Experimental study of BIPV(Building integrated photovoltaics) modules running as solar passive air heaters for the regeneration of a desiccant wheel

Moisture control has become an important fact for the last years. It has influence on human health and comfort, as well as the quality of certain services and processes. Therefore, it plays an important role for many industries, storage systems, transport and the preservation of products. For this reason, air-conditioning systems are integrating a dehumidifier device called desiccant wheel. The desiccant wheel is in charge of reducing the moisture caused by the process air and requires a hot spot for regeneration. This hot spot can be supported by solar thermal energy. This study evaluates the thermal potential of the ventilation and cooling system in a PV modules' installation. It is done according to the exploitation of the thermal energy transferred to the refrigerant as support to the hot spot, contributing to the regeneration of the desiccant wheel. For this to happen, an experimental installation has been developed, which consists of two inclined PV modules, with an air-flow channel below them. This system enables PV cells to refrigerate, thus improving the electric performance as well as making use of the residual heat generated from this process. One of the two modules is disposed of a series of plates interspersed in its cooling channel, with the aim of modifying the air flow, rising its residence time below the module and making the increase in air temperature more significant. Natural and forced convection have been tested at several air speeds for different irradiance conditions and ambient temperatures. This study deals with the analysis of the thermal potential of these installations under different conditions and its possible applications to the regeneration of desiccant wheels.