Experimental study and simulation of a solid desiccant cooling system installed in northern Algeria

An experimental investigation of a solid desiccant cooling system for a research laboratory on the Algerian coast has been carried out. The system utilized flat-plate solar collectors for regeneration and was evaluated through a combination of individual component characterization, system modeling (using TRNSYS), and experimental validation. The results obtained have been validated and show that the efficiency of the rotary heat exchanger reached 65 %, the evaporative humidifier efficiency reached 94 %, and the desiccant wheel achieved efficiencies of 73 % on the process side and 66 % on the regeneration side. This translates to a significant dehumidification effect, reducing absolute humidity in the treated air by 9 g/kg, for the supply air temperature effectively maintained at a comfortable 24 °C. The close agreement between the simulated and experimental COP values (1.13 and 1.08, respectively) validates the chosen approach and confirms the potential of this technology for energy-efficient building cooling in the hot and humid Mediterranean climate of northern Algeria.