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Research and Development of Heat Pump Unit for Effective Air Conditioning and Hot Water Supply Integrated with Desiccant Ventilation System Using Wakkanai Siliceous Shale
Katsunori Nagano*, Saya Nakabayashi*, Makoto Nakamura*, Junya Togawa** and Asami Kurokawa** * Graduate school of Engineering, Hokkaido University Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8628, Japan ** Wakkanai Green Factory, Co., Ltd. Wakkanai, Hokkaido, 098-6644, Japan

Abstract: The aim of this study is to develop a new compact heat pump unit for the residential air conditioning and the hot water supply integrated with the desiccant ventilation. The climate in the summer in Japan is very humid compared with that in European countries. Therefore a dehumidification is essential. Here the exhaust heat of the air-conditioner is available heat source for regeneration of a desiccant wheel. In this study, a new desiccant wheel made by the paper-base containing Wakkanai siliceous shale which is a natural meso-porous material produced abundantly in the northern part of Japan has been developed. The performance of dehumidification of this wheel was evaluated under two types of experiments, a static test and a rotating test. The results of the static test showed that this wheel could adsorb moisture repeatedly by regeneration at 40C air. It was confirmed that 80% of the latent heat load can be removed from the outside air from the rotating test. Key Words: Compact heat pump, Ventilation, Dehumidification, Desiccant wheel

INTRODUCTION

The annual energy consumption in the household of Japan has reached to 43.3 GJ in 2007 [1]. The detail of the energy consumption were 28 % for space cooling and heating, 28% for the hot water supply, 8% for the kitchen and 36% for the power supply and the lighting, respectively. Especially the electricity consumption for the air conditioning has been increasing in the residential sector, and also in the commercial sector. Furthermore, the revised building standards law obligates all buildings to use the mechanical ventilation. Therefore, it is a major issue to reduce the energy consumption for the airconditioning, the hot water supply and the ventilation in the residential and the commercial sector. The air-conditioner, the hot water supply unit and the ventilation system have worked separately as an independent system at the current state in Japan. From the standpoint of energy saving, these individual systems should be used as integrated system for energy saving and effective use of exhaust heat. In fact, integrated system for the air-conditioning and the hot water supply based on the compact heat pump has been gradually popular in the northwestern European countries. This system is reasonable for the usage of waste heat of cooling or exhaust heat of ventilation and a cascade use of produced heat. Here the humid climate in the summer in Japan has to be taken into account. The conventional airconditioning system consumes a lot of energy for the dehumidification. Therefore, an innovative efficient dehumidification system, which separates the latent heat and the sensible heat such as a desiccant ventilation system, is very effective to reduce the energy consumption for the airconditioning. However the current desiccant wheel uses the silica gel, the zeolite and so on. The electric heater, the gas boiler or the water heater with CO2 heat pump is generally used, because the current desiccant wheel needs over 80C air for the regeneration. Thus, the regeneration by using the waste heat of the air-conditioning is rather hard [2-5]. Obviously applying of the additional heater for the regeneration 2010 International Symposium on Next-generation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, 17 19 February 2010, Tokyo, Japan

-2Sensible heat exchanger Desiccant unit (dehumidification & regeneration)

OA RA RA
EV Regenerator Example 1: Air source Hot water tank

This system can use air source, ground source and so on.

SA Evaporator

Compact heat pump unit De-superheater

Example 2: Ground source

Figure 1. Concept figure of compact air-conditioning, hot water supply and ventilation system

isnt effective. From this point, a desiccant wheel which can be regenerated by the exhaust heat at about 40C obtained from air-conditioning is very attractive to improve the system performance. The objective of this study is a proposal and development of a new compact heat pump unit which can be suitable for a Japanese humid climate. The concept figure is shown in Figure 1. A unique point of this system is to equip a developed new desiccant wheel, which can be regenerated by waste heat from the air-conditioner, using a natural meso-porous material, integrated into a compact heat pump unit. Integrating the desiccant ventilation with the compact heat pump for the air conditioning and the hot water supply will achieve the energy saving of 45% reduction. In addition, a desiccant wheel made by the paper-base containing Wakkanai siliceous shale powder has been developed. In this paper, the dehumidification performance of the developed desiccant wheel has been evaluated by a static test and a rotating test.

