Solar Humidity Controller

Project Guide:     
Dr. A. K. Pratihar 
Professor 
Department of Mechanical Engineering                

Team Members:
Vishal Malik (53746)     
 Nenshi Katiyar (52329) 
Sneha Sahu (52313)  

   
 • Introduction
• Importance of Solar Humidity Controller
• Working Cycle
• Components and Design of Solar Humidity
Controller

Contents • Calculations
• Solar Air Heater
• Dehumidification
• Humidification
• Conclusion
• References
Introduction:
• The need for usage of renewable energy is currently more than ever because of rapid energy
consumption rate. EIA projects that nearly 50% increase in world energy usage by 2050, led by growth
in Asia.

• With increasing demand of energy and degradation of environment, we need to increase usage of clean
energy and reduce non ecofriendly devices.

• We all can know the comfort of the air conditioners in summers as well as in winters. A controlled
humid environment is a necessity for industries and residents.

• Solar humidity controller is a device that regulates the humidity of a room

by dehumidifying or humidifying the air in summers as well as in winters by mainly using solar energy.

• Thus, by reducing the load on air conditioning systems, our project has the potential to fulfill the
requirement for clean energy humidity controlling systems. 
Importance of Solar Humidity Controller:
• Solar Humidity Controller performs both Humidification & Dehumidification processes. Therefore, it
can maintain humidity in both summers and winters.
• BNEF expects electricity demand from residential and  commercial air conditioning to increase by more
than 140% by 2050. Currently, production of electricity uses nonrenewable resources. but Solar
Humidity Controller is mainly run by solar energy. It can be used in places with inaccessible  electricity
like villages.
• This system has potential to maintain humidity in industries as well.
•  As it uses renewable energy, it'll save a lot of money and it will contribute towards sustainable
development.
• It also performs air filtration process.
• Running cost of this system is lesser than other existing system.  
• This system has less moving parts, results in less maintenance cost.   
• Design and operation of Solar Humidity Controller is ecofriendly as it doesn’t use or produce any
harmful substances.
Working Cycle:                                         
Components and design of Solar Humidity
Controller:
 Desiccant wheel:
• It is a type of sorption dehumidifier, uses a solid desiccant and it is coated
on the supporting rotor structure.

•   The wheel is installed with thermal insulation and air-proof material, so

no mass and energy exchange take place with the surroundings.

•  A desiccant wheel functions as a heat and mass exchanger between the

process and return air streams. 

• Rotational speed of the wheel varies commonly within the range of 6–12
rotations per hour in the dehumidifier mode and 8–14 rotations per hour
for the enthalpy recovery mode.

• Adsorption process causes dehumidification of air in a desiccant wheel. It

is a process where molecules from a gas phase or from a solution bind in a
condensed layer on the surface of a solid or a liquid.
  
 
Design of Desiccant Wheel:
                                                          
Desiccant Material:

• Dessicant is a hygroscopic substance that is used to induce or sustain a state of dryness

in its vicinity through adsorption of water. 

• It has a high affinity for water and is a dehumidifying agent.

• The common desiccant materials in use are silica gel, zeolite molecular sieve, lithium
chloride, and activated alumina.

• We have used silica gel as a desiccant material in our project.

  
 Silica Gel:
•  Silica gel is an amorphous and porous form of silicon
dioxide, It consist  an irregular tri-dimensional framework
of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms with nanometer
scale voids and pores.

•  The voids may contain water or some other liquids, or may

be filled by gas or vacuum (i.e., silica xerogel). 

• Silica xerogel has average pore size of 2.4 nanometers, has

a strong affinity for water molecules and is widely used as a
desiccant.

• It is hard and translucent and remains hard when saturated

with water.

• It is usually commercialized as coarse granules or beads. 

Solar Air Heater:
•  It is a device which collects energy from the sun and
use it to heat the air.

•  Solar air heating is a renewable energy heating

technology, used to heat or condition building's air or
process heat applications. 

• A solar air heater is an active solar system as it 

uses solar panels to collect solar energy and fans to
move the energy to a different place.

• It is typically, the most cost-effective out of all the solar

technologies, especially for commercial and industrial
applications. 
 • A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or
gases) by mechanical action, from one place to
the other.

• Pumps operate by reciprocating or rotary,

and consume energy to perform mechanical
work moving the fluid. 
    

