Experimental evaluation of a liquid desiccant air conditioning system for tri-generation / waste heat driven applications

Elmer, Theo; Worall, Mark; Wu, Shenyi; Riffat, Saffa

Abstract

The paper aims to evaluate the application of liquid desiccant air conditioning technology in the development of efficient and effective tri-generation/waste heat driven system applications, in particular with regard to solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology. Using operational thermal input values typical of a SOFC combined heat and power (CHP) system, the paper’s evaluation validates the concept of integrating SOFC and liquid desiccant air conditioning technology into an efficient and effective first-of-its-kind tri-generation system. This is due to good dehumidification capacity and effective regeneration of a potassium formate solution at a 0.65-0.7 solution mass concentration. Conclusions of the paper’s evaluation include: (1) effective instantaneous balancing of the dehumidifier and regenerator across a range of environmental and operational values, (2) operation of the dehumidifier is dictated, to some degree by the available thermal energy (CHP prime mover, process heat), (3) encouraging thermal COP values, for a system of this scale, in the range of 0.4-0.66 are achievable with a low grade thermal input (45-60°C) typical of a SOFC CHP system, and (4) potential for non-synchronous operation in a tri-generation system context, bringing about improvements to peak cooling output and total system efficiency.

Citation

Elmer, T., Worall, M., Wu, S., & Riffat, S. (2017). Experimental evaluation of a liquid desiccant air conditioning system for tri-generation / waste heat driven applications. International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, 12(2), 110-125. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlct/ctw012

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 24, 2016
• Online Publication Date: May 25, 2016
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 18, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 9, 2018
• Journal: International Journal of Low Carbon Technologies
• Print ISSN: 1748-1317
• Electronic ISSN: 1748-1325
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 110-125
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlct/ctw012
• Keywords: Liquid desiccant; Air conditioning; Waste heat; Potassium formate; Building application
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/783890
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/ijlct/article/12/2/110/2527626?searchresult=1