2 DEVELOPMENT OF A DESICCANT WHEEL CONTAINING WAKKANAI SILICEOUS SHALE Wakkanai siliceous shale (WSS) is applied to develop a new desiccant wheel which can be regenerated by the low temperature air. WSS is a natural meso-porous rock which is produced in the northern part of Hokkaido (Soya area) in Japan as shown in Figure 2 (a). It has the distributions on the belt-like foothills, which are about 50 meters high, under the surface soil layer. Moreover, it is found that this WSS layer exists in more than 1000 meters deep in the ground. Figure 2 shows the physical properties of WSS. It has a characteristic pore size distribution. The pore diameter ranges from 4 to 20 nm, which can contribute to the autonomous moisture adsorption [6]. The primary component of WSS is silicon dioxide (SiO2) as shown in Table 1. The measured specific surface area according to BET equation is 149.0 m2/g, and the pore volume is 0.382 cm3/g. The amount of moisture adsorption increases rapidly when the relative humidity of air becomes higher than 70%. The maximum adsorption amount reaches 270 mg/g. The shape of the adsorption isotherm of WSS is similar to that of type-B silica gel. Although the maximum amount of moisture adsorption of WSS is 1/3 compared to type-B silica gel, the price is 2010 International Symposium on Next-generation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, 17 19 February 2010, Tokyo, Japan

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Hokkaido island, Japan Cape Soya Cape Nosyappu

Opal-CT
Wakkanai Sarufutsu Toyotomi Horonobe Teshio
20 km

25 mm

20.0 m

2.0 m

(a) Distribution map, appearance and SEM pictures of WSS

0.012 Pore volume cm3/g
Pore volume: 0.382 cm3/g Specific surface area: 149.0 m2/g N2 BET method

0.008

0.004

0.000 2

5 10 20 Pore diameter nm

30 40 50

(b) Pore size distribution, pore volume and specific surface area of WSS
500

Adsorption amount [mg/g]

[Measurement temperature: 25C]

400 300 200 100 0

WSS WSS wheel

20

40

60

80

100

Relative humidity [%]

(c) Adsorption isotherms on WSS, silica gel (type A) and WSS wheel Figure 2. Physical properties of WSS Table 1. Chemical composition of WSS measured by fluorescent X-ray analysis
Component SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 K2O TiO2 Cl V2O5 SrO [%] 89.25 5.94 3.36 0.90 0.47 0.06 0.01 0.003

2010 International Symposium on Next-generation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, 17 19 February 2010, Tokyo, Japan

-4about 1/10 of that of silica gels. From this fact, WSS has a price competitive power as a desiccant material. Firstly original WSS paper, which contains WSS powder in the synthetic fibers, was made for the material of a desiccant wheel. The highest-frequent diameter of WSS powder was 3.1 m which was obtained by a ball-milling treatment. In this study, the sodium chlorides (NaCl) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) were supported into WSSs meso-pores in order to enhance a moisutre adsorption ability. This WSS paper was formed into a honeycombed filter for the static test as shown in Fig.3, and a desiccant wheel for the rotating test as shown in Fig.5. Figure 2 (c) shows the adsorption isotherm of a WSS wheel. The moisture adsorption amount in the range from 30% to 75% of the relative humidity is about 100 mg/g under the equilibrium condition. For analyzing the dehumidification performance of the WSS wheel, the static test and the rotating test were carried out. Basic experimental conditions are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Air conditions for the experiments Adsorption Temperature Relative humidity Absolute humidity 30C 75% 20.1 g/kgDA Regeneration 40C 27.3% 12.6 g/kgDA

The average outside air in the daytime of summer in Tokyo was simulated for the adsorption supply. The other, the regenerating condition simulated the return-air from the room (26C, 60%RH) heated to 40C by using the exhaust heat of the heat pump.

3 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF THE STATIC TEST ON A DESICCANT FILTER The short-term cyclic test (: the static test) was carried out to analyze the static adsorption performance of the WSS filter. The used WSS filters diameter is 150 mm, the length is 200 mm, and the cell density is 31 cells/cm2. As compared with the WSS filter, a silica gel filter, which is made from a kind of type-B silica gel, and a zeolite filter were also tested as shown in Table 3.

