Measurement Analysis and Evaluation of Desiccant Air Handling Units with Various Heat Source

Abstract

In hot and humid summer as in Japan, dehumidification is important process for air conditioning. Desiccant air handling unit is one of the major system for dehumidification in which absorbent or sorbent absorbs moisture in the air and hot heat source is required in order to regenerate them. Desiccant air handling unit is becoming common system, however there is little information about actual operation results and evaluation based on the measurement results. This study provides actual data set and benchmarks which are useful for designing desiccant air handling unit and to evaluate energy performance of various desiccant air handling systems. Measurement results show that coefficient of performance of desiccant air handling unit itself is around 0.7 in summer with polymer sorbent. In addition, the coefficient of performance of desiccant air handling system is defined and the value depends on the coefficient of performance of heat source and the distribution between chilled water and hot water.