Experimental analysis of a solar assisted desiccant-based space heating and humidification system for cold and dry climates

In the current work, an experimental analysis of a solar-assisted desiccant based heating and humidification system is performed for winter season under actual cold and dry conditions of Taxila, Pakistan. The installed setup consists of a silica-gel based desiccant wheel, a heat wheel, dual collector field of flat plate and evacuated tube collectors, and insulated storage tank. The day long measurements and assessments are reported during the months of December to February. The selected months represent wide range of cold and dry weather conditions which are applicable to different climate zones. The experimental results revealed that on average the system heating capacity, COPth, COPe, and auxiliary thermal power requirements for heating are around 5.9 kW, 1.48, 2.14 and 2.75 kW, respectively. Moreover, the solar fraction and the thermal efficiency of collector arrays are observed to be 64.75% and 40%, respectively. The uncertainties associated with humidification effectiveness, heating capacity and COPth are +/- 2.1%, +/- 5.5%, and +/- 7%, respectively. Finally, heating seasonal performance factor of 5 Btu/Wh is achieved. Based on the assessments, it is noted that the solar-assisted heating and humidification system is a viable solution for operation in cold and dry conditions.