The paper presents experimental data and results from a prediction tool for the performance of a desiccant loop cooling system. The experiments are performed under a variety of high humidity and hot ambient conditions and the system performance is described. One of the experimental conditions is typical of many Indian cities and the systems appropriate for those cities are established. A simulation program that can predict the performance of the desiccant loop is developed. The simulation results show that this system can work as effectively as vapor compression air-conditioning for certain ambient conditions whereas it can function as a pre-cooler to a vapor compression system under more severe conditions, resulting in a reduced power consumption. The results presented in the paper give a guideline to practicing engineers as to when a desiccant loop cooling system would be useful. A simple payback analysis and a lifecycle cost analysis shows that a desiccant cooling system with a waste heat recovery recuperator is an economically viable investment.

本文介绍了用于干燥剂回路冷却系统性能的预测工具的实验数据和结果。实验在各种高湿度和炎热的环境条件下进行，并描述了系统性能。实验条件之一是许多印度城市的典型条件，并建立了适合那些城市的系统。开发了可以预测干燥剂回路性能的仿真程序。仿真结果表明，该系统在某些环境条件下可以像蒸汽压缩空调一样有效，而在更严酷的条件下，它可以作为蒸汽压缩系统的预冷却器，从而降低了功耗。本文中提供的结果为实践工程师提供了何时使用干燥剂环路冷却系统的指南。简单的投资回收期分析和生命周期成本分析表明，带有废热回收换热器的干燥剂冷却系统是经济上可行的投资。