Abstract
Open-cycle desiccant air conditioning represents an attractive alternative to the classical method based on electric vapor
compression. The performance of the rotary dehumidifier has a significant effect on the capability, size and cost of the whole air
conditioning system. In the present paper a detailed two-dimensional mathematical model of coupled heat and mass transfer
processes manifesting at the moist air-solid desiccant interface has been formulated. It was studied packed bed absorber of rotary
wheel type under cyclic operating conditions. The numerical results lead to a good understanding of the adsorption/desorption
processes and prediction of the desiccant wheel behavior.