A Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Performance of a Combined Solar Unit for Air Conditioning and Water Desalination

In this paper, a desiccant solar unit for air
conditioning and desalination is presented first. Secondly, a dynamic
modelling study of the desiccant wheel is developed. After that, a
simulation study and an experimental investigation of the behaviour
of desiccant wheel are developed. The experimental investigation is
done in the chamber of commerce in Freiburg-Germany. Indeed, the
variations of calculated and measured temperatures and specific
humidity of dehumidified and rejected air are presented where a good
agreement is found when comparing the model predictions with
experimental data under the considered range of operating conditions.
Finally, the study of the compartments of desalination and water
condensation shows that the unit can produce an acceptable quantity
of water at the same time of the air conditioning operation.

Authors:

• Zied Guidara
• Alexander Morgenstern
• Aref Younes Maalej

Keywords:

• Air conditioning
• desalination
• condensation
• design
• desiccant wheel.

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