Dynamic simulation of desiccant cooling system with simultaneously using solar and ground renewable energies in hot-humid regions

This paper presents the dynamic operation of a desiccant cooling system combined with solar and ground source energies. Solar energy is used for providing the required energy for regenerating the desiccant wheel (DW), and the ground source heat exchanger (GSHE) is exploited as an air pre-cooling component. The potential of the system in providing thermal comfort is assessed in hot-humid regions. Results reveal that this system is capable of providing thermal comfort in these regions with low-grade regeneration temperatures (lower than 75 °C). As a new perspective, the maximum value of the DW regeneration temperature is controlled. The effect of the DW performance and its maximum regeneration temperature is evaluated on the behavior of the system. With results, high performance DW increases the provided thermal comfort up to 40% and the contribution of solar energy up to 14% compared with its low performance. Reducing the maximum regeneration temperature to 50 °C, decreases the achieved thermal comfort to lower than 30%. GSHE enhances the thermal comfort and a specified level of that can be provided with lower regeneration temperatures. The economical assessment shows that in entirely provided thermal comfort conditions by the system, the payback period is calculated to be 8.2 years.