Performance evaluation of a non-conventional air-conditioner comprising of desiccant-coated heat exchangers and a dew-point cooler for museums

Desiccant-coated heat exchangers (DCHEs) as well as Dew-point Coolers (DPC), which respectively handle the latent and the sensible heat load, have been gaining researchers' attention due to their significant energy and cost savings potential compared to conventional vapor compression refrigeration systems (VCRS). In this work, a nonconventional air-conditioning system comprising DCHE followed by (downstream) a DPC is proposed for airconditioning in applications requiring dry environments, such as museums in locations experiencing humid weather conditions. The proposed system is able to produce supply air at 16 degrees C and 60 % RH; this ensures that the museum's indoor condition is at 21 degrees C, 50 % RH, required for the preservation of artifacts. This system utilizes a low-grade heat source, ranging from 30 to 60 degrees C, to regenerate the DCHEs. Experimentally validated numerical models are used to simulate the functionality of the presented system under a range of weather conditions (24-36 degrees C and 10-22 g/kg dry air). The performance parameters of the suggested hybrid system, including thermal COP, electrical COP, and relative humidity effectiveness, have been evaluated, yielding maximum values of 0.42, 53, and 0.80, respectively. Compared to VCRS, the recommended novel hybrid system helps reduce dependence on electrical power even under humid weather conditions.