EVALUATION OF SOLID-DESICCANT-BASED EVAPORATIVE COOLING CYCLES FOR TYPICAL HOT AND HUMID

This paper presents an evaluation of various solid desiccant cycles fo r air conditioning in hot and humid climates. Psychrometric evaluation of potential cycles for 16 typical Indian cities has been carried out with the objective of achieving standard comfort conditions in the ro om. Computer simulation is based on constant effectiveness of heat exc hangers and evaporative coolers and actual performance data of a comme rcially available desiccant wheel dehumidifier. The influence of vario us outdoor conditions, the effectiveness of heat exchangers/evaporativ e coolers on the cooling coefficient of performance and volumetric air flowrate per unit cooling capacity have been investigated. It is foun d that amongst ventilation, recirculation and Dunkle cycles, the Dunkl e cycle is better for a wide range of outdoor conditions. However, cyc les using wet surface heat exchangers give even higher performance.