Papers by Author: J.J. Costa

Abstract: In this paper, the performance of a channel element of a hygroscopic matrix is evaluated by detailed numerical modeling. The adopted physical model takes into account the gas-side and solid-side resistances to heat and mass transfer, as well as the simultaneous heat and mass transfer occurring simultaneously with the water adsorption/desorption process in the desiccant porous channel wall domain. The desiccant medium is silica gel RD, the equilibrium being characterized by sorption isotherms. Appropriate convective transfer coefficients are taken into account for the calculation of the heat and mass transfer phenomena between the airflow and the channel wall. The response of the channel element to a step change in the airflow states is simulated, the results enabling the investigation of some differences between the adsorption and desorption processes.

Abstract: The desiccant wheel is the key component in a solid-desiccant system for air dehumidification. The heat and mass transfer phenomena occurring within the porous channel walls of the wheel and with the airflow are strongly coupled, and some properties of the airflow and of the desiccant medium exhibit important changes during the sorption/desorption processes. The dynamic analysis of such devices integrated in non-conventional HVAC&R systems can be easily done by a project designer using the NTU-effectiveness method, provided that appropriate correlations for two independent effectiveness parameters are available. In this work, the performance of a desiccant wheel was evaluated by numerical modelling the cyclic behaviour of a representative channel of the hygroscopic matrix. The physical model adopted takes into account the gas-side and solid-side resistances, as well as the simultaneous heat and mass transfer coupled with the water adsorption/desorption process in the channel wall domain. Two phases co-exist in equilibrium inside the desiccant porous medium, the equilibrium being characterized by sorption isotherms. The desiccant medium considered is silica gel RD. In the numerical model, the airflow is treated as a bulk flow, and its interaction with the wall channel matrix is represented by appropriate convective heat and mass transfer coefficients. Two independent effectiveness parameters were defined. A set of cases was numerically simulated and the results were analysed to assess the dependence of those effectiveness parameters on the process and regeneration airflow rates and on the channel length. As a conclusion, novel empirical correlations are here purposed.

Abstract: In this paper the numerical modelling of the behaviour of a channel of a hygroscopic compact matrix is presented. The heat and mass transfer phenomena occurring in the porous medium and within the airflow are strongly coupled, and some properties of the airflow and of the desiccant medium exhibit important changes during the sorption/desorption processes. The adopted physical modelling takes into account the gas side and solid side resistances to heat and mass transfer, as well as the simultaneous heat and mass transfer together with the water adsorption/desorption process in the wall domain. Two phases co-exist in equilibrium inside the desiccant porous medium, the equilibrium being characterized by sorption isotherms. The airflow is treated as a bulk flow, the interaction with the wall being evaluated by using appropriated convective coefficients. The model is used to perform simulations considering two distinct values of the channel wall thickness and different lengths of the channel. The results of the modelling lead to a good understanding of the relationship between the characteristics of the sorption processes and the behaviour of hygroscopic matrices, and provide guidelines for the wheel optimization, namely of the duration of the adsorption and desorption periods occurring in each hygroscopic channel.