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Optimization of a heat assisted air-conditioning system comprising membrane and desiccant technologies for applications in tropical climates

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  • Safizadeh, M. Reza
  • Morgenstern, Alexander
  • Bongs, Constanze
  • Henning, Hans-Martin
  • Luther, Joachim

Abstract

Separating dehumidification and cooling loads in air-conditioning systems has been proven to be a potential strategy to reduce electricity consumption if the dehumidification of air is mostly performed by heat-powered system components. Referring to experimental experiences in Singapore, this paper presents a novel electricity-efficient air-conditioning system consisting of a membrane unit, an evaporatively cooled sorptive dehumidification system (called ECOS system) and a high-efficient conventional cooling unit. The dehumidification of air is performed by a combination of the membrane unit and the ECOS system, and the sensible cooling of air is accommodated by a high-efficiency conventional chiller and in part by the membrane device. In order to find an optimized balance of the three air-conditioning components, an optimization-based simulation approach using a genetic algorithm is developed. The optimization is based on a simple objective function that comprises operating and investment costs. The optimization results reveal that an integration of a relatively large membrane unit, a small ECOS unit and a chiller operating at an elevated evaporation temperature is the most cost effective combination meeting comfort criteria. The resulting optimized combination has potential to save more than 50% of the system's lifetime operating cost compared to conventional systems supplying 100% fresh air.

Suggested Citation

  • Safizadeh, M. Reza & Morgenstern, Alexander & Bongs, Constanze & Henning, Hans-Martin & Luther, Joachim, 2016. "Optimization of a heat assisted air-conditioning system comprising membrane and desiccant technologies for applications in tropical climates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 52-64.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:101:y:2016:i:c:p:52-64
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.02.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jagirdar, Mrinal & Lee, Poh Seng, 2018. "Mathematical modeling and performance evaluation of a desiccant coated fin-tube heat exchanger," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 401-415.
    2. Gao, D.C. & Sun, Y.J. & Ma, Z. & Ren, H., 2021. "A review on integration and design of desiccant air-conditioning systems for overall performance improvements," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    3. Zhang, Ning & Yin, Shao-You & Li, Min, 2018. "Model-based optimization for a heat pump driven and hollow fiber membrane hybrid two-stage liquid desiccant air dehumidification system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 12-20.
    4. Han, Youhua & Li, Ming & Wang, Yunfeng & Li, Guoliang & Ma, Xun & Wang, Rui & Wang, Liang, 2019. "Impedance matching control strategy for a solar cooling system directly driven by distributed photovoltaics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 953-965.

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