Commercial applications for solar hybrid desiccant systems

This paper investigates the use of four different hybrid desiccant air conditioning systems in commercial buildings. The hybrid systems use a desiccant dehumidifier to provide the latent cooling, and an indirect evaporative cooler and a vapor compression machine to provide the sensible cooling. Annual air conditioning energy requirements for the four hybrid systems are compared with that for a typical vapor compression air conditioning system. The effects of ambient conditions on system performance are considered. Results are presented for Miami, FL and Phoenix, AZ. It is shown that hybrid systems can reduce cooling energy consumption by as much as 55% in locations such as Miami and Phoenix.