Integrated gas-fired desiccant dehumidification vapor-compression cooling system for residential application. Phase 1. Final report, December 1986-December 1987

The development of an air conditioner that uses a liquid-desiccant dehumidifier is described. Three air-conditioning systems that integrate the operation of a conventional vapor-compression system with a liquid-desiccant dehumidifier were first simulated in seasonal performance studies. These studies showed that there was little benefit from attempting to recover reject heat from the vapor-compression system for regenerating the liquid desiccant. The preferred version of the liquid-desiccant dehumidifier was one that used a simple gas-fired boiler for regenerating the desiccant. When added to a conventional vapor-compression air conditioner, this liquid-desiccant system could maintain comfortable humidity levels in the living space for almost the entire cooling season at a modest premium in operating costs.