The research group "OpenSorp" deals with open liquid desiccant systems, to dry air that flows along a liquid desiccant solution. The water vapor absorbed by the solution is regenerated with heat, preferably from renewable energies or waste heat. The liquid desiccant can be stored as concentrated or deluted solution for a long time duration. In the framework of the research project, heat and mass transfer will be investigated initially with an aqueous LiCl-solution, the absorber and regenerator will be further developed, modelled and combined to carry out system investigations. Moreover, new liquid sorption materials will be sythesized and tested. Experimental investigtions of an absorber-regenerator unit will be carried out in a test rig for hay bales. It will to be set into operation in 2014. Numerical investigations are also planned to identify the potential for sorption stores in air conditioning (heating and cooling) applications.

In the framework of the research project, numerical and experimental investigations of sorption processes are carried out. Moreover, new suitable liquid sorption materials (liquid desiccants) will be identified. Measurements will be carried out at the interphase between the liquid desiccant and the air, and in the fluids at the inlet and outlets of the components. Therewith, the investigations reach from relatively small scales with calculations of steady state conditions of the heat and mass transfer up to one year simulations of a complete system with one-hour timesteps on the basis of characteristic curves. The project is devided into five work packages.

Work package 1:
A test environment was designed and installed in 2013 for laboratory experiments, in order to supply the absorber and regenerator with well defined temperatures, flow rates and humidities of the inlet air. In 2014, the installation of a heating and cooling system to supply water with defined temperature profiles and flow rates will be completed.

Work package 2: Test rigs and experiments with components
In 2013 an experimental set-up was errected for thermographic tracing of the heat release at the sorbens-air interface in the laboratory. First measurements were carried out. In order to measure the carry-over of small liquid droplets of the desiccant solution into the air, an experimental method needs to be identified. In first tests, corrosion could not be detected on sample pads. The investigations will be carried on. Moreover experimental models of the absorber and regenerator component were designed and built during the first year of the project. New corrosion protecting coatings were investigated. One of the components was integrated into an existing mobile sorption system test rig. A two-chamber sorption store will prospectively be errected by 2015.

Work package 3: Experimental investigations of systems
Experimental investigations of systems: Newly developed components of the absorber and regenerator for different applications will be combined to a system in the laboratory. First investigations were carried out on the integration of the sorption system into a conventional air conditioning unit. Moreover, a regenerator component was integrated into a mobile test rig. The test rig will be brought into operation in 2014.

Work package 4: Numerical Simulations
For numerical simulations, finite-difference-models as well as efficiency models are enhanced and applied. On the basis of a potential analysis of the energy demand for drying, heating and cooling, system concepts for a sorption system in buildings are examinated using TRNSYS simulations. The investigations are ongoing.

Work package 5:
For the development and investigations of new liquid sorption materials, a precise calorimeter is used. The chemical department at Kassel University carries out titration and perfusion measurements. The reduction of the vapor pressure with temperature and concentration can be measured in a separate test rig. New electrolytes will be synthesized and purified.