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Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a PCM-Supported ...

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drop per unit volume. The direct contact spray condenser (DCSC) which is illustrated<br />

in figure (2.17) applies a direct heat <strong>and</strong> mass transfer between the humid air <strong>and</strong> a<br />

cooled (in an external heat exchanger) portion <strong>of</strong> condensate.<br />

Figure 2.17: A schematic direct contact spray condensers [148]<br />

Packed columns with liquid desiccant cooling is especially suitable to be driven by<br />

low temperature energy source such as solar energy <strong>and</strong> waste heat, because the<br />

energy for air dehumidification <strong>and</strong> cooling can be stored efficiently in liquid<br />

desiccants without considerable losses. Such desiccant cooling dehumidifiers<br />

require more heat exchangers <strong>and</strong> a thermal energy source for desiccant<br />

regeneration <strong>and</strong> fresh water condensate recovery. This displaces the system a way<br />

from simplicity <strong>and</strong> uneconomical for small scale category <strong>of</strong> desalination units <strong>of</strong> 1<br />

m 3 / day distillate.<br />

In direct contact packed bed condensers, countercurrent operation provides the<br />

greatest efficiency because mass transfer driving forces are at a maximum [36].<br />

However, for natural draft operation <strong>of</strong> HDH units, concurrent operation may be more<br />

advantageous as the pressure drop is less compared to countercurrent flow.<br />

Moreover, gas <strong>and</strong> liquid contact intensity is greatly increased at higher flow rates;<br />

thus mass transfer rates can be elevated in concurrent flow. Strigle [36] mentioned<br />

that, in those systems where there is practically no vapor pressure <strong>of</strong> a solute above<br />

the liquid phase, concurrent flow operation should be considered.<br />

48

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