Experimental Study on Dehumidification by Silica Gel Blue Using Dehumidification System and Air-Conditioning

The growing issue of energy shortages has been exacerbated by the increasing demand for air conditioning in tropical regions. This has highlighted the need for supplementary methods to reduce the load on air conditioning systems and thereby lower energy consumption. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of silica gel-Blue as a dehumidifying agent for removing moisture generated from sources such as human respiration, perspiration, and household activities like ironing. To address this problem, a dehumidification system was designed consisting of several shelves loaded with silica gel-blue to help absorb moisture. Experimental tests were conducted using a dehumidification system in conjunction with an air conditioning system, measuring its moisture absorption capacity and its impact on relative humidity and energy consumption. The results showed that relative humidity levels decreased to 33%, 29%, and 25% in June, July, and August, respectively, when using the combined system. The moisture absorption rates of silica gel-Blue were recorded as 83.39 g/h in June, 70.82 g/h in July, and 65 g/h in August. It was also found that approximately 750 g of silica gel-blue was required to remove the moisture produced by one person. Furthermore, the electrical energy consumption was reduced to 3.5 kWh with the dehumidification system, compared to 5.1 kWh without it. These findings confirm the efficiency of silica gel-Blue in humidity control and demonstrate its potential for reducing energy usage when integrated with air conditioning.