Chapter 6

Exergy Analysis of Psychrometric Processes

Chapter Outline
6.1 Basic Psychrometric Concepts 83 6.3 Case Studies 90
6.2 Balance and Efficiency Equations for Air-Conditioning 6.3.1 Energy and Exergy Analyses of Basic Psychrometric
Processes 85 Processes 90
6.2.1 Simple Heating or Cooling 86 6.3.1.1 Results and Discussion 90
6.2.1.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies 86 6.3.2 Exergy Analysis of an Experimental Open-Cycle
6.2.2 Heating with Humidification 88 Desiccant Cooling System 93
6.2.2.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies 88 6.4 Operation and Design of Experimental System 94
6.2.3 Cooling with Dehumidification 88 6.4.1 Energy Analysis 95
6.2.3.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies 89 6.4.2 Exergy Analysis 95
6.2.4 Evaporative Cooling 89 6.4.3 Results and Discussion 97
6.2.4.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies 89 6.5 Closing Remarks 99
6.2.5 Adiabatic Mixing of Air Streams 90 Problems 99
6.2.5.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies 90

Definitions of some of the most common terms in

ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the application of energy and exergy analyses to
psychrometrics follow:
psychrometric processes is described. Basic psychrometric
concepts and processes are also explained. The use of exergy
analysis on psychrometric, HVAC, and air conditioning processes
has helped efforts to improve performance. A case study is pre-
sented for an open-cycle desiccant cooling system, illustrating that
results obtained through exergy analysis are clearer and more
meaningful than those obtained by energy analysis and help
indicate potential modifications to improve efficiency.
KEYWORDS
Exergy; Psychrometric; Air conditioning; Heating; HVAC;
Desiccant cooling; Efficiency; Coefficient of performance.
6.1 BASIC PSYCHROMETRIC CONCEPTS
Psychrometrics is the science of air and water vapor that
deals with the properties of moist air. A thorough under-
standing of psychrometrics is of great significance, partic-
ularly to the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning
(HVAC) community. It plays a key role, not only in heating,
cooling, and humidification processes and the resulting
comfort of building occupants, but also in building insu-
lation, roofing properties, and the stability, deformation,
and fire resistance of building materials. Hence, a good
understanding of the main concepts and principles of
psychrometrics is important.
Dry air. Atmospheric air generally contains a number
of constituents, water vapor, and miscellaneous
components (e.g., smoke, pollen, gaseous pollutants,
etc.). Dry air refers to air without the water vapor and
miscellaneous components.
Moist air. This is the basic medium in psychrometrics
and is defined as a binary or two-component mixture
of dry air and water vapor. The amount of water vapor
in moist air varies from nearly 0 (dry air) to
a maximum of 0.020 kg water vapor/kg dry air under
atmospheric conditions, depending on the temperature
and pressure.
Saturated air. This is a saturated mixture of air and
water vapor mixture, where the vapor is at the saturation
temperature and pressure.
Dew point temperature. This is defined as the
temperature of moist air saturated at the same pressure
and with the same humidity ratio as that of a given
sample of moist air (i.e., temperature at state 2 in
Figure 6.1). When moist air is cooled at constant pres-
sure (i.e., process 1e2), the temperature reaches the
dew point temperature when water vapor begins to
condense.
Relative humidity. This is defined as the ratio of the
mole fraction of water vapor in a mixture to the mole

Exergy. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097089-9.00006-1
2013 Ibrahim Dincer and Marc A. Rosen. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved 83
84
Temperature
FIGURE 6.1 Representation of dew point temperature on a T-s diagram.
fraction of water vapor in a saturated mixture at the-
same temperature and pressure. The relative humidity
f is normally based on the mole fraction equation
since water vapor is considered to be an ideal gas as
follows:
Pv r vs
f v ; (6.1)
Ps rs vv
where Pv is the partial pressure of the vapor, and Ps is
the saturation pressure of vapor at the same tempera-
ture, which can be taken directly from a saturated water
table. The total pressure is P Pa Pv . According to
Figure 6.1, f P1 =P3 .
Humidity ratio. The humidity ratio of moist air (or the
mixing ratio) is defined as the ratio of the mass of
water vapor to the mass of dry air contained in the
mixture at the same temperature and pressure as
follows:
mv Pv
u 0:622 (6.2)
ma Pa
where mv Pv V=Rv T Pv VMv =RT
and ma
Pa V=Ra T Pa VMa =RT
since both water vapor and
air, as well as their mixture, are treated as ideal gases.
With the expressions for relative humidity and humidity
ratio in terms of pressure ratios in Equations 6.1 and 6.2,
the following expression can be derived:
uPa
f (6.3)
0:622Ps
Degree of saturation. This is defined as the ratio of
actual humidity ratio to the humidity ratio of a saturated
mixture at the same temperature and pressure.
Dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures. Dry-bulb and
wet-bulb thermometers have traditionally been used to
measure the specific humidity of moist air. The dry-bulb
temperature is the temperature measured by a dry-
bulb thermometer directly. The bulb of the wet-bulb
Exergy
P = constant
3 P = constant
1
2
Entropy
thermometer is covered with a wick, which is saturated
with water. When the wick is subjected to an air flow
(Figure 6.2), some of the water in the wick evaporates
into the surrounding air, resulting in a lower tempera-
ture than that obtained with a dry-bulb thermometer.
The wet-bulb temperature is dependent on the moisture
content of air; thus, it can be used in conjunction with
the dry-bulb temperature to determine the humidity of
air. In the past, the wick conventionally was boiled in
distilled water and allowed to dry before being used for
wet-bulb temperature measurements. Today, electronic
devices are preferred for measuring the humidity of air
because of their simplicity and accuracy.
Adiabatic saturation process. This is an adiabatic
process in which an air and water vapor mixture with
a relative humidity less than 100% has liquid water
added. Some of the water evaporates into the mixture,
bringing it to saturation, i.e., 100% relative humidity.
The temperature of the mixture exiting an adiabatic
saturation process is the adiabatic saturation tempera-
ture (Figure 6.3).
Air-conditioning processes are usually shown on
a psychrometric chart, which was developed in the
early 1900s by German engineer Richard Mollier.
(a) (b) Wet-bulb
thermometer
Ambient
Dry-bulb
thermometer
Air flow
Wick
Water
FIGURE 6.2 Illustration of (a) dry-bulb and (b) wet-bulb thermometers.
Chapter | 6 Exergy Analysis of Psychrometric Processes 85

Adiabatic system

Moist air Saturated air ( =100%)

Exit
Inlet

Liquid water
FIGURE 6.3 An adiabatic saturation process.

