Prospective PCM–Desiccant Combination with Solar-Assisted Regeneration for the Indoor Comfort Control of an Office in a Warm and Humid Climate—A Numerical Study

Abstract

Favorable thermal conditions within buildings are a necessity. Mechanical air conditioning, although effective, contributes a significant percentage of the world’s total energy use, which contributes to global warming. In addition, the refrigerants used in air conditioning also contribute to global warming. Passive means to provide thermal comfort have therefore been considered as alternative solutions. Phase-change materials (PCMs) have been considered as one passive cooling option. Although this option achieves a certain degree of effectiveness, especially in warm and dry climatic conditions, its effectiveness in warm humid climates is subdued due to its inability to handle humidity. In the present study, the suitability of a novel passive comfort provision strategy that combines a PCM and a desiccant is assessed. The passive system operates in a cycle of two phases: the moderating phase and the regenerating phase. For the proposed strategy, the regeneration process first involves the external desiccant bed, then night air drying using the regenerated external bed; the dried air subsequently regenerates the internal wall surface. The study involves the modeling of the proposed strategy and simulation of its performance. The simulation results indicate the significant potential for providing satisfactory comfort and health conditions through application of a combination of a desiccant and a PCM.

Theoretical Framework and Research Proposal for Energy Utilization, Conservation, Production, and Intelligent Systems in Tropical Island Zero-Carbon Building

“…The traditional design approach in tropical island regions emphasizes passive energy conservation as the primary focus and active energy conservation as a secondary consideration [23]. However, TIZCB lack an integrated design that incorporates precise regulation of energy utilization for carbon reduction, energy-efficient building envelopes [24], high-efficiency multi-source energy production [25], and intelligent system integration for carbon reduction [26].…”