A low energy HDH (humidification-dehumidification) and AC (air-conditioning) hybrid system using an efficient
design of dehumidifier (strips-finned helical coil) and packing pad material (cellulose paper in bee-hive structure)
is proposed. An experimental investigation of the performance of the proposed system is conducted for wide
ranges of air and water flow rates and temperatures and packing pad thickness. The results showed that (i) the
proposed hybrid system can produce fresh water and remove space cooling load to maintain the required comfort
conditions, (ii) the fresh water production rate, cooling load capacity and the system performance increase with
increasing air and water flow rates and temperatures and cooling pad thickness, (iii) the proposed HDH system
with the new humidification-dehumidification sections has better productivity and performance compared to
other systems, (vi) daily production cost of the system increases with increasing inlet air and water flow rates and
decreasing cooling pad thickness and air and water temperatures, and (v) production cost per kg of fresh water
decreases by increasing cooling pad thickness and air and water flow rates and temperatures. The system performance
parameters (fresh water productivity, cooling load capacity, space supply air temperature and coefficient
of performance) can reach to 17.42 kg/h, 3.9 kW and 16 ◦C, and 4.35, respectively. Moreover, the lowest
specific cost of fresh water production can be obtained is 0.7 ¢/kgFW, respectively. Finally, empirical correlations
of system productivities and performance parameters in terms of operating conditions and system geometric
parameters were predicted within acceptable errors. |
