Irvin De La Paz – Mechanical Engineering Academic Projects

Air Conditioning Process to cut from 50% to 90% Energy Consumption

by Irvin De La Paz on 16/07/10 at 4:22 pm

Source: Nrel.gov

A process has been developed of air condition that reduces energy uses by 50 to 90%.The process was announced by the US National Renewable energy and its called DEVAP which stands for Dessicant-Enhanced eVaporative air Conditioner)/ It cools air using evaporative cooling( not new) but combine a dessicant liquid for pulling water vapor out of the cooled air stream. The dessicant used is Lithium Chloride or sodium chloride, that separates using a permeable hydrophobic membrane the air stream. Later heat is added to evaporate water vapor back out. Heat can come from many renewable energy sources, including natural gas and solar. Dessicants used can be compare to refrigerants such as HCFCs, which are environmental friendly.

Photo shows how the DEVap cooling core uses water and liquid desiccant to draw in outside air, exhaust some of that air and return cool, dry air to the area being cooled. DEVap's integrated evaporative component and its desiccant drying process offer improved dehumidification and, thus lower costs and much lower energy usage.