ON THE APPLICATION OF A MEMBRANE AIR-LIQUID CONTACTOR FOR AIR DEHUMIDIFICATION

This paper deals with a new approach to absorption air-handling system s working with liquid desiccants. A hydrophobic synthetic membrane, pe rmeable to vapour but not to liquid, acts as a porous barrier between a hygroscopic solution and moist air. The results of a first series of experiments performed on a microfibre polyethylene membrane are prese nted and discussed in relation to an analytical model developed to ana lyse non-isothermal vapour flux through a hydrophobic membrane. Theore tically analysis is carried out to study the influence of different pa rameters affecting vapour mass Aux through the membrane. The results s how that considerable vapour flux can be exchanged to/from a liquid de siccant and an air stream through the membrane, suggesting the feasibi lity of using compact-membrane absorber and desorber units in air hand ling. Furthermore, membrane contactors can achieve energy saving by pe rforming desiccant reactivation at moderate temperatures (310-330 K).