Pump: • In our project, we have used 2 axial pumps to

drive air into two different pipelines. 

• Axial flow pump can be defined as a pump

where fluid will flow in axial direction (in the
direction of axis of rotation). In case of
axial flow pump, inlet and outlet of fluid will
not vary in radial location from its axis of
rotation. Axial flow pumps are used to
deliver the higher flow rate at relatively lower
head. 
Design of Pump
Four-Way Valve:
• The four-way valve or four-way cock is a fluid
controller whose body has four ports equally
spaced round the valve chamber and the
plug has two passengers to connect
adjacent ports, the plug may be cylindrical or
tapered, or a ball.

• It has two flow positions, and usually a central

position where all ports are closed. 

• In our project, four-way valve is used to

change the cycle of dehumidification and
humidification. 
Design of four-way valve:
          Air Filter:   Motor: 
                            
• A particulate air filter is a device composed of fibrous • An electric motor is an electrical machine
or porous materials which removes solid particulates that converts electrical energy into
such as dust, pollen, mold and a from the air.  mechanical energy. 
     
• Filters containing an adsorbent or catalyst such • In our project, motor is used to drive
as charcoal may also remove odor and desiccant wheel at required speed. 
gaseous pollutants such as volatile organic
compounds or ozone. 

          Adapter:       Wires and Switch:

• They are used with electrical devices that   
require power but do not contain internal
components to derive the required voltage and
power from mains power. 
  
• We have used adapter to convert 220V AC to DC
to run axial pump and motor. 
• A wire is a single usually cylindrical, flexible
strand or rod of metal. Wires are used to bear
mechanical loads or electricity.
• Switches are used to control power of entire
circuit. 
Design of Air Pipes and Air Filter:
Selected  Material:
For our project, we have chosen STAINLESS STEEL 304. It is an extremely popular low-cost alloy. It
has following characteristics that requires in our system:

• Better Weldability (Joinability):  Ability of any material (usually metals and its alloys) to weld with
similar materials without any defect. It is excellent for welding and produces tough and ductile welds.
• Better Formability:  Ability of sheet metal to be formed into a desired shape without necking
or cracking. 
• Better Corrosion Resistant: Corrosion is a process in which a material is oxidized in the environment
that causes the material to lose electrons. Corrosion resistance is the capacity to hold
the binding energy of a metal and withstand the deterioration and chemical breakdown that would
otherwise occur when the material is exposed to such an environment.                                                    
                  
•  Heat Resistance: It is a heat property and a measurement of a temperature difference by which 
object or material resists a heat flow. It does not respond to heat treatment, but can be cold worked to 
increase tensile strength and hardness. Annealing is recommended after forging and cold working.      
                      
 Design
of
Solar
Humidity
Controller
 Calculations for Solar Air Heater:
Consider the slice of solar heater of length L1=2m •  hr = 4 σTav3 / [ (1/ εa) + (1/ εb) -1]         
and width L2=1m 
•   • Collector is tilted at 45° when the radiation
incident in the collector is 900W/m2.   
• Plate to cover spacing is 20 mm.  
• Ambient temperature is 45°C.  
• Emittance of absorber and cover plate is 0.95.  
• Neglect heat loss from bottom and sides.  
Assumptions:    • Mass flow rate of is 0.056 kg/s.
• For small temperature difference between absorber • Average plate temperature is 70°C.
and bottom plates (Tpm4 - Tbm4) can be approximate • Top loss coefficient is 3.3 W/m2 °C, the overall
as 4Tav3(Tpm- Tbm);  loss coefficient is 4.3W/m2 °C. 
• Where, Tav = Average Temperature of two • The radiation coefficient between the 2-air
plates including  duct surface is estimated by assuming a mean
radiant temperature equal to the mean fluid
• equivalent radiative heat transfer temperature.
coefficient hr.                                   
• The radiation coefficient between the 2-air = (0.056*(2*0.01)) / ((0.01*1) *2.04*10-5  ) 
duct surface is estimated by assuming a mean radiant    
temperature equal to the mean fluid temperature. =5490                                                                     
With an estimated mean fluid temperature at 70°C:    Length to diameter ratio (L / Dh) = 2 / (2*0.01)
We have,  
= 100 
                                                     
           hr = 4 σTav3 / [ (1/ εa) + (1/ εb) -1]
        Since, Re > 2100 and L / Dh is also large; 
Flow will be Turbulent and fully developed. 
(4* 5.67*10-8*3433)/[(1/0.95)+ (1/0.95)-1]
  
