Center will research cooling technology

A new center at Mississippi State will research ways to reduce the energy required to dehumidify air.

The Global Center for Desiccant Technology, housed in the Mechanical Engineering Department, will develop a test facility for research and education, said director B. Keith Hodge.

Desiccants chemically remove moisture from the air. "This method, which is gas-driven, is much cheaper than conventional vapor compression systems. When used in conjunction with conventional systems, it can provide comfort at a lower cost," Hodge said.

In the desiccant system, chemicals extract water vapor from the air. Water vapor is adsorbed by the desiccant and through a recharging process is discharged into the atmosphere.

"There is great potential for residential and commercial cooling systems," Hodge said, "especially supermarkets, hospitals, and fast-food outlets, to name a few."

In addition to energy savings, the system offers environmental advantages. "It allows cooling systems to reduce dependence on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which have been identified as environmental hazards. And this system uses natural gas, which burns very efficiently."

Work at the center will be funded by industrial partners. Initial partners include the American Gas Cooling Center, Mississippi Valley Gas, and Southern Natural Gas Co.

The center also will develop educational outreach programs such as workshops and short courses. "Desiccants operate on very different principles than conventional systems," Hodge explained. "We want to provide information and educational tools to engineers who design cooling systems."