SIMULATION ANALYSIS OF BUILDING HUMIDITY CONTROL AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR DIFFERENT SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS

In this paper, four different system configurations: • a conventional stand alone direct expansion (DX) cooling coil, • an enthalpy wheel together with a DX coil, • a desiccant wheel followed by an enthalpy wheel together with a DX coil, • and an enthalpy wheel followed by a desiccant wheel as well as a heat pipe together with a DX coil, are simulated and compared in terms of their energy consumption and dehumidification performance using two approaches. The results from the first approach, which compares the energy performance of different configurations, while attempting to maintain similar level of indoor temperature and humidity control, show that the desiccant unit has the potential to provide better indoor humidity conditions. The results also indicate that the desiccant unit could be more energy efficient than conventional sub-cooling and reheating approach in order to provide similar level of indoor humidity control. The second approach compares the energy performance as well as resulting indoor thermal conditions, provided that they maintain the same supply air temperature (SAT). In this case, the conventional stand alone cooling coil turns out to have the lowest energy consumption; however it creates the poorest indoor humidity conditions