Evaluating Evaporative Cooling Assisted Solid Desiccant Dehumidification System for Agricultural Storage Application

Ghulam Hussain, Muhammad Aleem, Muhammad Sultan, Uzair Sajjad, Sobhy M. Ibrahim, Redmond R. Shamshiri, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Usman Khan and Muhammad Bilal
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Ghulam Hussain: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Muhammad Aleem: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Muhammad Sultan: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Uzair Sajjad: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
Sobhy M. Ibrahim: Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Redmond R. Shamshiri: Department of Engineering for Crop Production, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Muhammad Farooq: Department of Mechanical Engineering (New Campus-KSK), University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Muhammad Usman Khan: Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
Muhammad Bilal: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-25

Abstract: The study aims to investigate Maisotsenko cycle evaporative cooling assisted solid desiccant air-conditioning (M-DAC) system for agricultural storage application. Conventional air-conditioning (AC) systems used for this application are refrigeration-based which are expensive as they consume excessive amount of primary-energy. In this regard, the study developed a lab-scale solid silica gel-based desiccant AC (DAC) system. Thermodynamic performance of the developed system was investigated using various adsorption/dehumidification and desorption/regeneration cycles. The system possesses maximum adsorption potential i.e., 4.88 g/kg-DA at higher regeneration temperature of 72.6 °C and long cycle time i.e., 60 min:60 min. Moreover, the system’s energy consumption performance was investigated from viewpoints of maximum latent, sensible, and total heat as well as latent heat ratio (LHR), which were found to be 0.64 kW, 1.16 kW, and 1.80 kW, respectively with maximum LHR of 0.49. Additionally, the study compared standalone DAC (S-DAC), and M-DAC system thermodynamically to investigate the feasibility of these systems from the viewpoints of temperature and relative humidity ranges, cooling potential ( Q p ), and coefficient of performance ( COP ). The S-DAC system showed temperature and relative humidity ranging from 39 °C to 48 °C, and 35% to 66%, respectively, with Q p and COP of 17.55 kJ/kg, and 0.37, respectively. Conversely, the M-DAC system showed temperature and relative humidity ranging from 17 °C to 25 °C, and 76% to 98%, respectively, with Q p and COP of 41.80 kJ/kg, and 0.87, respectively. Additionally, the study investigated respiratory heat generation rate ( Q res ), and heat transfer rate ( Q rate ) by agricultural products at different temperature gradient (∆ T ) and air velocity. The Q res and Q rate by the products were increased with ∆ T and air velocity, respectively, thereby generating heat loads in the storage house. Therefore, the study suggests that the M-DAC system could be a potential AC option for agricultural storage application.

Keywords: evaporative cooling; desiccant dehumidification; agricultural storage; air conditioning; system performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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