Performance Review of Aqueous Calcium Chloride Liquid Desiccant Based Air Dehumidifier for HVAC Applications: A Review

Abstract

The exponentially increasing need of human comfort in area of conditioned air has given giant thrust in energy
consumption, specifically electrical energy, to run air conditioning equipments used in home or industry. Energy demand depletes
the fossil fuel reservoir, affects the climate changes adversely and hence it is a matter of utmost concern to save the both. It is
becoming almost inevitable to use air conditioning/cooling equipments in summer season in tropical region of the world. Calcium
Chloride (CaCl2) is one of the most economical liquid desiccants and used in many ways to reduce the latent heat content of air.
In this paper, a review of calcium chloride based air dehumidifier done with insight in basic cycles of working, properties as a
liquid desiccant and methods of use in practice for HVAC applications. In addition, the performance review of the calcium
chloride based air dehumidifier for HVAC applications since its inception to the recent research going on it concisely given with
key effects in its performance parameters to help understand the progress and trends of use.
It is evident from the given performance review that calcium chloride based air dehumidifier has progressed well from its
simple form of working and experimented in different conditions with and without internal cooling of air dehumidifier in the field
of air conditioning. However, there is scope of improvement to satisfy the unmated demand of performance and to accommodate
into its fully developed form to take its place in day to day need of air conditioning in place of conventional vapor compression
system.