Development of Desicant Dewpoint Cooler - Phase 2 development (DDC 2)
This project is about the development of an alternative dessicant dewpoint cooling unit (DDC) that consists of a dehumidifier wheel and a dewpoint cooler without the need for a balanced air return flow from the building. The project aim is to design a DDC for ventilation systems that minimises the energy consumption for air conditioning by utilize for example solar heat or waste heat.
Heat driven cooling technologies composes an interesting alternative to compression driven technologies and can with utilization of renewable energy resources minimise the use of electricity for cooling. Most heat driven cooling system types (ejector and sorption) is challanged by the energy consumption from helping equipments as running pumps and ventilators.
Dessicant based cooling systems are characterised by no energy consumption for cooling. For traditional dessicant systems are the effectivity of internal heat change critical. This project is about the development of an alternative dessicant dewpoint cooling unit (DDC) that consists of a dehumidifier wheel and a dewpoint cooler without the need for a balanced air return flow from the building. A DDC can be used as a standalone or fitted with an existing ventilation system. Dessicant systems cools by evaporation of water and for traditional systems the cooling is an internal part of the DDC.
The project aim is to design a DDC for ventilation systems that minimises the energy consumption for air conditioning by utilize for example solar heat or waste heat. The project consists of two elements, a research phase which is funded by ELFORSK in 2011 and a development phase (phase 2). The aim is to develop a DDC by optimizing which a dehumidifier wheel and a dewpoint cooler and their interaction as a system.
The report presents a summary of the work in the project Udvikling af desiccant dugpunktskøler (DDC 2012) – Fase 2 udviklingsspor project number 345-047 under Danish Energy Association’s program Elforsk.
In the project, analyzes performed in part 1 of the project - the research track - have been used to develop a concept for a heat-powered air-conditioning system called Desiccant Dew Point Cooler DDC. The system consists primarily of a dehumidifier wheel with desiccant material which dehumidifies the supply air and a dewpoint cooler which cools the air to supply the building. The design includes an intercooler for heat recovery. The system results in significant electricity savings as it is heat-powered by using, for example, surplus heat. It also uses water to humidify air. The system is designed so that it decouples dehumidification and cooling of the air.
"In the project, analyzes performed in part 1 of the project - the research track - have been used to develop a concept for a heat-powered air-conditioning system called Desiccant Dew Point Cooler DDC."
The developed system concept has been used in the design of a prototype which was developed and constructed by COTES. This device was used in a test program to validate the operation of the system. This has been carried out in a series of tests at the Danish Technological Institute, where the plant has been tested under different conditions and configurations. The experiments have documented the plant operation and that it has achieved the expected performance, among other things by comparison with model calculations.
"Based on the test results, COTES has developed a concept for a DDC unit that can be used in both summer and winter conditions as a ventilation and air conditioning unit."
Based on the test results, COTES has developed a concept for a DDC unit that can be used in both summer and winter conditions as a ventilation and air conditioning unit. The system was specified for use in Norway, from where interest has been shown for this type of plant. Overall, it will be able to supply ventilation and air conditioning for a building with a demand of up to 12000 m3/h with an electricity consumption of 8.4 MWh/year. In addition, 67 MWh of electricity and 74 m3 of water will be used.
Key figures
Category
Participants
| Partner | Subsidy | Auto financing |
|---|---|---|
| COTES A/S | ||
| Teknologisk Institut | ||
| OBH-Gruppen | ||
| E. KLINK A/S |
