Effect of climatic conditions on the performance of a multistage dynamic dehumidifier test rig

Due to climatic change, there is a rise in air conditioning demand. Conventional air conditioning unit has drawbacks like environmental pollution and excessive energy consumption. Packed type liquid desiccant dehumidification system is environmentally friendly and energy-saving compared to the conventional vapor compression cycle. A multistage dehumidifier test rig has been fabricated with Calcium Chloride as the desiccant in the present work. Celdek packing soaked in the desiccant solution reciprocates with varying linear velocity and interacts with the air. Experiments are conducted by varying air velocities, camshaft speed, inlet relative humidity and inlet dry bulb temperature. Performance parameters such as moisture transfer coefficient, coefficient of performance, moisture removal rate and dehumidification efficiency are determined. Four pad unit gave better dehumidification over three and two pads. The system gave maximum COP, moisture removal rate and dehumidification efficiency equal to 2.17, 4.87 g/s and 73.54%, respectively. With the increase in the inlet RH and DBT there is a rise in the coefficient of performance, moisture removal rate and dehumidification efficiency. Air entering the room is found to be of good quality with no carryover of the desiccant.