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Project Leader
Boualem Ouazia
Phone: 613-993-9613
Fax: 613-954-3733
Email: Boualem.Ouazia@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Desiccant Evaporative Cooling (DEC) for Residential Buildings
Objective
Investigate desiccant-based air-conditioning as a means to improve the energy efficiency of houses.
Background
Desiccant-based evaporative cooling is an alternative to conventional vapour compression air conditioning systems that reduces air conditioning requirements by removing humidity from ventilation air. It is driven largely by thermal energy, uses no ozone layer depleting refrigerant, and improves indoor air quality by providing a drier and more comfortable indoor environment. Most applications to date have been in large buildings with central HVAC systems, and there is little data about their effectiveness in houses in term of humidity control and energy efficiency.
Twin Research Houses at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology
Statement of Work
• Designed and built a prototype desiccant-based evaporative cooling system suitable for houses.
• Conducted side-by-side comparison tests between the DEC and a conventional vapour compression cooling system using the twin houses at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology.
• Modeled the two systems as installed in a typical R-2000 house to compare their energy performance in various Canadian climate zones.
Results
• A DEC system offers a promising alternative to conventional air-conditioning systems, especially under high latent loads, and could reduce uncomfortably high indoor humidity levels.
• The desiccant system will likely maintain comfort levels better than a conventional air conditioning system in areas with low sensible heat ratios.
• In areas with high sensible heat ratios, the use of the desiccant system with indirect evaporative coolers might increase the number of hours of discomfort.
• The DEC controlled humidity better than the conventional HVAC, but used more energy.
Outcomes
A final report including recommended measures to reduce the electrical consumption of the prototype DEC system was delivered to the Partners.
Partners
Natural Resources Canada and Union Gas Limited Inc.
Start/Completion Dates
This project started in September 2006 and was completed in September 2008.