A psychrometric chart (Figure 6.4) shows the properties Mass balance for water:
of moist air in terms of dry-bulb temperature, wet-bulb X X X X
temperature, relative humidity, humidity ratio, and m_ w m_ w or m_ a u m_ a u (6.5)
specific enthalpy. Three of these properties are suffi- in out in out

cient to identify a state of the moist air.

Energy balance (assuming negligible kinetic and potential
energies and work interactions):
6.2 BALANCE AND EFFICIENCY X X
Q_ in _ Q_ out
mh _
mh (6.6)
EQUATIONS FOR AIR-CONDITIONING in out
PROCESSES
Exergy balance (assuming negligible kinetic and potential
In analyzing air-conditioning processes, we need to energies and work interactions):
address three important balances: (1) a mass balance (i.e., X X X X
the continuity equation), (2) an energy balance (i.e., the _ _
Ex _
mex  _ _
Ex _
mex _ dest 0
 Ex
Q Q
First Law of Thermodynamics (FLT)), and (3) an exergy  Xout out
X  X  
in in
balance (i.e., the Second Law of Thermodynamics (SLT)). T T0
Q_ 1  Q_ 1 
0
_
mex 
Air-conditioning processes are essentially steady-flow T out T
processes, so general mass, energy, and exergy balances
in
X in
 _
mex _ dest 0
 Ex
may be written as follows. out
Mass balance for dry air: (6.7)
X X where
m_ a m_ a (6.4)
in out ex h  h0  T0 s  s0 (6.8)

120
0.028
0.026
(kg moisture per kg dry air)
0%

r)
ai
%
10

80

y 100 0.024
%

d r
60

of 0.022
g
rk
%

pe 0.020
40

J
(k 80 0.018
y
a lp
h
Ent 0.016
0.014
60 0.012
%
20
Humidity ratio

0.010
ity
umid 0.008
40 eh
ativ
Rel 0.006
0.004
0.002

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Dry-bulb temperature ( C)
FIGURE 6.4 Psychrometric chart.
86 Exergy

Considering a dry air and water vapor mixture as an 6.2.1 Simple Heating or Cooling
ideal gas, the total flow exergy of humid air per kilogram of
dry air may be expressed as follows (Wepfer et al., 1979): Dry air mass balance:
  m_ a1 m_ a2 (6.13a)
T T
ex cp;a ucp;v T0  1  ln
T0 T0 Water mass balance:
P m_ w1 m_ w2
~ Ra T0 ln
1 u (6.9)
P0
  Energy balance:
  1u~o ~
u  
Ra T0 ~ ln
1u ~ ln
u Q_ in m_ a1 h1 m_ a2 h2 heating (6.13b)
~
1u ~o
u

where the last term is the specific chemical exergy. The m_ a1 h1 m_ a2 h2 Q_ out cooling (6.13c)
proportionality between specific humidity ratio u and Exergy balance:
~ is given by the
specific humidity ratio on a molal basis u
following:  
T0
Q_ in 1  _ dest
m_ a1 ex1  m_ a2 ex2  Ex
~ 1:608u
u (6.10) T
0 heating (6.13d)
Here, the humidity ratio is
 
T0
u mv =ma (6.11) m_ a1 ex1  m_ a2 ex2  Q_ out 1  _ dest
 Ex
T
The exergy efficiency of an overall air-conditioning 0 cooling (6.13e)
process, or the subprocesses comprising it, may be written
as the following:
_ out
Ex _ dest
Ex 6.2.1.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies
j 1 (6.12)
_
Exin _ in
Ex One definition of efficiency for simple heating or cooling is
where Ex _ out and Ex _ in , respectively, are the exergy the ratio of the change in energy of a stream to the energy
outputs and input rates during the process or subprocess, input to the system. For this definition, the change in energy
and Ex _ dest is the exergy destruction rate. is the difference between the energy of the stream entering
Common air-conditioning processes are shown on the the system and the energy of the stream exiting. For simple
psychrometric chart in Figure 6.5. Figure 6.5a exhibits heating or cooling, the energy input to this system is heat
cooling and heating processes. During these processes, provided to the system. The energy efficiency based on this
dry-bulb temperature decreases or increases, and only first definition is the following:
a change in sensible heat occurs. There is no latent heat  
change due to the constant humidity ratio of the air. m_ a2 h2  m_ a1 h1
h1 (6.13f)
Figure 6.5b shows a heating and humidification process. Air Q_ in
is first heated with a heater (process 1e2) and then humid-
ified (process 2e3) by an injection of water. In the cooling The corresponding exergy efficiency can be written as
and dehumidification process shown in Figure 6.5c, air is follows:
cooled at constant humidity ratio until it is saturated (process 0 1
1e2). Further cooling of air (process 2e3) results in dehu- Bm_ ex  m_ ex C
B a2  2  a1 1C
midification. Figure 6.5d exhibits a process of adiabatic j1 B C (6.13g)
@ T0 _ A
humidification (i.e., evaporative cooling) at a constant wet- 1 Qin
bulb temperature. This process occurs during spray humid- T
ification. Figure 6.5e represents a process in which two air
streams (at states 1 and 2, respectively) are mixed (state 3). where m_ a1 and m_ a2 denote the mass flow rates of air at
Balances and efficiencies for each of these air-condi- states 1 and 2, h1 and h2 the specific enthalpies of the
tioning processes are given below. The efficiencies are streams at states 1 and 2, and ex1 andex2 the specific
given on energy and exergy bases, and in many instances exergies at states 1 and 2. Also, Q_ in denotes the heat input
multiple possible efficiencies are given. The state numbers to the system, T the heat source temperature, and T0 the
refer to Figure 6.5 and the state of water is represented by reference-environment temperature (which is often taken to
the subscript w. be the ambient temperature).
Chapter | 6 Exergy Analysis of Psychrometric Processes 87

(a) (b)

Humidity ratio

Humidity ratio
3
2 1 2
1 2

Dry-bulb temperature Dry-bulb temperature

(c) (d)

Humidity ratio

Humidity ratio
x 1
2
2

Dry-bulb temperature
Dry-bulb temperature
(e)
Humidity ratio

2
3
1

Dry-bulb temperature
FIGURE 6.5 Depiction of common air-conditioning processes on a psychrometric chart. (a) Simple heating or cooling. (b) Heating with humidification.
(c) Cooling with dehumidification. (d) Evaporative cooling. (e) Adiabatic mixing of air streams.

