Experimental investigation of a ground-coupled desiccant assisted air conditioning system

Highlights: • A ground-coupled desiccant assisted air conditioning system is evaluated experimentally. • The evaluation is carried out for steady state operation and the cooling period as a whole. • The suitability of the system to provide comfort conditions is examined demonstrated. • Energy comparisons with other air-conditioning systems are performed. • The performance of the borehole heat exchangers for cooling is evaluated. - Abstract: In a pilot installation at Hamburg University of Technology the coupled operation of an open cycle desiccant assisted air conditioning system with borehole heat exchangers is investigated. The paper presents experimental data recorded during the cooling period 2014. Results show that the electricity demand of the system can be reduced to the parasitic consumption of the fans, wheels and pumps. An electric energy efficiency ratio of 6.63 is achieved, enabling electricity savings of more than 70% compared to a conventional reference system and 54% compared to a desiccant assisted hybrid system relying on an electric chiller. Comfort conditions can be maintained during the whole cooling period. The borehole heat exchangers work highly efficient, exhibiting a seasonal performance factor of 192.