The role of the thermally activated desiccant cooling technologies in the issue of energy and environment

This paper presents the review of the development and application of the thermally activated desiccant cooling technologies. The paper first introduces the global problem of energy and the environment related to the consumption of the carbon-based energy sources (gas, oil and coal). The contribution of the building sector to the above problem so as to maintain indoor environment providing human thermal comfort is shown. In this paper, the alternative methods for the provision of the human thermal comfort through thermally activated desiccant cooling technologies are discussed—solid desiccant, liquid desiccant and hybrid desiccant cooling systems. These technologies are potential alternatives to the mechanical vapor compression cooling technologies in the provision of human thermal comfort conditions. However, the development and application is mostly in developed and advanced developing countries. For a global scale solution to the problem of energy and environment contributed by the building sector for maintenance of comfortable conditions, dissemination of ideas and technologies to the developing world (Africa, South and South East Asia, South America) enhances the applicability and practicability of these technologies.