Energy Efficient Dehumidification by Solar Driven Desiccant Systems
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The Symposium provides undergraduates from all academic disciplines with an opportunity to share their research with the university community and other guests through conference-style oral presentations. The Symposium represents part of a larger effort of Iowa State University to enhance, support, and celebrate undergraduate research activity.
Though coordinated by the University Honors Program, all undergraduate students are eligible and encouraged to participate in the Symposium. Undergraduates conducting research but not yet ready to present their work are encouraged to attend the Symposium to learn about the presentation process and students not currently involved in research are encouraged to attend the Symposium to learn about the broad range of undergraduate research activities that are taking place at ISU.
The first Symposium was held in April 2007. The 39 students who presented research and their mentors collectively represented all of ISU's Colleges: Agriculture and Life Sciences, Business, Design, Engineering, Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate College. The event has grown to regularly include more than 100 students presenting on topics that span the broad range of disciplines studied at ISU.
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In regions with high humidity levels, desiccant systems are extremely effective as renewable dehumidifiers in buildings. They are also environmentally friendly, with water as their only direct emission. The resulting dehumidification of the desiccant system engenders a more comfortable human climate; it reduces the need for air cooling and therefore lowers the energy load on a building. However, the renewability of the desiccant solution is dependent on a hot water tank which is currently powered by external energy. This study will use a thermal solar tank instead of a standard domestic hot water tank to provide the heat needed to recharge the desiccant solution, eliminating reliance on outside energy. The study will observe and compare the energy load needed for air cooling before and after the introduction of a solar driven liquid desiccant system. The Interlock house, a net zero energy building equipped with a solar powered thermal solar tank, will be used as a test subject. This research will provide valuable data pertaining to the effectiveness and efficiency of solar driven desiccant systems, leading to their introduction into the common household.