Abstract:
This research is aimed at studying the performance of a new concept of air conditioning by using adesiccant bed coupled with an indirect evaporative cooler (DBAC-IEC). This air conditioningsystem consists of a silica gel bed 0.5 m wide, 0.5 m length and 0.5 m thickness and an indirectevaporative cooler made by 171 PVC tubes, 1.45 m long, 2.2 cm diameter and 1.1 mm thickness.Different operating conditions and various scenarios were considered. The experimental resultsshowed that increasing air flow rate through the system increased the coefficient of performance ofthis concept, even though the temperature drop of air passing the DBAC-IEC system is nearly thesame. The DBAC-IEC could decrease temperature of air passing the system by 4-6 oC depending onambient air humidity and temperature. The coefficient of performance was in the range of 0.90 1.58 at air flow rate of 450 - 550 m3/hr. The dried and cooled air leaving the system was supplied toa room 4 m wide, 6 m length and 3.2 m high occupied with 5 people. Thermal sensation analysis ofvote of subjects using common questionnaire indicated that all subjects agreed that indoorconditions are acceptable when 30% fresh air was mixed to 70% return air at the air volume flowrate of 550 m3/hr. Therefore the proposed concept seems to be valid with high potential forcommercial application, in residential or agriculture sections.