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Sorption Test Facilities The Rotor Test Loop and Fixed-Bed Matrix Test System are sorption based technology research facilities at the University of Illinois at Chicago that are available to the public and private sector. The Rotor Test Loop The Rotor Test Loop provides two separately conditioned air streams --process and regeneration -- for steady state performance testing of active and passive sorbent devices ranging from desiccant dehumidifiers to enthalpy exchangers to air cleaners. Up to 500 scfm of air can be processed on each side, with process humidity up to 115 gr/lb and regeneration temperatures up to 250 oF. The system is extensively instrumented for data acquisition.
Rotor Test Loop: (1) preconditioning dehumidifier, (2) blower, (3) preconditioning evaporative cooler, (4) preconditioning heater, (5) data acquisition system, (6) rotor test section The air streams both originate from the laboratory. As needed, the air is first preconditioned by a desiccant dehumidifier. The dehumidified air stream splits and combines with bypass air to form the process and regeneration airflows. Each air stream is drawn through the balance of the loop by a separate blower. Two additional blowers at the end of the test loop allow the rotor test section to be set up in draw through or blow through mode, or in any combination of those two modes. Downstream of the first blower, each air stream is preheated, humidified/cooled, and postheated, as necessary, before it enters the rotor test section at the humidity and temperature condition prescribed for the test. The heaters are electric resistance elements with customized microprocessor based, auto tuning temperature control. The humidifiers are corrugated, wet media evaporative coolers.
Schematic of the Rotor Test Loop The process side of the Rotor Test Loop can provide the following conditions:
The maximum temperature for current test section is 250 oF and can hold a rotor up to 14 inch in diameter. A new sheet metal design for the test section in under development that will withstand much higher temperatures and hold a larger rotor up to 20 inches. Performance measurements for the rotor are
made inside the test section. Sampling of humidity and temperature
is done on both sides of the rotor every 30 degrees of rotation.
Air is drawn through sampling ports to a scanningvalve to the dew
point hygrometer. Temperatures are measured using calibrated thermocouple
grids. The airflow rates are measured using hot-wire anemometers
and laminar flow elements. The test section is also designed to
allow evaluation of the performance of the rotor at any other location
of its surface. The hot-wire anemometers are utilized to check for
even airflow distribution. All readings are collected using a Hewlett
Packard data acquisition system and displayed using the Vee program.
Data Acquisition System Screen
Sample Rotor Specification for Test Section
Sample Process Air Condition Envelope at 300 CFM Fixed-Bed Matrix Test System The fixed bed system is a testing apparatus for evaluating matrix samples for advanced sorbent rotor designs. Matrix samples with the dimensions of 5.5 inches wide X 1.5 inches high X up to 8 inches deep are required for the test section. The test section allows for dynamic measurements of matrix performance over time by alternating between countercurrent process and regeneration airstreams utilizing automated dampers with pneumatic actuators. The testing conditions available in this system are:
Fixed-Bed Matrix Test System Two ring compressors blow the air through the system. That airstream splits into process and regeneration airflows which are independently humidified/dehumidified in two water towers. Airstreams are heated, as needed, before reaching the actuated dampers. During a single test, both streams of air are kept at constant conditions. While the matrix is exposed to the process air, the regeneration air bypasses the sample, and vice versa. Humidity is monitored by chilled mirror dew point hydrometers. Humidity sampling ports are located on both sides of the sample. Temperature is measured by thermocouples. Air velocity is determined with rotameters. All data is collected using a data acquisition system.
Matrix Sample
ERC contact for the Building Sciences group:
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