Table 3. The list of tested filters Base material WSS filter Silica gel filter Zeolite filter Synthetic fiber Synthetic fiber Sintered zeolite Adsorbent WSS Silica gel Weight 666 g 608 g 893 g

Figure 3 shows the experimental apparatus of the static test. The weight changes of each filter were measured. The flow channel was changed using two three-way valves for the adsorption and the regeneration, respectively. The adsorption term was for 60 minutes and the regeneration term was for 30 minutes. The flow rate was 25 m3/h. In this time, the effective air velocity was 0.49 m/s. The flow rate was equivalent to the condition of the rotating test. 2010 International Symposium on Next-generation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, 17 19 February 2010, Tokyo, Japan

-5Thermo-hygrostat chamber 30C, 75%

50 mm 150 mm

Thermo & hygrometer Insulation box Polyethylene film Fan 25 m3/h filter

CU

Flow meter Thermometry point 40C, 30%

40mm

10 mm

3-way valve

Balance

Supporting leg

150 mm
200 mm

Fan Heater Constant temperature bath Humidifier

Test section 1 inlet 2 3

Differential pressure meter

Inside of the insulation box

Temperature measurement point No.

5
Test section

50 mm 200 mm

outlet
Insulation board

Figure 3. Experimental apparatus of the static test

Temperature [C]

45 40 35 30

80

Temperature

RH

60 40 20

25 100

80 Weight change [g] Zeolite filter 60 40 Silica gel filter

20 WSS filter 0 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 Elapsed time [min]
Figure 4. The results of weight changes on the static test under the air flow rate was 25 m3/h

The results of the weight changes on these filters are shown in Fig. 4. The WSS filter adsorbed about 60 g of moisture in the second and third cycle stably and it could be regenerated by 40C air. On the other hand, the silica gel filter and the zeolite filter adsorbed 58 g and 92 g of moisture, respectively in the first adsorption process. Although they desorbed the smaller amount of moisture, their adsorption amounts decreased to approximately 10 g and 20 g, respectively after the second cycle. 2010 International Symposium on Next-generation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, 17 19 February 2010, Tokyo, Japan

Relative humidity [%]

-64 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF THE ROTATING TEST ON A DESICCANT WHEEL The apparatus for evaluation of the dehumidification ability of a wheel was assembled. Figure 5 shows the experimental apparatus and the schematic diagram on the rotating test. This apparatus has two thermo-hygrostat suppliers, two cambers, four thermo-hygrometers, two differential manometers and two flow meters for the both sides. Four thermo-hygrometers measure the temperature and the relative humidity of the simulated outside air (OA), the supply air (SA), the return air (RA) and the exhaust air (EA). The dehumidification performances of the WSS wheel were estimated from the difference of the absolute humidity between OA and SA. The experiments have been conducted under the air flow rate of 150 m3/h basically. It is equivalent to the ventilation rate at a general house (total floor area: 120 m2) in Japan. The wheels diameter is 400 mm, the length is 60 mm, and the cell density of a honeycomb is 31 cells/cm2.

Thermo-hygrostat supplier

Thermo-hygrostat supplier No. 1 40oC, 28%RH simulated RA

Thermo-hygrostat supplier No. 2 30oC, 75%RH simulated OA

Rotating zone Chamber Chamber

EA

Desiccant wheel

OA Chambers

400 mm

RA

Regeneration Partition plate

Adsorption SA therm o & hygrometer

Figure 5. A picture of experimental apparatus and a schematic diagram

The dehumidification amounts per a hour of the WSS wheel according to the flow rate are shown in Figure 6 (a). The dehumidification amount increased linearly with the flow rate. The differences in the dehumidification amounts at the each rotating speed became wide when the flow rate increased. The conditions of OA, SA, RA and EA are shown in the left side of Figure 6 (c) when the flow rate is 150m3/h and the rotating speed is 4 rpm. Figure 6 (b) shows the results of the test under the regeneration temperature changing from 26C to 50C at the fixed flow rate of 150 m3/h. Here the absolute humidity of the regeneration air was maintained as 12.6 g/kgDA, simulating the heated RA from the comfort room of 26C, 60%RH. The dehumidification amount increased with a rise in the regeneration temperature at the low rotating speed. The dehumidification amount at the rotating speeds of 0.5 rpm and 1 rpm were 3.26 g/kgDA and 3.66 g/kgDA, respectively when the wheel was regenerated at 40C. It increased by about 1.0 g/kgDA when the regeneration temperature increased by 10C.

