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        ![]() MIL-HDBK-1003/13A 
Figure 2-25. 
Schematic of solar desiccant cooling. 
The hot desiccant material absorbs moisture from incoming ventilation air and 
increases the dry-bulb temperature.  This dry air stream is cooled in two 
steps.  First, it is sensibly cooled by heat exchange with the building 
exhaust air.  Then it is evaporatively cooled and partially rehumidified by 
contact with a water spray.  The exhaust air from the building is 
evaporatively cooled to improve the performance of the heat exchanger.  After 
being heated by heat exchange with the incoming air, the exhaust air is 
further heated by energy from the solar system and/or from an auxiliary energy 
source.  The hot exhaust air passes through the desiccant material and desorbs 
moisture from it, thereby regenerating it for continuation of the process. 
Desiccant systems have faced problems of high parasitic power and large space 
requirements relative to capacity.  Because of their bulkiness, the systems 
may have primary application in the low capacity range (i.e., residential 
systems) if and when ways can be found to reduce parasitic power requirements 
to acceptable levels. 
The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) has been investigating design 
modifications in a prototype 3-ton system.  AiResearch is developing a 
1-l/2-ton desiccant cooling system around a radial flow design.  Illinois 
Institute of Technology is developing a dehumidifier of a cross-flow design 
that will provide more compact and efficient operation than previous designs. 
Zeopower is developing a unique closed cycle desiccant system in which the 
desiccant is integral with the collector. 
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