A second definition of efficiency can be based on the The corresponding exergy efficiency is defined as follows:
idea that the desired output of the system is the energy of 0 1
the stream leaving the system and the required input is the m_ a2 ex2
B 
T0 _ C
j2 @
Q A
amount of heat added to the system to attain the desired (6.13i)
1
output. The energy efficiency based on this second defini- T in
tion can be expressed as follows:
  A third efficiency can be defined in which the efficiency of
m_ a2 h2
h2 (6.13h) the system is the ratio of the energy of the output stream
Q_ in to the amount of heat added to the system plus the energy of
88 Exergy

the input stream. The energy efficiency based on this The corresponding exergy efficiency is as follows:
definition is expressible as follows: 0 1
! m_ a3 ex3  m_ a1 ex1
B  C
m_ a2 h2 j1 @ T0 _ A (6.14i)
h3 (6.13j) 1 Qin m_ w jw
Q_ in m_ a1 h1 T

The corresponding exergy efficiency is as follows: where m_ a3 denotes the mass flow rate of air at state 3, h3 the
specific enthalpy of the stream at state 3, and ex3 the
0 1
specific exergy at state 3. Also, m_ w denotes the mass flow
B m_ a2 ex2 C rate of water, hw the specific enthalpy of water, and exw
j3 @  A (6.13k)
T0 _ the specific exergy of water.
1 Qin m_ a1 ex1
T A second efficiency definition treats the desired output
of the system as the amount of energy carried by the exiting
stream and the required input as the amount of energy
6.2.2 Heating with Humidification added to the system through heat addition and the stream of
hot water. The energy efficiency based on the second
Dry air mass balance: definition is as follows:
m_ a1 m_ a2 m_ a3 (6.14a)  
m_ a3 h3
h2 (6.14j)
Water mass balance: Q_ in m_ w hw
m_ w1 m_ w2 (6.14b)
The corresponding exergy efficiency can be expressed as
follows:
m_ w2 m_ w m_ w3 / m_ a2 u2 m_ w m_ a3 u3 (6.14c) 0 1
B m_ a3 ex3 C
Energy balance: B  C
j2 B
Qin m_ w exw C
T 0 _ (6.14k)
@ 1 A
Q_ in m_ a1 h1 m_ a2 h2 (6.14d) T
m_ a2 h2 m_ w hw m_ a3 h3 (6.14e)
A third definition considers the desired output of the system
Exergy balance: to be the energy carried by the exiting stream and the
required input to be the heat added to the system, the energy
 
T0 conveyed by the inlet stream and the energy carried by the
Q_ in 1  _ dest 0
m_ a1 ex1  m_ a2 ex2  Ex hot water. The energy efficiency based on this third defi-
T
nition is as follows:
(6.14f)
 
_ dest 0 (6.14g)
m_ a2 ex2 m_ w exw  m_ a3 ex3  Ex m_ a3 h3
h3 (6.14l)
Q_ in m_ a1 h1 m_ w hw
The corresponding exergy efficiency can be expressed as
6.2.2.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies
follows:
One efficiency definition for heating with humidification 0 1
considers the desired output of the system to be the
B m_ a3 ex3
B  C
amount of energy gained by the system and the required j3 B T0 _ C (6.14m)
input to the system as the energy added to the system via @ 1  Qin m_ a1 ex 1 _
m w ex w
A
T
heat and hot water. The desired output is found by
subtracting the energy of the stream leaving the system
from the energy of the stream entering, and the required
input to the system as the sum of the heat added to the 6.2.3 Cooling with Dehumidification
system and the energy conveyed by the hot water entering.
The energy efficiency based on this first definition is Dry air mass balance:
expressible as follows: m_ a1 m_ a2 (6.15a)
 
m_ a3 h3  m_ a1 h1 Water mass balance:
h1 (6.14h)
Q_ in m_ w hw m_ w1 m_ w2 m_ w / m_ a1 u1 m_ a2 u2 m_ w (6.15b)
Chapter | 6 Exergy Analysis of Psychrometric Processes 89

Energy balance: The corresponding exergy efficiency is as follows:

0  1
m_ a1 h1 Q_ out m_ a2 h2 m_ w hw (6.15c) T0 _
B 1  Q m_ a2 ex _
m w exwC
Exergy balance: B T out 2
C
j3 B C (6.15j)
  @ m_ a1 ex1 A
T0
m_ a1 ex1  Q_ out 1   m_ a2 ex2  m_ w exw
T
 Ex_ dest 0 6.2.4 Evaporative Cooling
(6.15d) Dry air mass balance:
m_ a1 m_ a2 (6.16a)
6.2.3.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies
Water mass balance:
For the process of cooling with dehumidification, one
energy efficiency can be defined as the ratio of heat m_ w1 m_ w m_ w2 / m_ a1 u1 m_ w m_ a2 u2 (6.16b)
released by the system and the energy carried by the exiting Energy balance:
stream to the energy conveyed by the incoming stream. The
energy efficiency based on this first definition can be m_ a1 h1 m_ a2 h2 / h1 h2 (6.16c)
expressed as follows: m_ a1 h1 m_ w hw m_ a2 h2 (6.16d)
_ 
Qout m_ a2 h2 Exergy balance:
h1 (6.15e)
m_ a1 h1 _ dest 0 (6.16e)
m_ a1 ex1 m_ w exw  m_ a2 ex2  Ex
The corresponding exergy efficiency is as follows:
0  1
T0 _ 6.2.4.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies
B 1 Q m_ a2 ex2 C
B T out C
j1 BB C (6.15f) One efficiency for evaporative cooling can be defined as the
_ ex C
@ m a1 1 A ratio of the energy gained by the system to the energy
provided to the system. Then, the energy gained by the
system is the difference between the energy of the exiting
where Q_ out denotes the heat rejected by the system and stream and that of the entering stream, while the energy
other terms are as defined previously. A second efficiency provided to the system is the energy of the input stream and
definition is based on the ratio of the energy carried by the the energy of the water. The energy efficiency based on this
exiting stream to the heat rejected by the system. This first definition is expressible as follows:
definition treats the purpose of the system as cooling the  
incoming stream; therefore the heat rejected by the system m_ a2 h2  m_ a1 h1
h1 (6.16f)
is the actual input to the system. The energy efficiency m_ a1 h1 m_ w hw
based on this second definition can be written as follows:
  The corresponding exergy efficiency is as follows:
m_ a2 h2
h2 (6.15g)  
Q_ out m_ a2 ex2  m_ a1 ex1
j1 (6.16g)
The corresponding exergy efficiency is defined as follows: m_ a1 ex1 m_ w exw
0 1
A second definition of efficiency is based on the ratio of the
B m_ a2 ex
2 C energy conveyed by the exiting stream to the energy carried
j2 B@ T0 _ C A (6.15h) by water. The energy efficiency based on this second
1 Qout
T definition is expressible as follows:
 
