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Field Evaluation of Desiccant-Integrated HVAC Systems: A Review of Case Studies in Multiple Commercial/Institutional Building Types
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Date
1998
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu)
Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu)
Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu)
Abstract
An independent field research effort co-funded by
the Gas Research Institute and The U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory is
documenting the performance and energy usage
characteristics of active desiccant-integrated HVAC
systems at a variety of commercial and institutional
facilities. The tests comprise the instrumentation and
one-year-plus monitoring of two or more nearly
identical sites, one serving as the test site and the
others as base-case or control sites.
While the research program is ongoing, work
completed in two market sectors, retail and lodging,
indicates that there are significant comfort control,
energy usage and equipment efficiency benefits to be
derived from integrating desiccant units into HVAC
system design to handle latent and sensible loads
independently. In some cases, installed first costs
associated with including desiccant units may be
lower if the HVAC system is optimized to take
advantage of reduced conventional cooling
equipment requirements and downsized ductwork In
most cases, lower energy consumption and/or
reduced energy costs may provide reasonable
payback of first cost premiums.