Research Progress of Rotary Desiccant Wheel Optimization Technology

Abstract The new efficiency dehumidification technology can meet the comfort requirements in the household environment and the relevant industrial dehumidification standards, which is in line with the energy conservation and environmental protection policy. The rotary desiccant wheel is of relatively mature technology, which has advantages of simple equipment, less consumption and environment-friendly. However, there are still several aspects to improve the technology, for example, the improvement in adsorption ability of desiccants, heat and mass transfer performance of the internal dehumidifying device, utilization efficiency of the low-grade energy sources. In this paper, the recent optimization techniques for rotary desiccant wheel systems are summarized. Five aspects of optimization such as development of new composite desiccant, invention of structure of desiccant bed, novel design of circulation system, enhancement of the utilization efficient of low-grade source energy and operation optimum with ambient air condition, are described. This review may provide some reference for the actual application of rotary wheel dehumidification system.