              
Nu = 0.0158* Re0.8 =15.5 
                            = 8.28W/m2 °C 
  
The heat transfer coefficients between the air and 2 duct Heat transfer coefficient inside the duct is h1 and
walls will be assumed to be equal. The characteristic h2; 
length is hydraulic diameter, which for flat plates is   
twice the plate spacing.  h= (15.5*k) / Dh 
              
The Reynolds number, at an assumed average fluid = (15.5*0.029) / (2*0.01) 
              
temperature of 70°C is,              
            Re = ρVDh / µ  =  ṁDh / Af  µ            = 22 W/m2 °C 
    
From fig. h1 = h2= h          = 7.52*[1 – e(-1/7.52)] = 0.93                                 

                                  FR = F” *F’ 
  
                                        = (0.93*0.87) 
  
                                           = 0.8091 
F’ = {1+ [(UL) / (h + ((1/h) + (1/hr))-1]}-1    
   The useful gain for the system, Qu=
     = {1+ [(4.3) / (22 + ((1/22) + (1/8.3))-1]}-1                                      Ac FR*[ S –UL*(Ti – Ta)] 
  
  
= 0.87 
        
Case 1: When inlet temperature is 35°C during July for
   the process of               
The dimensionless capacitance rate is = (ṁCp / AcULF’)    
   Dehumidification;   Ti = 35°C 
                 = ((0.056*1006) / (2*4.3*0.87) 
   Qu = 2* 0.80* [(900*0.82) – 4.3*(35 – 40)] 
                 = 7.52    
                              = 1146 Watt 
      F” = (ṁCp / AcULF’)*[1 – exp(AcULF’ / ṁCp)]    
  
  Then, Outlet Temperature (T0) = [Ti + (Qu / ṁCp)]  Case 2b-: When inlet temperature is 10°C    
                     for humidification process; 
         T0 = [35 + (1146 / (0.056*1006)] =55°C    
                                 Ti = 10°C 
Case 2a: When inlet temperature is 22°C during   
November for the process of humidification;  Qu = 2* 0.80* [(900*0.82) – 4.3*(10 – 40)]
                             = 1387.2 W
                           Ti = 22°C    
                 
Qu = 2* 0.80* [(900*0.82) – 4.3*(22 – 40)]  Then, Outlet Temperature (T0) = [Ti + (Qu / ṁCp)] 
      
     = 1056 Watt   T0 = [10 + (1387.2 / (0.056*1006)] 
  
Then, Outlet Temperature (T0) = [Ti + (Qu / ṁCp)]         =34.62°C =35°C  
                 
              T0 = [22 + (1056 / (0.056*1006)] 
                
                     =40.745°C =41°C 
  
For Dehumidification:  Mass of water vapor = 
   Absolute Humidity (AH)*Volume of air 
Volume of Room (air) = 3m* 3m*3m = 27m3    
                                     = 38.399*27g 
We will take data for July month i.e., most   
humid month of the year                                   = 1,036.773g = 1.036kg 
     
Case 1: When Room temperature = 35°C  Case 2: When Room Temperature =35°C 

 Relative Humidity  at 35°C = 97%            Relative Humidity at 35°C = 60%

Mass of water vapor  Percentage of vapor absorbed = 15% - 3% =12% 
= Absolute Humidity (AH)*Volume of air 
Total no of sections in desiccant wheel = 18 
= 23.752*27g  = 641.304g = 0.641kg    
   As 4 sections will receive air at a time 
Mass of water vapor to be absorbed   
Therefore, Vapor absorbed = 
                        = 1.037-0.641kg = 0.396kg    
(no. of section receive air/ total section) *no.
Mass of silica gel Required:  Of desiccant wheel * vapor absorbed% 
     
Vapor absorbed in section 1                      = (4/18) *1*12% = 0.027kg 
     
for 6 rotation per hour, time per section 
    Absorption Time = 
                        = (60min /6) = 10 minutes    
[(Mass of water vapor to be absorbed/
Vapor absorbed) * Vapor absorption time] 
NOTE: Assuming 3% moisture left in silica gel,    
15% absorbed in 10 minutes at RH 75%.                  = (0.396/0.027) *10 =146.67min 
  
Absorption time required by 2kg silica gel = (146.67/2)  Desiccant wheel can accommodate 2.34k silica gel.
     
