Liquid panel assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816760-B2
Application number	US-201313797152-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Aug 24, 2012
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A liquid panel assembly configured to be used with an energy exchanger may include a support frame having one or more fluid circuits and at least one membrane secured to the support frame. Each of the fluid circuits may include an inlet channel connected to an outlet channel through one or more flow passages. A liquid is configured to flow through the fluid circuits and contact interior surfaces of the membrane(s). The fluid circuits are configured to at least partially offset liquid hydrostatic pressure with friction loss of the liquid flowing within the fluid circuits to minimize, eliminate, or otherwise reduce pressure within the liquid panel assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid panel assembly comprising:
a support frame having one or more fluid circuits, wherein each of the one or more fluid circuits comprises an inlet channel connected to an outlet channel through one or more flow passages; and
at least one membrane secured to the support frame, wherein a liquid is configured to flow through the one or more fluid circuits and contact interior surfaces of the at least one membrane, and wherein the one or more fluid circuits are configured to at least partially offset hydrostatic pressure gain with friction pressure loss of the liquid that flows within the one or more fluid circuits to reduce pressure within the liquid panel assembly.

2. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more flow passages comprises one or more counterflow passages.

3. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein a shape, porosity, or hydraulic diameter of one or both of the inlet and outlet channels is determined by a weight, viscosity, or flow speed of the liquid that is configured to flow through the one or more fluid circuits.

4. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet channel is disposed at an upper corner of the support frame, and the outlet channel is disposed at a lower corner of the support frame.

5. The liquid panel assembly of claim 4 , wherein the upper corner is diagonally located from the lower corner.

6. The liquid panel assembly of claim 5 , wherein a horizontal length of the one or more flow passages exceeds half a total horizontal length of the support frame.

7. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet and outlet channels are vertical and the one or more flow passages are horizontal.

8. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more flow passages comprises a set of a plurality of flow passages connected to the inlet channel and the outlet channel.

9. The liquid panel assembly of claim 8 , wherein a number of flow passages within the set of a plurality of flow passages is determined by a weight of the liquid that is configured to flow through the one or more fluid circuits.

10. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid circuits comprises a plurality of fluid circuits.

11. The liquid panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein lengths of each of the one or more fluid circuits are equal.

12. The liquid panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of fluid circuits comprises:
a first set of a plurality of flow passages connected to a first inlet channel and a first outlet channel; and
a second set of a plurality of flow passages connected to a second inlet channel and a second outlet channel.

13. The liquid panel assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first set of a plurality of flow passages is staggered with respect to the second set of a plurality of flow passages.

14. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support frame and the at least one membrane are configured to be vertically oriented within an energy exchange cavity of an energy exchanger.

15. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising inlet and outlet members connected to the at least one fluid circuit.

16. The liquid panel assembly of claim 15 , wherein the inlet and outlet members comprise a liquid delivery channel and a liquid passage channel, respectively.

17. The liquid panel assembly of claim 16 , wherein the inlet member is configured to modularly engage another inlet member, and wherein the outlet member is configured to modularly engage another outlet member.

18. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one membrane sealingly engages the inlet and outlet members.

19. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the inlet and outlet channels provides a flow alignment vane configured to direct the liquid to flow along a particular path, wherein the inlet and outlet channels are configured to provide support to the at least one membrane, and wherein the inlet and outlet channels are configured to provide a sealing surface for at least a portion of the at least one membrane.

20. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet and outlet channels are configured to maximize a length of the one or more flow passages.

21. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one membrane is continuously bonded around a perimeter of the support frame.

22. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid circuits are configured to provide uniform liquid flow distribution across the liquid panel assembly.

23. The liquid panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid circuits are configured to substantially offset the hydrostatic pressure gain with the friction pressure loss of the liquid that flows within the one or more fluid circuits to reduce pressure within the liquid panel assembly.

24. An energy exchange system comprising:
a plurality of air channels configured to allow air to pass therethrough;
a plurality of liquid panel assemblies alternately spaced with the plurality of air channels, wherein each of the plurality of liquid panel assemblies comprises:
a support frame having fluid circuits, wherein each of the fluid circuits comprises an inlet channel connected to an outlet channel through flow passages; and
at least one membrane secured to the support frame, wherein a liquid is configured to flow through the fluid circuits and contact interior surfaces of the at least one membrane, and wherein the fluid circuits are configured to at least partially offset hydrostatic pressure gain with friction pressure loss of the liquid that flows within the fluid circuits to reduce pressure within the liquid panel assembly.

25. The energy exchange system of claim 24 , wherein the flow passages comprise counterflow passages.

26. The energy exchange system of claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of membrane support assemblies disposed within the plurality of air channels.

27. The energy exchange system of claim 24 , wherein a shape, porosity, or hydraulic diameter of one or both of the inlet and outlet channels is determined by a weight, viscosity, or flow speed of the liquid that is configured to flow through the fluid circuits.

28. The energy exchange system of claim 24 , wherein the inlet channel is disposed at an upper corner of the support frame, and the outlet channel is disposed at a lower corner of the support frame.

29. The energy exchange system of claim 28 , wherein the upper corner is diagonally located from the lower corner.

30. The energy exchange system of claim 24 , wherein the inlet and outlet channels are vertical and the flow passages are horizontal.

31. The energy exchange system of claim 24 , wherein a horizontal length of the flow passages exceeds half a total horizontal length of the support frame.

32. The energy exchange system of claim 24 , wherein the flow passages comprise sets of flow passages connected to the inlet channel and the outlet channel.

33. The energy exchange system of claim 32 , wherein a number of flow passages within each of the sets of flow passages is determined by a weight and/or viscosity of the liquid that is configured to flow through the fluid circuits.

34. The energy exchange

Assignees

• Nortek Air Solutions Canada Inc

Inventors

• Lepoudre Philip Paul
• Coutu Kenneth
• Hemingson Howard Brian

Classifications

• F28D9/0043

  the plates having openings therein for circulation of at least one heat-exchange medium from one conduit to another · CPC title

• F24F3/147

  with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air · CPC title

• F24F3/1417

  with liquid hygroscopic desiccants · CPC title

• F24F12/002

  using an intermediate heat-transfer fluid · CPC title

• F28F9/026

  with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits · CPC title