2010 International Symposium on Next-generation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, 17 19 February 2010, Tokyo, Japan

-71200 Dehumidification amount [g/h] 1000 800

1 rpm 22 rpm 10 rpm 7.5 rpm 4 rpm

600 400 200 0 0 50 100 Flow rate [m /h]

3

0.5 rpm

Regenerating condition: 40C, 27.3%RH

150

200

(a) Dehumidification amount according to the change of flow rate

7 Dehumidification amount [g/kg DA] 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Regeneration temperature [C]
1 rpm 0.5 rpm Flow rate: 150 m3/h Regenerating condition: 12.6 g/kgDA 22 rpm 10 rpm 7.5 rpm 4 rpm

(b) Dehumidification amount according to regeneration temperature

Flow rate: 150 m3/h Rotating speed: 4 rpm OA: 30C, 75%RH RA: 40C, 27.3%RH
Absolute humidity [kg/kgDA] 0.025

OA

Flow rate: 150 m3/h Rotating speed: 4 rpm OA: 30C, 75%RH RA: 26C, 60%RH
OA EA

Absolute humidity [kg/kgDA] 0.025

0.020
EA SA

0.020

0.015
RA

SA

0.015

RA

0.010

0.010

0.005

0.005

10

15

20

25 30 35 DB Temperature [C]

40

0.000 45

10

15

20

25 30 35 DB Temperature [C]

40

0.000 45

(c) Conditions of OA, SA, RA and EA on the psychrometric diagrams Figure 6. Experimental results of the rotating test of the WSS wheel

From these results, this WSS wheel can dehumidify 5-6 g/kgDA at more than 4 rpm at the regeneration temperature over 26C. It was estimated that 80% of the latent heat load can be removed from the outside air at 10 rpm. 2010 International Symposium on Next-generation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, 17 19 February 2010, Tokyo, Japan

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On the other hand, at more than 4 rpm, there were little changes in the dehumidification amount according to the regeneration temperature. The maximum dehumidification amount was obtained at 22 rpm and it was 6.1 g/kgDA. Especially the WSS wheel is working as a total heat exchanger when the regeneration temperature is same as the room temperature, 26C. The changes of the temperature and the absolute humidity under 26C regeneration and 4 rpm rotating are shown on the psychrometric diagrams in the right side of Figure 6(c). The total heat exchange efficiency at 10 rpm was 76.2%.

CONCLUSION

In this paper, the authors have proposed and been developing a new integrated heat pump unit for the air conditioning and the hot water supply integrated with the desiccant ventilation. For this system, a new desiccant wheel made by WSS paper, which contains WSS powder in the synthetic fibers, has been developed. The dehumidification performance of this wheel was evaluated under the ventilating condition in Tokyo. 1) From the static test, this WSS could adsorb and desorb 60 g moisture repeatedly at the regeneration temperature of 40C. On the other hand, a silica gel filter and a zeolite filter adsorbed and desorbed only 10 g and 20 g moisture, respectively, after a few cycles. 2) The apparatus for evaluation of the dehumidification ability of a wheel was assembled. From these results, this WSS wheel can dehumidify 5-6 g/kgDA at more than 4 rpm at the regeneration temperature over 26C. It was estimated that 80% of the latent heat load can be removed from the outside air at 10 rpm. 3) The total heat exchange efficiency at 10 rpm was 76.2% when the regeneration temperature was 26C.

REFERENCE

[1] Energy in Japan 2009, Agency for Natural Resource and Energy (2009) [2] A. Kodama, T. Hirayama et al, The use of psychrometric charts for the optimization of a thermal swing desiccant wheel, Applied Thermal Engineering, 21, 1657-1674 (2001) [3] W. Cho, S. Kato et al, Study on Dehumidification Performance of FAM-Z Rotor, the 6th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation & Energy Conservation in Buildings IAQVEC 2007, [4] K. Oshima, M. Yamazaki et al, Application of Novel FAM Adsorbents in a Desiccant System, Journal of Chemical Engineering, 32(2), 518-523 (2005) (in Japanese) [5] M. Yamaguchi and K. Mashimo, Desiccant Air Conditioning with Low-Temperature Regenerable Sorbent, Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineering, 82(8), 13-17 (2008) (in Japanese) [6] N. Tomura, M. Maeda, K. Inukai, F. Ohashi, M. Suzuki and Y. Shibasaki, Development of Humidity Control Materials using Porous Ceramics, Function & materials, 17, 22-30 (1997) (in Japanese)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work is supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

2010 International Symposium on Next-generation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, 17 19 February 2010, Tokyo, Japan