                                                 =73.33min =74 min  Moisture released from silica gel in July; 
     
Amount of Silica Gel reqiured is 2.34kg.  Heat required for silica gel to evaporate moisture =     
     
For Desiccant wheel:                                                      3256957.41 J/kg of water 
  
Radius of Desiccant wheel (RD) = 0.1m  As water absorbed must be equal to water evaporated; 
     
Height of Desiccant wheel (HD)= 0.1m  Therefore, Water evaporated = 0.027kg/section
     
Volume of Desiccant wheel (VD) = π (RD)2 HD  Heat required to remove/ evaporate moisture from silica gel 
     
                                        = π (0.1)2(0.1) = 0.00314m3  Qrequired Useful heat gain from solar heater = 1146 J/s 
  
Density of Silica Gel (ρsilica gel) = 700kg/m3  Therefore, Time required for Evaporation = 
   Qrequired / Qu = (175875.7 / 1146)  =153.46 s or 2.55 min 
Therefore, Mass of Silica Gel (mSilica Gel) = ρsilica gel * VD 
   This time is much lesser than 10 minutes. Therefore, silica gel
                             =700 * 0.00314  = 2.34kg  is ready for another round to absorb moisture
  
Heat required for silica gel to evaporate moisture =     
= 3256957.41 *0.027 *2  = 175875.7 J 
For Humidification:  Room temperature = 10°C 
   Relative Humidity = 28% 
Volume of Room (air) = 3m* 3m*3m = 27m3             AH  =  2.6318g/m3 
We will take data for November  month i.e., least   
 humid month of the Year.  Water vapour in room at 10°C = 
         Absolute Humidity (AH)*Volume of air 
Absorption capacity of silica gel at 10°C = 9% - 3%                                   = 2.6318 * 27 
=6%                                    = 71.06g 
     
NOTE: Assuming 3% moisture left in silica gel from Room temperature = 22°C 
previous cycle. 
  
6% of silica gel = (4/18) *(6/100)*2 = 0.02666kg =
0.027kg 
  

Relative Humidity = 40% 

Water vapour in room at 22°C =  Time required to remove moisture = 
                                  (87937.8 / 1387.2) 
 Absolute Humidity (AH)*Volume of air    
                                   = 63.39s = 1.06min 
                     = 3.75 * 2 = 101.25g    
   Which is also well below 10minutes.Therefore,
Mass of water vapor to be released = silica gel 

     101.25 – 71.06 = 30.19g  will be dry for next use. 

     
Number of cycles = (30.19/27) = 1.12  Left heat is used for heating purpose. 
     
Time required for dehumidification =  Heating for room = mcp ΔT  = ρVcp ΔT 
  
(1.12 * 10)  = 112min; as (60/6 = 10min)  = 1.2 * 27 * 1005 * (22-10)  =39,0,744.005J 
     
Heat from solar heater = 1387.2J/s  Time required for heating = (39,0,744.005/1387.2) 
  
Heat required to remove moisture                                            = 281.67s = 4.7min 
  
            = 0.027*3256957.415  = 87937.8J   
 Solar Humidity Controller is a device that alters the
humidity as per need. 
• It is found that 2 kg of silica gel was required for
optimum performance.
•  This device is capable to convert the high humidity
level into an ideal humidity level in 75min minutes in
summers.
 Conclusion  •  Whereas for winters, It performs Humidification
process. It would take only 10 minutes to bring dry
   Environment into ideal humid conditions. 
• The area required for the function of this device  is
2m*1m. 
• It can conserve 1200 W of power. 
• It is a device that contributes in sustainable
development.  Neither Solar Humidity Controller
contain any harmful substance, nor it produces any
harmful substance. 
 • Arora, C. P. (2006). Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (2nd ed.).
Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited.  
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from coxmanufacturing:
https://www.coxmanufacturing.com/stainless-steel-alloy-304
• Duffle, J. A., & Beckman, W. A. (2013). Solar Engineering of

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Delhi, India: McGraw Hill Education (India) Private Limited. 
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THANK
YOU