A third efficiency considers the desired output of the m_ a2 h2
h2 (6.16h)
system as the sum of the heat released by the system, the m_ w hw
energy conveyed by the exiting stream, and the energy
conveyed by the water. The required output is the energy of The corresponding exergy efficiency is defined as follows:
the entering stream. The energy efficiency based on this  
m_ a2 ex2
third definition can be determined as follows: j2 (6.16i)
_  m_ w exw
Qout m_ a2 h2 m_ w hw
h3 (6.15i) A third efficiency is defined as the ratio of energy carried by
m_ a1 h1 the exiting stream to the energy carried by the inlet stream
90 Exergy

and water. The energy efficiency based on this third defi- The corresponding exergy efficiency is defined as follows:
nition is as follows:  
  m_ a3 ex3
j (6.17f)
m_ a2 h2 m_ a1 ex1 m_ a2 ex2
h3 (6.16j)
m_ a1 h1 m_ w hw

The corresponding exergy efficiency is expressible as

6.3 CASE STUDIES
follows:
  6.3.1 Energy and Exergy Analyses of Basic
m_ a2 ex2
j3 (6.16k) Psychrometric Processes
m_ a1 ex1 m_ w exw
In this case study, energy and exergy efficiencies of five
basic psychrometric processes (described in Section 6.2)
6.2.5 Adiabatic Mixing of Air Streams are evaluated: (1) simple heating or cooling, (2) heating
Dry air mass balance: with humidification, (3) cooling with dehumidification, (4)
evaporative cooling, and (5) adiabatic mixing of air
m_ a1 m_ a2 m_ a3 (6.17a)
streams. Three sets of energy and exergy efficiency defi-
Water mass balance: nitions are considered, illustrating how efficiency values
can vary with definition. The processes are illustrated and
m_ w1 m_ w2 m_ w3 / m_ a1 u1 m_ a2 u2 m_ a3 u3
the model equations presented in Section 6.2. The analysis
(6.17b) follows that of Ratlamwala and Dincer (2012), and high-
Energy balance: lights the importance of efficiency definition.
m_ a1 h1 m_ a2 h2 m_ a3 h3 (6.17c)
6.3.1.1 Results and Discussion
Exergy balance:
Figure 6.6 shows the variations with inlet temperature of
_ dest 0 (6.17d)
m_ a1 ex1 m_ a2 ex2  m_ a3 ex3  Ex the energy and exergy efficiencies of a simple heating
process (based on three sets of definitions). The energy
6.2.5.1 Energy and Exergy Efficiencies efficiency is constant at 100% based on the first and third
definitions, and increases from 47% to 85% based on the
For the process of adiabatic mixing, only one efficiency is second definition, as the temperature at state 1 increases
defined based on the ratio of energy conveyed by the exiting from 245 to 265 K. In addition, the first, second, and third
stream to that conveyed by two entering streams. This exergy efficiencies vary from 18% to 2%, 9% to 11%, and
energy efficiency can be expressed as follows: 7% to 10%, respectively, over the same increase in inlet
  temperature. These efficiency variations demonstrate that
m_ a3 h3
h (6.17e) changes in operating conditions considerably affect the
m_ a1 h1 m_ a2 h2 performance of the heating process. In addition, the

