Liquid Desiccant Dehumidification Systems: Jet Cross-Talking Effect in Multi-electrosprays

Abstract

When liquid desiccant systems are employed to dehumidify air electrospraying technique helps to increase the surface area of the liquid. Multiplexing of the jets by introducing several emitters for increased efficiency is commendable but, there is a tendency of the jets to cross talk with each other due to electrical shielding. Cross talking of jets will result in the failure of the jets to break properly into droplets for effective dehumidification. This piece of work analyzed the conditions for electrical shielding among jets which results in efficient electrospray. To evaluate how cross talking affects multiple emitter nozzles, the mathematical model was built by superimposing the electric potentials of one emitter in an array of emitters. A Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation model was developed to investigate the conditions for electrical shielding among jets during electrospray process with glycerol as the working substance. In flow modelling, Ansys Fluent with Volume of Fluid and the Taylor Dielectric model were involved. The flow rate that guarantees stability in the electrospray was determined together with the optimum voltage resulting in a spray current which reduces electrical shielding. An analysis on the electrical conductivity of the liquid to ensure stability and efficiency in electrospray was done. The pressure contours of the nozzle were determined together with velocity of the desiccant against density. Emitter spacing, applied voltage, flow rate and the electrical conductivity plays a pivotal role on the prevention of cross talking of jets during the electrospraying process.