Silica gel as solid desiccant for moisture removal from air stream using packed bed dehumidification system

Abstract

Generally, desiccant systems were used widely in industrial storage units for humi dity control, and also have been proven to function effectively and eco- friendly. (Sahlot & Riffat, 2016). At same time, this system faces some drawbacks and problems, such as over moisture content at the outlet of the system and others. The problem statement for this project focused on over moisture content at the outlet of dehumidification sy stem. So, in order to overcome this problem, this project introduced silica gel as solid desiccant for moisture removal content from air stream in dehumidification system, Next, several parameter needed to be concerned such as controlling the inlet air flow rate, temperature of saturated dry air and the length of pipeline for pa©This item is protectecked bed. In this project d, silica gel was introduced by original copyright through air stream, where it absorbed moisture content from the air stream and provided some cooling, with aid of adsorption column. Full attention had been paid for reading of the inlet wet bulb temperature and the outlet of wet bulb temperature which may be influence and determine the efficiency of the dehumidification process, by evaluating the humidity values by psychometric chart and readings from electronic device (anemometer). Several experimental works had been carried out where this system showed the highest moisture removal efficiency was 47.1%, at 5 cc/min of air flow rate, at 300C. Other than that, for breakthrough curve study, it showed that low air flow rate (1-2 cc/min) would provide fit breakthrough curve pattern and shapes (S-Shaped). Next, break point time also would be increased from 15 minutes to 25 minutes as the bed length increased from 15 cm to 45 cm. Lastly, comparison and variation between theoretical and experimental data on breakthrough curve also successfully had been discussed in this project.