A run-around membrane energy exchanger (RAMEE) is a novel energy exchanger that is capable of transferring both heat and moisture, which can significantly reduce the energy required to condition outdoor ventilation air. The RAMEE uses a liquid desiccant to transfer both heat and moisture between two remote air streams, making it appropriate for many applications, including building HVAC retro-fits. Both initial system start-up and changing outdoor conditions require time for the desiccant to undergo changes in both temperature and concentration, and can cause significant transient delays in system performance. Under some conditions, these transients may be beneficial by increasing the system performance. However under some conditions, the transient delays can cause a substantial decrease in performance.<p> This thesis focuses on the development of control strategies that can be used to reduce unwanted transient delays. In order to develop these control strategies, the performance of a RAMEE is first investigated using both experimental and numerical methods. The transient numerical and experimental effectiveness results show satisfactory agreement, with a maximum root mean squared error of 10%. Both the numerical and experimental data show that a long transient time of several hours, or even several days, can occur upon initial system start-up.<p> The numerical model is used to investigate several control strategies to reduce unwanted transient delays. The control strategies investigated are: solution and air flow control, air flow bypass, solution temperature control, and solution concentration control. The solution and air flow control are shown to reduced the start-up transient time by up to 11%, but require either a reduction in air flow or an increase in solution pumping costs. Air flow bypass proves to be a better option which provides a 16% reduction in transient time, and only requires that a bypass damper be provided for each exchanger. Solution temperature control is capable of essentially eliminating the thermal transient time (time required for the solution to reach operating temperature), but the thermal transient time is found to be a minor contributor to the overall transient time (time required for the solution to reach operating temperature and concentration) when the initial concentration of the solution is different than the steady-state concentration. When thermal and moisture transients exist, total transient times may be over 18 days. A practical temperature and concentration control strategy is developed, which can reduce transient delays by over 90% and increase performance during variable outdoor weather conditions.

Submitted by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2017-06-16T10:22:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1008850 bytes, checksum: 2449c3ac92745b3cb932d4ea5dddd28b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-16T10:22:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1008850 bytes, checksum: 2449c3ac92745b3cb932d4ea5dddd28b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-08-30 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Different forms of air treatment are used for food drying. It is the purpose of this work to describe both the implementation and instrumentation of a system of heat pump for dehumidifying and heating up the drying air under temperatures higher than room temperature but lower that those employed in resistance dryers promoting, in this way, better product quality. Our pump system consists of an evaporator, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve, and a fan. The heat pump makes use of the energy dissipated by both the condenser and the compressor to heat up the air dehumidified by the evaporator. Our device has been better characterized by its effectiveness in heating up the air as well as by its efficient, drying capacity. Sensors were installed at both the inlet and outlet of the device in order to control relative humidity, dry bulb temperature and velocity. Tests were accomplished to verify airflow velocity at 6,1 m/s and 5,7 m/s. For each case, measurements were taken every 15 min, with entering air parameters under atmospheric pressure with temperatures ranging from 27 and 32 ºC, and relative humidity ranging from 68 to 80%. Analyses of the same parameters were carried out at both the heat pump outlet and along the cooling cycle. An energy-exergetic analysis of the heat pump was completed. Simulations were made with the help of computer programs on EES (Engineering Equation Solver) platforms.For these simulations, the programs were developed based on the following: Law of Mass Conservation, and the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics. It was then possible to put forward some suggestions for improving the drying process and its instrumentation. / Diversos tipos de tratamentos do ar têm sido utilizados para secagem de produtos alimentícios. Este trabalho, tem como objetivo a montagem e instrumentação de um sistema de bomba de calor para desumidificação e aquecimento do ar de secagem utilizando temperaturas maiores que a ambiente, porém menores que os secadores resistivos, o que favorece um produto com qualidade melhor. O sistema de bomba de calor consiste de um evaporador, um condensador, um compressor, uma válvula de expansão e um ventilador. A bomba de calor aproveita a energia dissipada pelo condensador e compressor para aquecer o ar desumidificado pelo evaporador. O aparato foi caracterizado pela verificação da capacidade de aquecimento do ar e sua eficiência para secagem. Foram instalados na entrada e na saída do equipamento, sensores de umidade relativa, de temperatura de bulbo seco e de velocidade. Os testes foram realizados para velocidades do fluxo de ar de 6,1 m/s e 5,7 m/s. Para cada caso, foram realizadas medições a cada 15 min, com parâmetros de entrada do ar na pressão atmosférica, temperatura entre 27 e 32 ºC e umidade relativa entre 68 e 80 %, e verificação dos mesmos parâmetros na saída da bomba de calor, como também do ciclo de refrigeração. Foi realizada uma análise energética e exergética da bomba de calor. As simulações foram feitas através de programas computacionais na plataforma EES (Engineering Equation Solver). Para estas simulações, foram desenvolvidos os programas baseados na Lei da Conservação da Massa, da Primeira e Segunda Leis da Termodinâmica e com os resultados encontrados são feitas sugestões para melhoria do processo e instrumentação deste.

The work deals with the modeling and optimization physical variables in the design of air conditioning units serving rooms with high humidity - pool hall. Modeling is solved by creating software for a few basic compositions of air conditioning dehumidification devices. Calculations are programmed into the DLL in Delphi programming language.