Rotary desiccant wheel systems: a review

Rotary desiccant wheel systems work according to the principle of dehumidification. These systems use salt such as silica gel for dehumidifying the process air. Desiccant cooling is adopted as an alternative option against traditional cooling systems owing to its outstanding advantages. Regeneration is of vital importance in the overall performance assessment of rotary desiccant wheel systems. In terms of regeneration technique, these systems can be split into two types which are natural and electrical regeneration. Natural regeneration systems usually have solar air collectors. On the other hand, electrical regeneration systems use typical fossil fuel-powered heaters. There are many design-oriented factors that affect the performance of rotary desiccant wheel systems. At the same time, operating conditions have a notable influence on system performance. This article aims to provide information about recent studies on rotary desiccant wheel systems, and cost-effective and eco-friendly strategies to enhance system performance characteristics. COP, cost, payback period, dehumidification effectiveness, and moisture reduction rate are taken into consideration in the comparative performance assessment analyses.