Annual evaluation of energy, environmental and economic performances of a membrane liquid desiccant air conditioning system with/without ERV

In this study, a membrane liquid desiccant air conditioning (M-LDAC) system is modeled using the TRNSYS building energy simulation software. Liquid-to-air membrane energy exchangers (LAMEEs) are used as a dehumidifier and regenerator in the proposed M-LDAC system to eliminate the carryover of desiccant droplets in supply and exhaust air streams, which may occur when direct-contact conditioners are used. A sensitivity study on the sensible, latent and total effectivenesses of the LAMEEs is performed under 36 operating and design conditions. The technical, environmental and economic performances of the proposed M-LDAC system are evaluated, and compared to those of a conventional air conditioning (CAC) system. The influences of installing an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) under balanced and unbalanced airflow rates conditions are investigated. Results show that the annual primary energy consumption and the life cycle cost (LCC) of the proposed M-LDAC system are 19% and 12% lower than that of the CAC system, and they reach 32% and 21% when an ERV, which operates under balanced airflow rates, is installed in the M-LDAC system.

[1]  R. Besant,et al.  Comparison of experimental data and a model for heat and mass transfer performance of a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) when used for air dehumidification and salt solution regeneration , 2014 .

[2]  Jianlei Niu,et al.  Energy requirements for conditioning fresh air and the long-term savings with a membrane-based energy recovery ventilator in Hong Kong , 2001 .

[3]  Xiu-Wei Li,et al.  Single-stage and double-stage photovoltaic driven regeneration for liquid desiccant cooling system , 2011 .

[4]  Cai-Hang Liang,et al.  Conjugate heat and mass transfer in membrane-formed channels in all entry regions , 2010 .

[5]  R. Besant,et al.  Solution-side effectiveness for a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger used as a dehumidifier/regenerator , 2014 .

[6]  Carey J. Simonson,et al.  Performance analysis of a membrane liquid desiccant air-conditioning system , 2013 .

[7]  Özden Ağra,et al.  Sizing and selection of heat exchanger at defined saving–investment ratio , 2011 .

[8]  Xinhua Xu,et al.  Model-based optimal control of a dedicated outdoor air-chilled ceiling system using liquid desiccant and membrane-based total heat recovery , 2011 .

[9]  S. Rushing,et al.  Energy Price Indices and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis - April 2006 , 1997 .

[10]  Carey J. Simonson,et al.  Performance testing of a counter-cross-flow run-around membrane energy exchanger (RAMEE) system for HVAC applications , 2010 .

[11]  Pradeep Bansal,et al.  Performance analysis of liquid desiccant dehumidification systems , 2007 .

[12]  Carey J. Simonson,et al.  Research and applications of liquid-to-air membrane energy exchangers in building HVAC systems at University of Saskatchewan: A review , 2013 .

[13]  Standard Ashrae.  Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy , 1992 .

[14]  S. Jain,et al.  Performance characteristics of cross-flow membrane contactors for liquid desiccant systems , 2015 .

[15]  Mohammad Rasouli,et al.  Applicability and optimum control strategy of energy recovery ventilators in different climatic conditions , 2010 .

[16]  Carey J. Simonson,et al.  Analytical model based performance evaluation, sizing and coupling flow optimization of liquid desiccant run-around membrane energy exchanger systems , 2013 .

[17]  Chunfa Zhang,et al.  Environmental impact analysis of BCHP system in different climate zones in China , 2010 .

[18]  T. Fuller,et al.  Modeling of a flat plate membrane-distillation system for liquid desiccant regeneration in air-conditioning applications , 2011 .

[19]  Thosapon Katejanekarn,et al.  Performance of a solar-regenerated liquid desiccant ventilation pre-conditioning system , 2008 .

[20]  Stanley A. Mumma,et al.  Dedicated Outdoor Air-Dual Wheel System Control Requirements , 2001 .

[21]  Luis Pérez-Lombard,et al.  A review on buildings energy consumption information , 2008 .

[22]  L. C. S. Mesquita,et al.  Modeling of heat and mass transfer in parallel plate liquid-desiccant dehumidifiers , 2006 .

[23]  Robert E. Wilson,et al.  Fundamentals of momentum, heat, and mass transfer , 1969 .

[24]  Hongxing Yang,et al.  Energy and economic performance analysis of an open cycle solar desiccant dehumidification air-conditioning system for application in Hong Kong , 2010 .

[25]  Li-Zhi Zhang.  An Analytical Solution to Heat and Mass Transfer in Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactors for Liquid Desiccant Air Dehumidification , 2011 .

[26]  W. Beckman,et al.  Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes , 1985 .

[27]  Anna Chiari,et al.  Performance analysis of a liquid desiccant and membrane contactor hybrid air-conditioning system , 2010 .

[28]  Carey J. Simonson,et al.  Application of neural networks to predict the steady state performance of a Run-Around Membrane Energy Exchanger , 2012 .

