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A high-performance LiCl@TpPa-1 desiccant coated heat exchanger for energy-efficient air dehumidification

Author

Listed:
  • Ren, X.N.
  • Gao, X.W.
  • Liao, H.X.
  • You, G.L.
  • Cheng, G.G.
  • Bui, D.T.

Abstract

Desiccant-coated heat exchangers (DCHEs) offer an energy-efficient and sustainable approach to air dehumidification for reducing the carbon footprint of modern air conditioning systems. However, their performance is constrained by a limited understanding of the relationship between sorbent properties and system behavior. Building on our recently developed environmentally friendly, room-temperature synthesized LiCl@TpPa-1 composite, this work bridges the gap between material design and functional system application. Comprehensive characterization (XRD, TEM, EDX, BET, TGA, and water vapor sorption) demonstrates that the composite combines the high structural stability of the covalent organic framework (COF) host with the strong hygroscopicity of LiCl. Advanced isotherm modeling reveals that LiCl incorporation transforms the dominant adsorption mechanism from pore filling within the COF structure to enhanced condensation with reduced isosteric heat. This results in an exceptional capacity (1.44 g g−1 at 80% RH) with high stability and without swelling or deliquescence. The LiCl@TpPa-1-coated heat exchanger achieves excellent air dehumidification performance, exhibiting more than three times higher moisture removal and a 2.5-fold higher thermal coefficient of performance than a conventional silica-gel-based system under low-grade heat regeneration (70 °C). A validated 3D computational model coupling heat and mass transfer with derived sorption thermodynamics is developed to analyze and optimize a real-scale DCHE. Localized transport bottlenecks, specifically airflow stagnant zones and thermal-sorption mismatches, are identified via 3D visualization and mitigated through geometric tube-arrangement optimization. This work provides an integrated framework spanning molecular-scale sorption mechanisms to system-level design optimization for next-generation, high-performance, and low-energy DCHE dehumidification in sustainable building climate control.

Suggested Citation

  • Ren, X.N. & Gao, X.W. & Liao, H.X. & You, G.L. & Cheng, G.G. & Bui, D.T., 2026. "A high-performance LiCl@TpPa-1 desiccant coated heat exchanger for energy-efficient air dehumidification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:353:y:2026:i:c:s0360544226011163
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2026.141011
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