Zhao Shao (Author), Z. G. Wang (Author), Primož Poredoš (Author), T. S. Ge (Author), Ruzhu Wang (Author)

Abstract

In the rail sector, air conditioning accounts for 30% of the total operational energy consumption, thus, it is crucial to enhance the efficiency of air conditioning units (ACUs) to reduce overall energy consumption. Traditional ACUs for train vehicles usually have a low coefficient of performance (COP), often less than 2, because of condensation-based dehumidification and a consequent reheating process and also the restricted spaces to install ACUs on the rooftop of the cabinet. Herein, we present a novel ACU with an integrated structural design that uses desiccant-coated heat exchangers (DCHEs) coupled with heat pumps, providing comfortable air conditioning on the metro or high-speed trains. This approach provides a direct method for reducing the air temperature and humidity simultaneously, thus realizing the decoupling of temperature and humidity treatments on a single heat exchanger. Using this design, experimental results show that the proposed system can improve the COP by ∼40% under standard conditions compared with existing ACUs (2.5 vs. 1.8). In addition, the proposed system achieves the highest COP of 2.8 under Shenzhen ground conditions (high humidity and temperature conditions) and exhibits high adaptability to various climate zones. The application of the DCHE-based system in the rail sector can significantly contribute to the decarbonization of the sector and make rail transportation sustainable and ready for a green transformation.

Keywords

toplotne črpalke;energetska učinkovitost;sorpcijska sredstva;desikativni prenosniki toplote;železniški promet;heat pumps;sorption materials;desiccant coated heat exchangers;air-conditioning;rail sector;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UL FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
UDC: 621.577
COBISS: 185939971 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1873-6785
Views: 13
Downloads: 1
Average score: 0 (0 votes)
Metadata: JSON JSON-RDF JSON-LD TURTLE N-TRIPLES XML RDFA MICRODATA DC-XML DC-RDF RDF

Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary keywords: toplotne črpalke;energetska učinkovitost;sorpcijska sredstva;desikativni prenosniki toplote;železniški promet;
Type (COBISS): Article
Embargo end date (OpenAIRE): 2025-02-22
Pages: str. 1-11
Issue: ǂVol. ǂ271, [article no.] 127014
Chronology: May 2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.127014
ID: 22947220