Publication: The effect of desiccant material porosity on the pressure drop
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Date
2024-07-12
Authors
Muhammad Nazmi bin Razali
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Abstract
Air conditioning systems use significant electrical energy and cost to dehumidify air. An alternative method is to use desiccant dehumidifiers to remove moisture. However, desiccant dehumidifiers have an inherent issue of pressure drop due to flow restriction. This study aims to examine the pressure drop based on the porosity of the desiccant wheel and the desiccant material at high relative humidity. The experiment was conducted using a wind tunnel experimental rig at the Heat Transfer Laboratory in the School of Mechanical Engineering, USM. The desiccant wheel was placed in the wind tunnel, and the pressure drop was recorded. The outlet air velocity is crucial for understanding how the Reynolds number affects the pressure drop. By comparing Re and pressure, we can observe their correlation. For example, activated alumina with a porosity of Φ = 0.9526 experiences a pressure drop of 65 Pa at Re = 50100. At Re = 50600, the pressure drop is 68 Pa. To understand the impact of porosity on pressure drop, we can observe the pressure drop for all porosities within a range of Re. For activated alumina, with an Re range of 50100 to 50600, the average pressure drop at a porosity of Φ = 0.9526 is 67 Pa, while at a porosity of Φ = 0.4045, the average pressure drop is 114 Pa. In summary, as Reynolds number increases, the pressure drop increases, and as porosity decreases, the pressure drop also increases.