Influence of the rotation speed on the effectiveness parameters of a desiccant wheel: An assessment using experimental data and manufacturer software

The effectiveness parameters of desiccant wheels depend on the variable operating conditions. Experimental data measured in an air handling unit equipped with a desiccant wheel and data provided by the manufacturer software are used in the present work to investigate the dependence of effectiveness parameters on the rotation speed. The air handling unit belongs to a test facility with a microcogeneration system. The regeneration airflow is heated up to moderate temperatures in the range 45–70 °C by using thermal energy produced by the microcogenerator and/or a boiler. The analysis of the results shows that i) the manufacturer software tends to underestimate the increase of process air temperature and to overestimate the dehumidification capability of the desiccant rotor compared to experimental data; and ii) the various investigated effectiveness parameters present different dependences on the rotation speed: monotonic dependence, a maximum value for an intermediate rotation speed, and a negligible dependence.