FIGURE 6.6 Effect of varying inlet temperature

on energy and exergy efficiencies of a heating
process.
Chapter | 6 Exergy Analysis of Psychrometric Processes
0.15
Heating with humidification process
0.12
1 1
2 2
0.09 3 3
T0 = 283 K
0 = 90%
0.06
0.03
245 250 255 260
T1 [K]
significance of efficiency definition is illustrated. For
instance, the exergy efficiency based on this first definition
decreases as inlet temperature increases, suggesting it is
beneficial to increase in the inlet temperature, but the
exergy efficiencies based on the second and third defini-
tions increase with increasing inlet temperature, indicating
reduced system exergy losses for increased inlet tempera-
tures. Also, the energy efficiencies based on the first and
third definitions do not vary with inlet temperature, while
the energy efficiency based on the second definition
increases as inlet temperature increases.
Figure 6.7 illustrates the variation with inlet tempera-
ture of the energy and exergy efficiencies for heating with
humidification. The energy efficiency is constant at 100%
based on the first and third definitions, and increases from
66% to 91% based on the second definition, as the
temperature increases from 245 to 265 K. The exergy
91
1 FIGURE 6.7 Effect of varying inlet temperatures
on energy and exergy efficiencies of heating with
0.96 dehumidification.
0.92
0.88
0.84
0.8
0.76
0.72
0.68
0.64
0.6
265
efficiency based on the first definition decreases from
15.7% to 3.7% over the same increase in the inlet
temperature, but the exergy efficiencies based on the
second and third definitions increase with increasing inlet
temperature, from 2.9% to 4.1%, and 2.4% to 3.8%,
respectively. These changes in efficiencies with changes in
operating parameters are linked to the corresponding vari-
ations in system exergy destruction. The three definitions
address different questions.
Figure 6.8 shows how varying inlet temperature affects
the system efficiency from an exergy point of view for
cooling with dehumidification, based on three efficiency
definitions. As the inlet temperature increases from 315 to
330 K, the first, second, and third exergy efficiencies
decrease from 62% to 41%, 1.8% to 0.7%, and 62% to 41%,
respectively. The energy efficiencies based on first and
second definitions decrease from 98.7% to 98.3% and
FIGURE 6.8 Effect of varying inlet temperatures
on exergy efficiencies of cooling with
dehumidification.
92
35.4% to 14.8%, respectively, while energy efficiency
based on the third definition is constant at 100%, over the
same inlet temperature increase (see Figure 6.9). These
variations in exergy and energy efficiencies with varying
operating parameters indicate the importance of efficiency
definitions.
Figure 6.10 shows the effect of varying inlet tempera-
ture on the energy and exergy efficiencies for evaporative
cooling, again based on several efficiency definitions. As
the inlet temperature increases from 330 to 350 K, the
exergy efficiency decreases from 4.5% to 1.6% based on
the first definition, and increases from 8.6% to 11.3% and
8.3% to 10.4%, respectively, based on the second and third
definitions. The energy efficiency based on the first defi-
nition follows the same trend as that of exergy efficiency,
decreasing from 71% to 55% over the same increase in inlet
temperature, while the energy efficiency based on the
FIGURE 6.9 Effect of varying inlet
temperatures on energy efficiencies of cooling
with dehumidification.
FIGURE 6.10 Effect of varying inlet tempera-
tures on energy and exergy efficiencies of evapo-
rative cooling.
Exergy
second definition increases from 140% to 181% and the
energy efficiency based on the third definition remains
constant at 100%. Note that in the evaporative cooling
process the efficiencies are coefficients of performance,
which is why they can exceed 100%. These results again
show that changes in operating conditions affect system
performance, and that exergy loss varies from one effi-
ciency definition to another.
For adiabatic mixing of air streams, single energy and
exergy efficiencies are defined. Figure 6.11 shows the
variation with ambient temperature in energy and exergy
efficiencies. The energy efficiency remains constant at
100% and the exergy efficiency decreases from 93% to
65% as ambient temperature increases from 273 to 303 K.
Varying the ambient temperature therefore affects system
exergy performance, but not system energy performance.
The exergy destructon during the mixing process increases
Chapter | 6 Exergy Analysis of Psychrometric Processes
with an increase in ambient temperature due to the higher
temperature difference between the system and the
surroundings, lowering exergy efficiency.
6.3.2 Exergy Analysis of an Experimental
Open-Cycle Desiccant Cooling System
In this section, an air-conditioning case study involving
energy and exergy analyses of an experimental desiccant
cooling unit, adapted from Kanoglu et al. (2004), is
considered. Desiccant cooling systems are heat-driven
cooling units. They can be used as an alternative to the
conventional vapor compression and absorption cooling
systems. The operation of a desiccant cooling system is
based on the use of a rotary dehumidifier (desiccant
wheel (DW)) in which air is dehumidified. The resulting
dry air is somewhat cooled in a sensible heat exchanger
(rotary regenerator (RR)), and then further cooled by an
evaporative cooler (EC). The resulting cool air is
directed into a room. The system may be operated in
a closed cycle or more commonly in an open cycle in
ventilation or recirculation modes. A heat supply is
needed to regenerate the desiccant. Low-grade heat at
a temperature of ~60e95 C is sufficient for regeneration,
so renewable energies such as solar and geothermal heat,
as well as waste heat from conventional fossil-fuel
systems, may be used. The system is simple and its
thermal coefficient of performance (COP) is usually
satisfactory.
Despite numerous theoretical and experimental studies
of the FLT aspects of desiccant cooling systems, few
investigations have been performed of the SLT aspects.
Lavan et al. (1982) presented a general SLT analysis of
desiccant cooling systems, without details on operation of
93
FIGURE 6.11 Effect of varying ambient
temperatures on energy and exergy efficiencies of
adiabatic mixing.
the system and its components, and introduced an equiv-
alent Carnot temperature concept for evaluating the
reversible COP. The reversible COP depends on the
operating parameters for the desiccant dehumidifier. Van
den Bulck et al. (1988) and Shen and Worek (1996)
focused on only the desiccant dehumidifier. The latter
considered the recirculation mode of the system operation
and attempted to optimize the number of transfer units and
the regeneration temperature of a dehumidifier based on
the FLT and SLT. Maclaine-cross (1985) proposed a cycle
with reversible components, which has an infinite COP.
Also, Pons and Kodama (2000) evaluated the internal and
external entropy generation in a desiccant cooling system
operating in ventilation mode, and developed formulations
for the Carnot COP of the system. In the second part of the
study, Kodama et al. (2000) applied the formulation to an
experimental unit and investigated the effects of varying
certain operating parameters on the entropy generation.
This study presented an exergy analysis of a desiccant
cooling system and its components.
Exergy analysis has been used for work-consuming
refrigeration cycles. Such analyses often aim to mini-
mize the work required for a given refrigeration task.
For heat-driven cooling systems such as desiccant
cooling units, exergy analysis may be used to determine
the reversible COP and the sites of exergy losses that
account for the difference between the reversible COP
and actual COP.
In this case study, a procedure for the energy and exergy
analyses of open-cycle desiccant cooling systems is
described and applied to an experimental working unit.
First, the operation and design of the experimental unit
are described. Then, energy-based system performance
parameters are presented, and an exergy analysis is given in
which exergy destruction and exergy efficiency relations
94
for the system and its components are derived. Finally, the
energy and exergy formulations are applied to the experi-
mental unit using typical operating data.
6.4 OPERATION AND DESIGN
OF EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM
A simple schematic of the experimental system operating
in ventilation mode and its representation on a psychro-
metric chart are shown in Figure 6.12. Air enters the DW,
where it is dehumidified and heated by the returning air in
the regeneration line. The hot dry air is then cooled in an
RR, which is basically a counter-flow sensible heat
exchanger. The processed air is further cooled in EC1
before being routed to the room. An equal flow of air is
withdrawn from the room for regeneration. The regenera-
tion air is cooled in EC and then preheated in the RR by the
warmer air in the process line. A heating unit supplies
external heat to the regeneration air before it passes
through the DW, where the desiccant material picks up
moisture from the process air and transports it to the hot
regenerated air. The air leaving the DW is exhausted to the
environment.
The components of the experimental unit were designed
and constructed at the University of Gaziantep, Turkey. The
desiccant used in the DW is natural zeolite found in Bali-
kesir, Turkey. Natural zeolite has a density of 1450 kg/m3,
a thermal conductivity of 0.60 W/m$ C, and a specific heat
of 1.11 kJ/kg$ C. Although natural zeolite is not the best
adsorbent of all possible desiccant materials, this short-
coming can be compensated for by using more of the
desiccant material for a given air rate. Natural zeolite was
EC1
4 3
Cooled
room
5 6
EC2
6 7
4 5
3
0 10 20 30
FIGURE 6.12 Simplified schematic of an experimental desiccant cooling system in ventilation mode, and its psychrometric chart for typical operation
as specified in Table 6.1. DW, desiccant wheel; RR, rotary regenerator; EC1, evaporative cooler 1; EC2, evaporative cooler 2.
Exergy
used in part to investigate its suitability in desiccant cooling
systems.
The desiccant bed consists of 12 equally shaped
sections along the circumference. The zeolites are
irregular in shape, 4e6 mm in size, and packed freely in
the desiccant bed. The DW has inner and outer diameters
of 11 and 55 cm, respectively, and a length of 25 cm. The
DW is mounted in a sheet housing containing iron
profiles. The frame is constructed using 0.8 mm sheet
iron separated into 12 equal sections along the circum-
ference. A corrosion-resistant aluminum sheet with
a thickness of 0.5 mm is used along the circumference to
provide complete sealing. The rotor and air duct
connections are well-fitted using rubber gaskets. The RR
is constructed of a light honeycomb structure made of
copper foil sheets with a center hole to accommodate the
rotating shaft. The rotor is mounted on a reinforced iron
frame divided into two sections, and is allowed to rotate
on two bearings. The rotor is 50 cm in diameter and has
a length of 25 cm. Copper is used as the matrix material
with a thickness of 0.075 mm. The compactness of the
matrix, defined as the ratio of heat transfer area to
volume, is approximately 3600 m2/m3. The housing and
sealing of the RR are similar to those for the DW.
Although aluminum is commonly used as a matrix
material in RRs, copper is used here in part because it has
more favorable thermal properties (e.g., the thermal
conductivity of aluminum is 237 W/m$ C and that of
copper is 401 W/m$ C).
The ECs are constructed to maximize the contact
area between water droplets and the air stream. Resis-
tance heaters are used to supply regeneration heat to the
unit.
RR DW
2 1
Ambient
air
Heater
7 8 9 Exhaust
air
0.022
9
W (kg/kg dry air)
0.018
0.014
8
1 0.010
2 0.006
0.002
40 50 60 70 80
T ( C)
Chapter | 6 Exergy Analysis of Psychrometric Processes 95

