Experimental investigations on a hybrid solar assisted phase change enhanced liquid desiccant cooling system

A photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) based solar-regenerated liquid desiccant hybrid air-conditioning systems is being established and trials were performed over a time frame of 9 months, encompassing rainy, cold, and hot weather in a dry and hot region in central India. The desiccant equipment is paired with a sensible cooling system that cools the desiccant as well as the air. For increment in the performance, the application of microencapsulated phase change material is employed with liquid desiccant as working fluid for dehumidification. The system is entirely devoted to outside air. Lithium chloride solution is employed for the purpose of basic liquid desiccant. A comparative analysis has been carried out for with and without phase change material. The developed cooling system effectively regulates room temperature within the human thermal comfort range (20-27 degrees C summer, 42.2 degrees C monsoon), with 60% relative humidity and 16-18 degrees C with 55% average humidity. The addition of PCM improves MRR by 37.5% and 22.2% and enhances dehumidifier effectiveness by 15.4% and 14.7% for the summer and monsoon seasons. The whole system's effectiveness is described as a function of dehumidification efficiency, removal of moisture rate, ability to cool, and thermal coefficient of performance (COP). The results of the study were additionally assessed against models in the published work.