Coupled heat and mass transfer characteristic of compressed air dehumidification using pressurized liquid desiccant.

A test-bed for counter-flow dehumidifier using LiCl solution as liquid desiccant is established to investigate the dehumidification performance of compressed air for industrial use. Heat and mass transfer coefficients are calculated according to mathematical model and experimental data, and the influence of inlet parameters on coupled heat and mass transfer coefficients is analysed. The impacts of inlet parameters such as air pressure, compressed air velocity, solution temperature as well as concentration on coupled heat and mass transfer coefficients are obtained. Results show the outlet humidity ratio of outlet compressed air can reach 0.11 g/kg under 0.80 MPa, which indicates the dryness can satisfy the demand of various industrial applications. The experimental results provide reliable data for further analysis of heat and mass transfer performance between compressed air and solution.