Cosorption Processes of Triethylene Glycol in a Packed-Bed Liquid Desiccant Dehumidifier

The cosorption characteristics of water and toluene vapors in various concentrations of triethylene glycol (TEG) solution flowing through a packed-bed dehumidifier are investigated in this paper. A multi-component model was constructed using the reported equilibrium relationships of toluene and water vapors in TEG solutions together with the Krishna-Standart multi-component mass transfer correlation. The effects of liquid-to-air ratios, TEG inlet temperatures, air inlet temperatures were reported on the moisture and toluene removal rate as well as the moisture and toluene removal efficiency of the packed dehumidifier. Running the packed dehumidifier in a higher liquid-to-gas flow ratio generally increased the removal rates and efficiencies of both water vapor and toluene vapor from the airstream. Increasing inlet temperatures of the TEG solution led to a decrease in the removal rate of water vapor when running the packed dehumidifier at a high liquid-to-gas flow ratio. However, there was no significant change in the toluene vapor removal rate or toluene removal efficiency when the flow rate of the inlet TEG solution was increased.