Evaluation of heat and mass transfer coefficients in a gauze-type structured packing air dehumidifier operating with liquid desiccant

In this paper, high performance packing, namely, structured packing that has good heat and mass transfer characteristics, is proposed for dehumidification of air using liquid desiccants and for regeneration of liquid desiccants. In order to design a structured packing tower for liquid desiccant - air contacting operations, heat and mass transfer coefficients for each phase are required. This paper is concerned with the interface transfer of heat and mass when air-is brought into contact with the liquid desiccant solution. A theoretical study of evaluating heat and mass coefficients in an air-desiccant contact system employing three liquid desiccants, namely calcium chloride, lithium chloride, and a mixture of 50% calcium chloride and 50% lithium chloride (called cost effective liquid desiccant, CELD) is investigated. Moreover, air phase transfer coefficients are correlated with flow rates of air and liquid and the temperature of air, whereas liquid phase coefficients are correlated with rates of air and liquid flow, and the temperature and concentration of the liquid. The findings for the three liquid desiccants are compared and discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.