Valorization of polycarbonate board as packing material for open CaCl2-water desiccant system

Environmentally friendly and thermal driven open liquid desiccant system was designed and manufactured in this study. The scope of this study was to investigate the potential usage of poly carbonate boards as new packing material in an open CaCl2-water desiccant system which has relatively high surface tension among other conventional polymeric materials. The effects of surface area of packing materials, channel angle, air, and desiccant flowrates on the performance of the system were also investigated. The acute channel angle (30 degrees) increased duration of air in the column and influenced the mass transfer between air and liquid and the performance criteria of the system. The highest absorber efficiency (67%) was observed with 680 m(3) h(-1) air and 1.85 kg s(-1) desiccant flow rates for 6 mm thickness and 30 degrees channel angle packing material. The maximum electrical COP was found as 1.80 at 1000 m(3) h(-1) air and 1.85 kg s(-1) desiccant flow rates for 30 degrees channel angle and 6 mm thickness packing material. The performance of the studied open liquid desiccant system can be improved with some revisions such as using different poly carbonate boards providing more surface area. (c) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1727-1735, 2018