Performance of desiccant-based cooling systems in hot-humid climates: A review

Abstract

This paper reviews the principle and application of the thermally activated desiccant cooling systems with their capability to perform efficiently in hot-humid climates. The paper first introduces the continuous increase of thermal comfort required in building and their relation with the consumption of conventional energy sources. The importance of desiccant cooling technology and its applications has been introduced as well. The energy and environmental issues with the conventional energy supply and the demand with the environmental problems and conditions mainly related to indoor air quality have been also discussed in the second chapter of this paper. The third part of this paper deals with different techniques and systems applied for cooling and dehumidification including the principles of solid and liquid desiccant applications. Indeed, these systems perform well in hot-humid climates. The result of a case study of the solid desiccant cooling system combined with solar energy for the desiccant wheel regeneration has been presented in the last chapter in this paper to show the capability of these systems once well applied in a hot-humid climate.