6.4.1 Energy Analysis A mass balance on the two ECs gives the following:
Desiccant cooling units are heat-driven systems, and the m_ w1 m_ a u4  u3 (6.24a)
COP is defined as follows:
m_ w2 m_ a u6  u5 (6.24b)
Q_ cool m_ a h5  h4
COP (6.18) where m_ w1 and m_ w2 are the rates of moisture addition to
Q_ regen m_ a h8  h7 the air in the ECs in the process and regeneration lines,
respectively.
where Q_ cool is the rate of heat removal from the cooled
room, Q_ regen is the rate of regeneration heat supply to the
unit, m_ a is the mass flow rate of air, and h is the specific
enthalpy of moist air. The numerical subscripts refer to 6.4.2 Exergy Analysis
state points in Figure 6.12 throughout this section. Since the The maximum COP of a heat-driven cooling system can be
mass flow rates are equal in the process and regeneration determined by assuming that the entire cycle is reversible.
lines, the effectiveness of the RR may be expressed as The cooling system would be reversible if the heat from the
follows: heat source was transferred to a Carnot heat engine, and the
T2  T3 work output of this engine is supplied to a Carnot refrig-
RR (6.19) erator to remove heat from the cooled space (Cengel and
T2  T6
Boles, 2006). The expressions for the work output from the
Here, T is the moist air temperature. The effectiveness of Carnot heat engine, the cooling load of the Carnot refrig-
the DW may be expressed similarly as follows: erator, and the Carnot COP of this reversible system are,
respectively, as follows:
T2  T1
DW;1 (6.20) wout
T8  T1 qin (6.25)
hth;C
Another effectiveness expression for the DW may be
defined based on the dehumidification performance of the qL COPR;C wout (6.26)
DW with respect to the regeneration heat input, as qL
follows: COPC hth;C COPR;C
qin
  
u1  u2 hfg Tambient Tspace
DW;2 (6.21) 1 (6.27)
h8  h7 Tsource Tambient  Tspace
where the numerator represents the latent heat and the
denominator the regeneration heat. Also, w denotes the where hth,C is the thermal efficiency of the Carnot heat
specific humidity (humidity ratio) and hfg the enthalpy of engine, COPR,C is the COP of the Carnot refrigerator, and
vaporization for water. A third, and perhaps better, Tambient, Tspace, and Tsource are the temperatures of the
performance expression for the DW is an effectiveness ambient environment, the cooled space, and the heat
based on specific humidity, which is given by Van den source, respectively. In the ideal system considered in
Bulck et al. (1988) as follows: Figure 6.12, the temperatures of the ambient environment
and the cooled space are T1 and T5, respectively, and the
u 1  u2 temperature of the heat source may be taken to be the
DW;3 (6.22)
u1  u2;ideal regeneration temperature T8. Then, Equation 6.27 may be
written as follows:
Here, u2,ideal is the specific humidity at the DW exit in the
  
ideal case and may be taken to be zero since an ideal DW T1 T5
COPC 1  (6.28)
completely dehumidifies the air. T8 T1  T5
The effectiveness relations for the ECs are the
following: The Carnot COP relation in Equation 6.27 is the upper
limit for any heat-driven cooling system that operates in
T3  T4
EC1 (6.23a) a closed cycle (e.g., an absorption chiller). The open-cycle
T3  Twb;3 desiccant cooling system in both ventilation and recircu-
T5  T6 lation modes, however, involves mass transfer between
EC2 (6.23b) the ambient environment and the room. Water is added in
T5  Twb;5
ECs and to the process air in the room. All of this added
where Twb is the wet-bulb temperature of the moist air. water is heated and evaporated and returned to the
96 Exergy

ambient environment during system operation. Lavan This quantity may be viewed as the exergy transfer to the
et al. (1982) and Pons and Kodama (2000) investigated air stream by heat assuming that heat transfer is reversible.
the impact on performance measures of the open nature of If the system was a work-driven cooling unit, we would use
the cycle with varying approaches. We follow the the actual work input in the denominator of Equation 6.34,
approach of Lavan et al. (1982), which is based on using since the exergy efficiency of a vapor-compression refrig-
equivalent Carnot temperatures for the evaporator, the eration system is the ratio of minimum work and actual
condenser, and the heat source. The reversible COP of work for a given cooling task.
open desiccant cooling systems is expressed using this We now consider the exergy destruction and exergy
approach as follows: efficiency relations for the individual components of the
   system. Neglecting kinetic and potential energies, the
Tc Te
COPrev 1  (6.29) exergy rate for a flow stream is given by the following:
Ts Tc  Te
_ m_ a ex m_ a h  h0  T0 s  s0 
Ex (6.37)
where Ts, Te, and Tc are the equivalent temperatures of the
heat source, the evaporator, and the condenser, respectively. where e is the specific flow exergy and state 0 represents the
From Figure 6.12 comes the following: dead state, which is the ambient state (state 1) in our system
in Figure 6.12. The rate of exergy destruction in any
h7  h8
Ts (6.30) component may be obtained from the following:
s7  s8
_ dest T0 S_gen
Ex (6.38)
m_ a h4  m_ a h5 m_ w3 hw
Te (6.31) Here, S_gen is the rate of entropy generation in the com-
m_ a s4  m_ a s5 m_ w3 sw
ponent, obtainable from an entropy balance on the
m_ a h9  m_ a h1  m_ w1 m_ w2 m_ w3 hw component. The exergy destructions for the DW, RR, and
Tc (6.32) ECs may consequently be determined as follows:
m_ a s9  m_ a s1  m_ w1 m_ w2 m_ w3 sw
 
