid desiccant dehumidifier is presented.

Natural heat and mass transfer can be achieved simultaneously in a stratified medium. In this study, the natural induced flow due to change of concentration of a desiccant liquid in a closed circulation loop is experimentally investigated. The proposed novel system is a liquid desiccant dehumidifier which consists of two modules: the absorber and the generator, in which no parasitic pump energy is required. The experimental system consists of a closed loop equipped with hollow fiber membranes across which water vapor can be passed. The circulating fluid, lithium chloride, is used as the water vapor absorber while the cooling/heating fluid of the loop is cold/hot water. The preliminary results of the system operations are presented and explained which show that the system can be a promising air dehumidifier device in air conditioning systems.