Experimental evaluation of the new solid desiccant heat pump system in Asia-Pacific climatic conditions

The study investigates the new solid desiccant heat pump system applied in the outdoor air conditions of the Asia-Pacific Region. The new system operates in a cyclic process of air cooling/dehumidification and air heating/regeneration as opposed to the typical solid desiccant heat pump system. The experimental set-up was constructed to test the performance of the system. Several combinations of the outdoor air and return air temperature and humidity ratios were used in the investigation. The outdoor air conditions range from warm and very humid (33 °C and 80%) to mild temperature and humidity (28 °C and 60%). The indoor air conditions ranges from 28 °C and 60% to 26 °C and 40%. The result shows the system was good in the reduction of air latent energy content compared to the reduction of air sensible energy content. The system reduced up to 10 g/kg of air humidity ratio even at outdoor air humidity ratio of above 25 g/kg with high outdoor air temperature of 33 °C. The system higher coefficient of performance reached the maximum value of 5.7. The system lowest coefficient of performance was 2.9. The present system coefficient of performance is higher than the ordinary vapor compression heat pump system.