Desiccant evaporative cooling systems for Brisbane climate

Air conditioning accounts for up to 40% of the energy use in buildings. Increased air-conditioning system installations not only increase the total energy consumption but also raise the peak load demand. Heatdriven air-conditioning systems use low-grade thermal energy such as solar energy and waste heat – instead of electricity – to provide thermal comfort. This can potentially lead to significant energy saving and reduction in global warming and ozone depletion potentials. Among these systems, the desiccant evaporative cooling system is of particular attention due to its low dew point operation and large capacity range. This paper evaluates the applicability of this technology to the climatic conditions of Brisbane, specifically for the residential sector. Given the subtropical climate of Brisbane where humidity levels are not excessively high during cooling periods, the numerical study shows that such a system can be a potential alternative to the conventional compression based air-conditioning system.