Author: Yuhang Han (Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences) - As demand for energy-efficient and climate-adaptive building systems increases in hot and humid regions, it is important to explore alternative air conditioning solutions that can effectively manage both sensible and latent loads. This study is based on hourly meteorological data from a typical hot and humid summer day in Guangzhou, China. A sensible and latent load model was developed for a 100 m2 residential building, and energy consumption analysis frameworks were established for both a conventional air conditioning system and a solar photovoltaic/thermal independent temperature and humidity control system employing liquid desiccant dehumidification (PV/T-LD ITHC system). A comparative energy efficiency analysis was conducted under hourly dynamic load conditions. The results indicate that under high-temperature, high-humidity, and strong solar radiation conditions, the PV/T-LD ITHC system significantly outperforms the conventional system in terms of sensible cooling coefficient of performance (COP), electricity consumption, and overall COP. The maximum sensible COP reaches 5.47, the peak energy saving rate reaches 32.37%, and the highest overall COP observed is 6.18. In addition, the system exhibits strong responsiveness to environmental parameters such as solar irradiance, enabling effective latent load management and efficient solar energy utilization during periods of high radiation. These findings highlight the PV/T-LD ITHC system’s substantial energy-saving potential and promising application prospects in hot and humid climates.
