Solar Heating and Air Conditioning at a Pentagon Security Inspection Station

摘要

Mechanical cooling is one of the largest end uses of electricity, and it contributes significantly to peak demand and on-peak energy consumption. The ability to offset electricity consumption during peak usage periods by eliminating mechanical cooling can save costs, reduce strains on transmission grids, and free up much-needed peak period capacity for electric generation utilities. Solar energy use, long encouraged for offsetting space heating and daylighting energy consumption, can now be utilized for offsetting cooling consumption. By using solar heat to regenerate a desiccant dehumidification system, and utilizing direct and indirect evaporative cooling to condition superheated dry supply air, occupied spaces can be cooled using no grid energy input. A demonstration project has been designed to cool an inspection station at the US Pentagon in Arlington, VA, and is expected to provide 65℉, moderate humidity air at summer design conditions.