Korea to Debut World’s First Combined Heat and Power-Based Residential Dehumidification Cooling System
[ET News] – The world’s first residential dehumidification cooling system using combined heat and power (CHP) arrays is nearing its public debut.
Developed under the Ministry of Knowledge Economy’s mid- to long-term energy and resource commercialization program, the project involves nine organizations, including Korea District Heating Corporation (KDHC), Kiturami Co., Ltd. Deokyoung Co., Ltd. and the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM).
Chang-jun Lee, Head of KDHC’s Renewable Cooling Technology Team, explained the system’s advantages: “Traditional air conditioning can disrupt body rhythms and cause cold-related ailments, but dehumidification cooling lowers indoor humidity, provides ventilation, and creates a comfortable environment while improving energy efficiency.”
The system works by removing humid indoor air with a dehumidification rotor, then using the water’s evaporative heat for cooling. Integration with CHP allows reuse of heating water as regenerative heat for the dehumidifier.
KDHC first collaborated with Dr. Lee Dae-young of KIST in 2006 to develop a 4kW prototype and successfully created a 7kW prototype for residential use last year.
A national project is now underway to develop a hybrid multi-room dehumidification cooling system using CHP arrays, with pilot operations planned for 50 housing units next year, leading to full-scale production.
The system promises 50% lower annual cooling costs compared to conventional electric air conditioners, while improving indoor comfort through integrated heating, cooling, and ventilation. It also increases summer CHP efficiency and waste heat utilization, supporting wider adoption of small-scale CHP systems.
Lee emphasized, “While dehumidification cooling is used in Europe and the U.S. for grain storage and large retail spaces, applying it to residential apartments is a Korean first. Key challenges are miniaturizing the system for apartments, enhancing user-friendly features, and maximizing CHP efficiency.”
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