_ dest;DW T0 m_ a s2 s9  s1  s8
Ex (6.39)
Here, m_ w3 is the rate of moisture addition to the process air
in the cooled room, and hw and sw are the specific enthalpy  
and specific entropy of liquid water, respectively. It is clear _ dest;RR T0 m_ a s3 s7  s2  s6
Ex (6.40)
that the reversible COP is a function of the operating  
conditions. _ dest;EC1 T0 m_ a s4  m_ a s3  m_ w1 sw
Ex (6.41)
There is no commonly accepted definition for the
 
exergy efficiency of a desiccant cooling system. Two _ dest;EC2 T0 m_ a s6  m_ a s5  m_ w2 sw
Ex (6.42)
definitions are considered here. The first is the ratio of
actual COP to reversible COP under the same operating The components in the experimental system are well
conditions: insulated, so no entropy transfer by heat appears in these
COP entropy generation expressions.
jDCS;1 (6.33) The exergy efficiency may be defined for the rotary
COPrev
regenerator and the DW as the ratio of the exergy increase
The second exergy efficiency for the system can be of the cold stream to the exergy decrease of the hot stream.
expressed as follows: That is
_ cool
Ex h2  h1  T0 s2  s1
jDCS;2 (6.34) jDW (6.43)
_ heat
Ex h8  h9  T0 s8  s9
where Ex_ cool is the exergy difference between states 1 and 4 h7  h6  T0 s7  s6
and corresponds to the minimum work input (reversible jRR (6.44)
h3  h4  T0 s3  s4
work) required to cool the moist air from the ambient state
to the air inlet state to the room. That is: The general exergy efficiency is sometimes expressed as
follows:
_ cool m_ a h1  h4  T1 s1  s4 
Ex (6.35) _ out _ dest
Ex Ex
j 1 (6.45)
_
Exin _ in
Ex
_ heat is the exergy increase of the air stream due to
Also, Ex
heat transfer in the regenerator as follows: where Ex_ out and Ex_ in are the exergy recovered and the
exergy input for the component, respectively. Using this
_ heat m_ a h8  h7  T1 s8  s7 
Ex (6.36) definition for ECs, we obtain the following:
Chapter | 6 Exergy Analysis of Psychrometric Processes 97

thermodynamic functions for many substances (Klein,

E_ dest;EC1
jEC1 1 (6.46a) 2010).
_ 3
Ex In Table 6.1, effectiveness, exergy efficiency, and
E_ dest;EC2 exergy destruction values are given for the system and its
jEC2 1  (6.46b) components. The RR has a low effectiveness (57.5%) and
_ 5
Ex
exergy efficiency (38.7%). The ECs have high effectiveness
The regeneration heat is supplied to the unit by a heating (95.3% and 91.8%) and low exergy efficiencies (14.7% and
source, for example, a gas burner, a solar collector, and 58.3%). One reason for the lower exergy efficiency for EC1
geothermal heat. The heating source must be known in compared to EC2 is that there is a greater rate of water
order to determine the exergy destruction and the exergy evaporation in EC1, resulting in higher irreversibility. The
efficiency for the heating system. Assuming that the heat experimental system uses electricity as the heat source for
source is at a constant temperature, which may be convenience and ease of control, but an actual system
ideally taken to be the air temperature at state 8 in would likely use a different heat source. For simplicity, we
Figure 6.12, the exergy destruction and the exergy effi- assume here an ideal heat source at a constant temperature
ciency for the heating system can be expressed as the (taken to be equal to the temperature at state 8 in
following: Figure 6.12). The exergy efficiency of the heating system is
!
Q_ regen
found to be 53.7% for this case. All three effectiveness
E_ dest;HS T1 m_ a s8  m_ a s7  (6.47) values for the DW are low, particularly the third one
T8 (33.7%), indicating poor dehumidification performance.
This poor performance may be largely attributable to
h8  h7  T0 s8  s7 natural zeolite not being the best desiccant and the internal
jHS (6.48) design and construction of the DW. Dehumidification
h8  h7  T0 h8  h7 =T8
effectiveness and system COP are directly related, since the
Equation 6.48 can be viewed as the ratio of the exergy DW performance has the greatest effect on system perfor-
supplied to the regeneration air to the exergy released by mance. The exergy efficiency (76.1%) appears quite high,
the heat source. given that Van den Bulck et al. (1988) reported that the
maximum exergy efficiency for desiccant dehumidifiers is
6.4.3 Results and Discussion about 85%.
The energy and exergy formulations are applied to the Exergy destructions in absolute terms and as
experimental desiccant cooling system described earlier. a percentage of total exergy destruction are given in the last
Table 6.1 lists the measured dry-bulb and wet-bulb two columns of Table 6.2. The DW is responsible for the
temperatures and calculated properties for the system greatest portion of the total exergy destruction (33.8%), m
during typical operation. Properties of moist air and followed by the heating system (31.2%). The RR and ECs
water are obtained from an equation solver with built-in account for the remaining exergy destructions. These

TABLE 6.1 Measured and Calculated State Properties of the System Shown in Figure 6.12 *

State T ( C) Twb ( C) w (kg water/kg dry air) f (%) h (kJ/kg dry air) s (kJ/K$kg dry air)
1 31.5 19.7 0.00950 0.329 56.01 5.803
2 43.5 21.0 0.00630 0.115 60.00 5.813
3 30.2 16.7 0.00630 0.237 46.48 5.769
4 17.3 16.7 0.01162 0.940 46.85 5.772
5** 26.7 19.8 0.01162 0.530 56.50 5.805
6 20.4 19.8 0.01427 0.950 56.72 5.806

7 33.7 23.7 0.01427 0.435 70.43 5.852

8 60.8 30.1 0.01427 0.110 98.41 5.940
9 49.8 29.4 0.01747 0.227 95.39 5.933

*The mass flow rate of air is 400 kg/h.

**
The temperature at state 5 is the ARI (1998) value for indoors.
98 Exergy

TABLE 6.2 Selected Energy and Exergy Performance Data for the System and Its Components

Effectiveness Exergy efficiency Exergy destruction rate Exergy destruction rate

(%) j (%) _ dest (kW)
Ex (% of total)
Rotary regenerator 57.5 38.7 0.07075 17.5
Evaporative cooler 1 95.3 14.7 0.05817 14.4
Evaporative cooler 2 91.8 58.3 0.01272 3.1

Heating system d 53.7 0.1261 31.2

Desiccant wheel 40.9 76.1 0.1369 33.8
(Equation 6.20)
27.4
(Equation 6.21)
33.7
(Equation 6.22)

