EFFECT OF AXIAL SOLID HEAT-CONDUCTION AND MASS DIFFUSION IN A ROTARY HEAT AND MASS REGENERATOR

This research analyzes the effect of axial heat conduction and mass di ffusion on the performance of a solid desiccant wheel. A one-dimension al transient heat and mass transfer model which contains four nonlinea r partial differential equations is developed. The equations are solve d using a full-implicit finite-difference method. A limiting case with a zero solid diffusion resistance is considered. Three different rege neration temperatures, namely 26, 50 and 85-degrees-C, are considered. The parameter, (lambda4(2)Ntu/Bi), is found to be the most important factor governing the axial heat conduction and mass diffusion effect.