Regeneration air mixing for a membrane based hygroscopic material dehumidification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10041692-B2
Application number	US-201414185078-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2014
Priority date	Feb 26, 2013
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A contactor for an air temperature and humidity control device is provided including a plurality of contact modules. Each contact module has a generally porous sidewall configured to define an internal space through which a hygroscopic material flows. A first airstream passes over a first portion of the plurality of contact modules. A second airstream passes over a second portion of the plurality of contact modules.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A contactor for an air temperature and humidity control device comprising:
a plurality of contact modules, each contact module having a first portion arranged adjacent a first side of the contactor and a second portion arranged adjacent a second, opposite side of the contactor, the plurality of contact modules having a porous sidewall configured to define an internal space through which a hygroscopic material flows, the first portion being distinct from the second portion;
a first fan axially aligned with the first portion of the contactor for directing a first airflow over the first portion of the contactor; and
a second fan axially aligned with the second portion of the contactor for directing a second airflow, distinct from the first airflow, over the first portion of the contactor, wherein the the first airflow and the second airflow are provided to the plurality of contact modules simultaneously.

2. The contactor according to claim 1 , wherein the first airflow includes generally cool, dry air.

3. The contactor according to claim 2 , wherein the first airflow includes return air provided from an air conditioned facility.

4. The contactor according to claim 2 , wherein the first portion of each of the plurality of contact modules are arranged adjacent one another.

5. The contactor according to claim 1 , wherein the second airflow includes generally hot, humid air.

6. The contactor according to claim 5 , wherein the second airflow includes outdoor, ambient air.

7. The contactor according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the plurality of contact modules are arranged adjacent one another.

8. An air temperature and humidity control device comprising:
a heat pump including a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, and an expansion device through which a refrigerant circulates;
a humidity controller including a first contactor having a plurality of contact modules, each contact module includes a first portion arranged adjacent a first side of the first contact and a second portion arranged adjacent a second, opposite side of the first contactor, the first portion being distinct from the second portion, and a porous sidewall that defines an internal space through which a hygroscopic material flows; and
a first blower axially aligned with the first portion of the first contactor for directing a first airflow in communication with the sidewall of the first portion of each of the plurality of contact modules; and
a second blower axially aligned with the second portion of the first contactor for directing a second airflow, distinct from the first airflow, in communication with the sidewall of the second portion of each of the plurality of contact modules, the first airflow and the second airflow being provided to the first contactor simultaneously.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the first airflow includes generally cool, dry air.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the first airflow includes return air provided from an air conditioned facility.

11. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the second airflow includes generally hot, humid air.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the second airflow includes outdoor, ambient air.

13. The device according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the evaporator and the condenser is a refrigerant-hygroscopic material heat exchanger.

14. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the porous sidewall is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to the hygroscopic material.

15. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the hygroscopic material within the plurality of contact modules of the first contactor releases water and/or heat to the first airflow.

16. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the humidity controller further comprises:
a second contactor including at least one contact module having a porous sidewall that defines an internal space through which a hygroscopic material flows; and
a second blower for generating an airflow in communication with the sidewall of the at least one contact module of the second contactor.

17. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the hygroscopic material within the at least one contact module of the second contactor absorbs water and/or heat from the airflow of the second blower.

18. A method of controlling air humidity and temperature, the method comprising:
circulating a refrigerant in a heat pump comprising a condenser and an evaporator;
circulating a hygroscopic material in a humidity controller, the humidity controller comprising a first contactor having a plurality of contact modules, each of which includes a first portion arranged adjacent a first side of the first contactor and a second portion arranged adjacent a second side of the first contactor such that the second portion is located fluidly downstream from the first portion, the plurality of contact modules having a porous sidewall defining an internal space through which the hygroscopic material flows, the first portion being distinct from the second portion;
directing a first airflow in communication with the sidewalls of only the first portion of each of the plurality of contact modules via a first fan axially aligned with the first portion of the first contactor; and
directing a second airflow, distinct from the first airflow, in communication with the sidewalls of only the second portion of each of the plurality of contact modules via a second fan axially aligned with the second portion of the first contactor, the first airflow and the second airflow being provided to the first contactor simultaneously.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the first airflow includes generally cool, dry air, and the second airflow includes generally hot, humid air.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Kandil Sherif
• Ma Zidu
• Ranjan Rajiv
• Winch Gary D

Classifications

• F24F2203/026

  Absorption - desorption cycle · CPC title

• F24F2003/1458

  using regenerators · CPC title

• F24F2003/1435

  comprising semi-permeable membrane · CPC title

• F24F3/1417 Primary

  with liquid hygroscopic desiccants · CPC title

• B01D53/263

  by absorption · CPC title