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Numerical simulation of a novel energy-efficient dew-point evaporative air cooler

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  • Cui, X.
  • Chua, K.J.
  • Yang, W.M.

Abstract

We present simulation results on a novel dew-point evaporative air conditioner which was designed based on a counter-flow closed-loop configuration consisting of separated working channels and product channels. The novel evaporative air conditioner is able to cool air to temperature below ambient wet-bulb temperature and approaching dew-point temperature. To investigate the performance of the evaporative air cooler under a variety of conditions, the Eulerian–Lagrangian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was adopted. We validated the model by comparing the temperature distributions and outlet air conditions against experimental data. The numerical model showed good agreement with the experimental findings to within±10%. Impacts due to the inlet air condition, the air flow velocity, the dimension of the airflow passages, and the product-to-working air flow ratio on the cooler performance were analyzed. Simulation results have indicated that the novel dew-point evaporative air conditioner is able to achieve a higher wet-bulb and dew-point effectiveness with lower air velocity, smaller channel height, larger length-to-height ratio, and lower product-to-working air flow ratio.

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  • Cui, X. & Chua, K.J. & Yang, W.M., 2014. "Numerical simulation of a novel energy-efficient dew-point evaporative air cooler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 979-988.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:136:y:2014:i:c:p:979-988
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.04.040
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    7. Duan, Zhiyin & Zhao, Xudong & Li, Junming, 2017. "Design, fabrication and performance evaluation of a compact regenerative evaporative cooler: Towards low energy cooling for buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 506-519.
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    10. Cui, X. & Islam, M.R. & Mohan, B. & Chua, K.J., 2016. "Theoretical analysis of a liquid desiccant based indirect evaporative cooling system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 303-312.
    11. Ham, Sang-Woo & Jeong, Jae-Weon, 2016. "DPHX (dew point evaporative heat exchanger): System design and performance analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 132-145.
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    15. Yang, Hongxing & Shi, Wenchao & Chen, Yi & Min, Yunran, 2021. "Research development of indirect evaporative cooling technology: An updated review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    16. Mahmood, Muhammad H. & Sultan, Muhammad & Miyazaki, Takahiko & Koyama, Shigeru & Maisotsenko, Valeriy S., 2016. "Overview of the Maisotsenko cycle – A way towards dew point evaporative cooling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 537-555.
    17. Zhu, Guangya & Wen, Tao & Wang, Qunwei & Xu, Xiaoyu, 2022. "A review of dew-point evaporative cooling: Recent advances and future development," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    18. Xu, Peng & Ma, Xiaoli & Diallo, Thierno M.O. & Zhao, Xudong & Fancey, Kevin & Li, Deying & Chen, Hongbing, 2016. "Numerical investigation of the energy performance of a guideless irregular heat and mass exchanger with corrugated heat transfer surface for dew point cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 803-817.
    19. Chen, Yi & Yan, Huaxia & Yang, Hongxing, 2018. "Comparative study of on-off control and novel high-low control of regenerative indirect evaporative cooler (RIEC)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 233-243.
    20. Wenhe Zhou & Shuo Cheng & Jia Wang & Yong Liu, 2024. "Numerical Analysis on Performance Improvement of a Vertical Plate Indirect Evaporative Cooler with Baffles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-18, May.
    21. Hadeed Ashraf & Muhammad Sultan & Uzair Sajjad & Muhammad Wakil Shahzad & Muhammad Farooq & Sobhy M. Ibrahim & Muhammad Usman Khan & Muhammad Ahmad Jamil, 2022. "Potential Investigation of Membrane Energy Recovery Ventilators for the Management of Building Air-Conditioning Loads," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    22. Shahzad, Muhammad Wakil & Lin, Jie & Xu, Ben Bin & Dala, Laurent & Chen, Qian & Burhan, Muhammad & Sultan, Muhammad & Worek, William & Ng, Kim Choon, 2021. "A spatiotemporal indirect evaporative cooler enabled by transiently interceding water mist," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    23. Akhlaghi, Yousef Golizadeh & Ma, Xiaoli & Zhao, Xudong & Shittu, Samson & Li, Junming, 2019. "A statistical model for dew point air cooler based on the multiple polynomial regression approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 868-881.
    24. Xiao, Xin & Liu, Jinjin, 2024. "A state-of-art review of dew point evaporative cooling technology and integrated applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    25. Lin, Jie & Bui, Duc Thuan & Wang, Ruzhu & Chua, Kian Jon, 2018. "On the fundamental heat and mass transfer analysis of the counter-flow dew point evaporative cooler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 126-142.

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