Turkish Journal of Electromechanics and Energy, cilt.8, sa.2, ss.56-65, 2023 (Hakemli Dergi)
Rotary desiccant wheel (RDW) systems work in line with the dehumidification
principle. These systems use salt, such as silica gel (SG) for dehumidifying the
process air (PA). Desiccant cooling is adopted as an alternative option against
traditional cooling systems owing to its outstanding advantages. Regeneration is of
vital importance in the overall performance assessment of RDW systems. In terms of
regeneration technique, these systems can be split into two types, which are natural
and electrical regeneration. Natural regeneration systems usually have solar air
collectors. On the other hand, electrical regeneration systems use typical fossil fuelpowered heaters. Many design-oriented factors influence the performance of RDW
systems. At the same time, operating conditions have a notable influence on system
performance. The objective of this article is to furnish insights into recent research
concerning RDW systems, as well as to highlight cost-effective and environmentally
friendly approaches aimed at improving the performance characteristics of these
systems. Coefficient of performance (COP), cost, payback period, dehumidification
effectiveness, and moisture reduction rate are taken into consideration in the
comparative performance assessment analyses.