Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Summer 8-1-2026
Abstract
Maisotsenko-cycle (M-cycle) Heat-and-Mass Exchangers (HMXs) are usually assessed as part of complete cooling or desalination systems, which makes the behaviour of the humidifier itself difficult to distinguish. Here, a validated model is used to examine a water-heated M-cycle humidifier as an independent component. Inlet saline-water temperature, ambient temperature, Relative Humidity (RH), and water-to-air Mass-flow Ratio (MR) were varied, and performance was described by Water Evaporation Rate (WER), outlet-air specific humidity, and outlet brine salinity. Water heating and a larger MR produced the strongest increase in moisture addition because they maintained a warmer water film and greater transfer potential. At fixed RH, warmer ambient air generally caused a small reduction in WER, although it increased the outlet specific humidity because the entering air contained more moisture. The highest calculated WER exceeded 0.25 g/s per control volume, the maximum outlet specific humidity was approximately 60 gv/kgda, and the outlet brine remained below 40,000 ppm across the investigated cases. By precooling air in dry passages before wet-channel humidification, the exchanger delivered saturated air without the conventional wet-bulb restriction. The results provide operating guidance for applying the component in Humidification-Dehumidification (HDH) desalination, Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC), textile processing, gas-turbine conditioning, and related humidification duties.
Recommended Citation
M. A. Farahat, O. A. Farag, A. A. Abdel-Hamied, and H. Kotb, "Water-Heated Maisotsenko Cycle Humidifiers: A Component-Level Study on Evaporation and Exit Brine Concentration," International Journal of Industry and Energy Technology, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 51–62, Aug. 2026.