Exponential correlations to predict the dependence of effectiveness parameters of a desiccant wheel on the airflow rates and on the rotation speed

The desiccant wheel is a key component in solid-desiccant systems. At present, it is difficult to access a component model that can represent the behaviour of commercialised desiccant wheels with enough accuracy. s work, it is investigated the feasibility of a simplified simulation method based on the effectiveness concept. The pair of independent effectiveness parameters based on the changes of enthalpy and of the ratio of the partial to the saturation vapour pressures is adopted instead of the combined potentials. ive parametric studies are conducted using the software of a manufacturer and a detailed numerical model to generate reference data. Exponential-type correlations are investigated to account for the influences of the process and regeneration airflow rates, balanced or unbalanced, and of the rotation speed on the effectiveness parameters. The predicted results provided by the correlations are compared with reference data, separately or combined with the recently developed interpolation approach that accounts for the influence of variable inlet states of both airflows. Cases are identified with an acceptable agreement demonstrating that the correlations can be used with great advantages in the generalised dynamic analysis of systems integrating a desiccant wheel.