A novel hybrid desiccant-based ejector cooling system for energy and carbon saving in hot and humid climates

Desiccant-based evaporative cooling systems are considered as an energy efficient alternative to conventional vapor compression systems in humid climates. A novel hybrid desiccant-based ejector cooling (hybrid DEC) system is here presented to utilize low grade heat. In order to evaluate the system performance under subtropical humid climates, a dynamic hourly simulation of the system is performed for a typical building in Sydney. The results indicate that the hybrid DEC system is able to provide comfort conditions in subtropical and humid climates. Hybrid DEC system has a significant higher coefficient of performance compared to the conventional vapor compression system resulting to 84% electricity savings and 10.2% natural gas savings during the summer season, which results to 41% reduction in CO2 emissions. Therefore, these results demonstrate that there is a good potential in combining ejector cooling cycle and desiccant-based evaporative cooling cycle for energy and carbon savings. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.