A bed of silica gel or zeolite are better choices. Solar heated air can be sent through the bed during the day for drying. I recall the results of testing that showed air heated to 160F will regenerate silica gel efficiently. A combination of a timer and a thermostat can be used here to control a fan that sends air through a solar heater. A second fan can be used to send outside air into the home at a low rate via the silica gel bed while drying the incoming air - or air from within the home can be circulated through the silica gel bed at a higher rate. I suppose an alternative heat source might be used in the form of a small furnace with air mixed with the hot combustion gases to take the temperature down. A batch system makes sense here where a furnace could operate for several hours at a low rate, then the system realigned for air drying. Blow air through it for a few minutes at a high rate to cool and flush the bed before sending air to the home.
|