[29]  Anna Chiari,et al.  On the performances of a hybrid air-conditioning system in different climatic conditions , 2011 .

[30]  Zhen-Sheng Zhao,et al.  Performance comparison between two novel configurations of liquid desiccant air-conditioning system , 2010 .

[31]  W. Kessling,et al.  ENERGY STORAGE FOR DESICCANT COOLING SYSTEMS COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT , 1998 .

[32]  Means.  Means mechanical cost data , 1983 .

[33]  Hongxing Yang,et al.  Investigation on air-conditioning load profile and energy consumption of desiccant cooling system for commercial buildings in Hong Kong , 2012 .

[34]  Jianjun Xia,et al.  Performance analysis on the internally cooled dehumidifier using liquid desiccant , 2009 .

[35]  Dongsheng Zhu,et al.  Thermodynamic modeling of a novel air dehumidification system , 2005, Energy and Buildings.

[36]  Gaoming Ge,et al.  Performance analysis of liquid desiccant based air-conditioning system under variable fresh air rati , 2010 .

[37]  R. Besant,et al.  Numerical model and effectiveness correlations for a run-around heat recovery system with combined counter and cross flow exchangers , 2009 .

[38]  Ruzhu Wang,et al.  Use of liquid desiccant cooling to improve the performance of vapor compression air conditioning , 2001 .

[39]  Miklos Kassai,et al.  Evaluation of defrosting methods for air-to-air heat/energy exchangers on energy consumption of ventilation , 2015 .

[40]  Fu Xiao,et al.  Investigation on capacity matching in liquid desiccant and heat pump hybrid air-conditioning systems , 2012 .

[41]  Kamel Ghali,et al.  Optimized solar-powered liquid desiccant system to supply building fresh water and cooling needs , 2011 .

[42]  D. Goswami,et al.  Study of an aqueous lithium chloride desiccant system: air dehumidification and desiccant regeneration , 2002 .

[43]  R. Besant,et al.  Steady-state performance of a run-around membrane energy exchanger (RAMEE) for a range of outdoor air conditions , 2011 .

[44]  Carey J. Simonson,et al.  Thermo-economic performance of a solar membrane liquid desiccant air conditioning system , 2014 .

[45]  Gershon Grossman,et al.  Experimental investigation of a liquid desiccant system for solar cooling and dehumidification , 2007 .

[46]  Gershon Grossman,et al.  Experimental Investigation of a LiCl-Water Open Absorption System for Cooling and Dehumidification , 2004 .

[47]  Fu Xiao,et al.  Control performance of a dedicated outdoor air system adopting liquid desiccant dehumidification , 2011 .

[48]  Yoshiyuki Shimoda,et al.  City-level energy and CO 2 reduction effect by introducing new residential water heaters , 2010 .

[49]  Carey J. Simonson,et al.  State-of-the-art in liquid-to-air membrane energy exchangers (LAMEEs): A comprehensive review , 2014 .

[50]  R. Besant,et al.  Steady-State Performance of a Prototype (200 cfm) Liquid-to-Air Membrane Energy Exchanger (LAMEE) Under Summer and Winter Test Conditions , 2013 .

[51]  Siaw Kiang Chou,et al.  Achieving better energy-efficient air conditioning - A review of technologies and strategies , 2013 .

[52]  Lisa Crofoot,et al.  Performance Evaluation of a Liquid Desiccant Solar Air Conditioning System , 2012 .

[53]  R. Besant,et al.  Energy wheel effectiveness: part I—development of dimensionless groups , 1999 .

[54]  Danny H.W. Li,et al.  Impact of climate change on energy use in the built environment in different climate zones – A review , 2012 .

[55]  Carey J. Simonson,et al.  +Transient characteristics of a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) experimental data with correlations , 2012 .

[56]  Youxian Sun,et al.  A hybrid dehumidifier model for real-time performance monitoring, control and optimization in liquid desiccant dehumidification system , 2013 .

[57]  D. Y. Goswami,et al.  A review of liquid desiccant cooling , 1998 .

[58]  Refrigerating.  ASHRAE handbook of fundamentals , 1967 .

[59]  Bing Liu,et al.  U.S. Department of Energy Commercial Reference Building Models of the National Building Stock , 2011 .

[60]  Hongxing Yang,et al.  Investigation on wetted area and film thickness for falling film liquid desiccant regeneration system , 2013 .

[61]  Andrew Lowenstein,et al.  A Zero Carryover Liquid-Desiccant Air Conditioner for Solar Applications , 2006 .

[62]  Frank P. Incropera,et al.  Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer , 1981 .

[63]  R. Besant,et al.  Transient heat and moisture transfer characteristics of a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) model verification and extrapolation , 2013 .

[64]  J. E. Janssen,et al.  Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality , 1989 .