Corrosion of Metal Alloys in Potassium Acetate Solutions for Liquid Desiccant Dehumidification and Air Conditioning

Kerry C. Rippy, Emily Volk, Reagan Beers, Eric Kozubal, Kristin Gauderman and Judith Vidal
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Kerry C. Rippy: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Emily Volk: Advanced Energy Systems Graduate Program, Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Reagan Beers: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Eric Kozubal: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Kristin Gauderman: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Judith Vidal: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: For commercial buildings, liquid desiccant air conditioners (LDACs) could provide up to 80% energy savings compared to high-efficiency vapor compression AC, but commonly utilized liquid desiccants are highly corrosive. This precludes the use of metallic components, necessitating specialized plastics and thereby driving up cost, weight, and limiting operational temperature and pressure ranges. Less corrosive alternatives are sought. Here, potassium acetate solutions are investigated as less-corrosive alternatives to the chloride salt solutions that are typically used in LDAC systems. Corrosion evaluations for a Cu alloy (C12200) and two Al alloys (Al3003 and Al1100) in both potassium acetate and chloride salt solutions are presented. We show that yearly corrosion rates are lower in potassium acetate solutions by up to three orders of magnitude. Active corrosion behavior is largely absent in potassium acetate solutions but is present in chloride salt solutions. Furthermore, solid corrosion products are observed in chloride salt solutions. Thus, we conclude that potassium acetate is a promising candidate as a less corrosive alternative liquid desiccant for LDAC systems with metallic components.

Keywords: liquid desiccant dehumidification and air conditioning (LDAC); HVAC; potassium acetate; metal alloys; building materials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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