INVESTIGATION OF INDOOR HUMIDITY IMPROVEMENT USING A DESICCANT SYSTEM REGENERATED BY WASTE HEAT FROM HOME-USE SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL COGENERATION SYSTEM

This study aims to develop a novel system that utilizes the waste heat from a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) for a desiccant dehumidification process, enabling stable year-round thermal energy use and efficient household energy utilization. The system was modified to use SOFC exhaust heat as the regeneration source for the desiccant unit based on polymer sorbent characteristics. Its performance was evaluated through (1) annual thermal load analysis and environmental simulation to determine applicable indoor scales, and (2) field experiments in Okinawa, Japan’s most humid region, to verify indoor humidity control effectiveness under real environmental conditions.