System 11.1 (Equation 6.33) 0.40464 100

3.3 (Equation 6.34)

results are in agreement with those of Kodama et al. (2000), wet surface heat exchanger. The present exergy efficiency
who found that the DW and heating system account for the of only 11.1% indicates a high potential for improvement
majority of the entropy generation for most operating and is typical of desiccant cooling units.
conditions of their experimental system. Other performance data for the experimental system are
Van den Bulck et al. (1988) identified the causes of irre- given in Table 6.3. The Carnot COP is greater than the
versibility for the dehumidifier as the mixing of process and reversible COP since the definition for the reversible COP
regeneration air streams, the transfer of energy and mass provides a more realistic upper limit for the system
across finite temperature differences, and the vapor pressure performance by considering the open nature of the cycle. In
differences between the desiccant matrix and the regenera- other words, the reversible COP definition excludes the
tion air stream. Similarly, the adiabatic humidification external irreversibilities resulting from the open nature of
process in the ECs involves irreversibilities caused by the cycle because they cannot be eliminated. Also listed in
concentration difference and mass transfer across finite Table 6.3 are the Carnot equivalent temperatures calculated
temperature differences. Heat transfer across a finite from Equations 6.30 to 6.32, the cooling load, and the
temperature difference and the mixing of air streams are the regeneration heat supply to the unit. Note that the
primary causes of irreversibility in the RR. The causes of
irreversibility for the heating system depend on the method of
heat input. For the ideal heat source considered in the anal- TABLE 6.3 Additional Performance Data for the System
ysis, the irreversibility is due to the heat transfer across a finite COP values
temperature difference whose maximum value is T8  T7.
COP 0.345
The exergy efficiency of the system is evaluated to be
11.1% with Equation 6.33 and 3.3% with Equation 6.34. COPrev 3.112
We find the former value more meaningful since it COPC 5.472
compares the actual and reversible COPs of the system. To
Heat flow rates (kW)
approach the reversible COP, the exergy destructions in
components of the system must be reduced. Efforts to Q_ cool 1.072
reduce exergy destructions should focus initially on the Q_ regen 3.109
highest exergy destruction sites. Significant increases in the 
Temperatures ( C)
exergy efficiency, and thus the COP, of desiccant cooling
systems may be achieved by reducing exergy destructions Tc 27.5
in the DW, the heating system, and the RR, and developing Te 21.8
less irreversible processes as alternatives to the inherently
Ts 46.6
irreversible evaporative cooling process. Maclaine-cross
(1985) attempted this by replacing ECs with a reversible
Chapter | 6 Exergy Analysis of Psychrometric Processes
equivalent temperatures for the open cycle are smaller than
the corresponding temperatures for a heat-driven closed
cycle.
The actual COP of the system is 0.345. The COPs of
other actual and experimental desiccant cooling units are
reported to be between 0.5 and 0.8 (Krishna and Murthy,
1989; Jain et al., 2000; Kodama et al., 2000). Noting that
the RR and the ECs have somewhat satisfactory perfor-
mance, the present low COP is mostly due to inadequate
performance of the DW. This is indicated by the low
dehumidification effectiveness (33.7%) and high exergy
destruction (33.8% of the total) of the DW. Desiccant
material, internal geometry (i.e., how the desiccant is
distributed within the dehumidifier matrix), regeneration
temperature, the ratio of regeneration air to process air, and
DW rotational speed are parameters affecting DW perfor-
mance. Optimization of these parameters can improve the
COP of the unit.
The irreversibilities due to the heating system,
although significant, cannot be eliminated in this system
since they are caused by the temperature difference. The
exergy destruction in the RR is also significant in
degrading the overall system performance and can be
reduced by better design and operation. Perhaps the
operating parameter that affects the regenerator perfor-
mance most is the rotational speed. ECs are inherently
irreversible and there is little that can be done to reduce
their irreversibilities.
The effects of measurement inaccuracies in the dry-bulb
and wet-bulb temperatures on the results are small. The
thermocouples used to measure the temperatures have an
estimated inaccuracy of 0.5 C. A 0.5 C change in the
regeneration dry-bulb temperature (state 8) changes the
actual COP by 1.8%, the reversible COP by 4.1%,
the exergy efficiency of the DW by 1.5%, and the exergy
destruction in the DW by 1.5%. Inaccuracies in the wet-
bulb temperature have smaller effects on the results. A
change of 0.5 C in the regeneration wet-bulb temperature
changes the same results by under 0.5%.
6.5 CLOSING REMARKS
Exergy analysis has changed the way we assess the system
performance. The use of exergy analysis on psychrometric
processes has provided a new understanding and dimension
to improve the performance. The application of energy and
exergy analyses to psychrometric processes is described in
this chapter, and case studies are presented. The significant
efficiency definitions are demonstrated. The case studies
illustrate that results obtained through exergy analysis are
clearer and more meaningful than those obtained by energy
analysis and help indicate potential modifications to
improve efficiency.
99
PROBLEMS
6.1 Explain the importance of using exergy analysis
for assessing and designing air-conditioning
processes.
6.2 Explain how exergy analysis can help improve the
performance of air-conditioning processes.
6.3 Consider the following processes, and evaluate
them from an exergetic point of view and assess the
degree of energy degradation in each: (a) heating
a room with a resistance heater, (b) heating a room
with a natural gas furnace, (c) air-conditioning
a room using an electric chiller unit in summer, and
(d) air-conditioning a room using an EC in
summer.
6.4 Why are air-conditioning processes typically highly
irreversible? Explain the causes of exergy destruc-
tions in such processes and propose methods for
reducing or minimizing the destructions.
6.5 Using the process diagrams and balance equations
provided in this chapter, write exergy efficiency
expressions for the following air-conditioning
processes: (a) simple heating and cooling, (b) heating
with humidification, (c) cooling with dehumidifica-
tion, (d) evaporative cooling, and (e) adiabatic mixing
of air streams.
6.6 Is the adiabatic mixing of two air streams with the
same pressure and different temperatures reversible?
How about mixing of two air streams with the same
pressure and the same temperature?
6.7 Is the adiabatic humidification of air with water at the
same temperature as the air a reversible process? How
about adiabatic humidification of air with water at
a different temperature from the air?
6.8 Consider natural environmental processes like rain,
snow, wind, and so forth. Are these processes
reversible or irreversible? If your answer is irrevers-
ible, do you worry about the negative effects of the
exergy destructions?
6.9 What is the difference between an evaporative cooling
process and a desiccant cooling process? Describe
climatic conditions for which each of these cooling
systems is more appropriate.
6.10 Air enters an EC at 40 C and 20% relative humidity.
If the effectiveness of the cooler is 90%, determine
the exergy destruction and the exergy efficiency of
this process.
6.11 Ambient air at 1 atm, 5 C, and 35% relative humidity
is heated to 20 C in the heating section of an air-
processing device at a rate of 80 m3/min and then
humidified to 25 C and 70% relative humidity.
Determine the total rate of exergy destruction and the
exergy efficiency of the entire process. Assume heat
is supplied by a heat source at 100 C.
100
6.12 For the five basic psychrometric processes discussed
in this chapter, vary the humidity ratio at state 1 to
determine its effect on the energy and exergy effi-
ciencies. (Hint: For each psychrometric process, the
range of humidity ratio at state 1 may differ.)
6.13 For the five basic psychrometric processes discussed
in this chapter, conduct an optimization study. Your
Exergy
task is to optimize the exergy efficiency by varying
the ambient temperature from 10 to 35oC. (Hint:
You can use the direct search method as an optimi-
zation tool.)
6.14 Find the inlet temperature that yields the highest energy
and exergy efficiencies for each of the five basic
psychrometric processes discussed in this chapter.