초록 ▼

An apparatus and method of conditioning humidity and temperature in the process air stream of a desiccant dehumidifier used to dry moisture-laden spaces and structures by replacing moisture-laden air with dehumidified air to increase the rate of water evaporation within the affected areas. An air-de

An apparatus and method of conditioning humidity and temperature in the process air stream of a desiccant dehumidifier used to dry moisture-laden spaces and structures by replacing moisture-laden air with dehumidified air to increase the rate of water evaporation within the affected areas. An air-dehumidifier comprises a dehumidification assembly having a desiccant rotor assembly, a shielded radiant burner assembly, and a control system. The shielded radiant burner assembly is used to regenerate the desiccant rotor by removing moisture from the reactivation quadrant, where high velocity (at least 500 ft/min) air streams are often flowed, by projecting radiant heat onto the rotor, while minimizing the potential for the high velocity air streams interrupting the combustion of air and fuel in the radiant burner.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An air-dehumidifier for conditioning air, comprising: (a) a desiccant rotor comprising one or more process chambers and one or more reactivation chambers, through which chambers air can flow; wherein said process chambers are adapted to heat and dehumidify a process air stream to form

We claim: 1. An air-dehumidifier for conditioning air, comprising: (a) a desiccant rotor comprising one or more process chambers and one or more reactivation chambers, through which chambers air can flow; wherein said process chambers are adapted to heat and dehumidify a process air stream to form a post-process air stream for removing moisture from a moisture-laden space or structure; (b) at least one shielded radiant burner assembly comprising a radiant burner having a directional shield, a combustion blower, and a combustion air plenum adapted to supply a suitable amount of fuel and air to said radiant burner to allow for combustion and emission of radiant heat when ignited; wherein said shielded radiant burner assembly is adapted to regenerate said desiccant rotor by removing moisture from said one or more reactivation chambers by projecting a suitable amount of radiant heat onto said desiccant rotor and by transferring a suitable amount of radiant heat from said radiant burner to a pre-reactivation air stream flowing near said directional shield; wherein said directional shield is sized and shaped to minimize the potential for the pre-reactivation air stream to interrupt the combustion of air and fuel by said radiant burner; and wherein said combustion blower is adapted to eject a mixture of fuel and air through said radiant burner; and (c) a control system having a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the pre-reactivation air, wherein said control system is adapted to control the temperature of the pre-reactivation air stream by modulating the gas pressure and combustion airflow to adjust the amount of radiant heat generated by said radiant burner. 2. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said air-dehumidifier further comprises a controller assembly having an ignition controller and a temperature sensor. 3. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said air-dehumidifier is adapted to draw the pre-reactivation air stream from inside the moisture-laden space or structure. 4. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said air-dehumidifier is adapted to draw the pre-reactivation air stream from outside the moisture-laden space or structure. 5. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said desiccant rotor further comprises a desiccant mass selected from the group consisting of silica gel, molecular sieve, and lithium chloride. 6. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said desiccant rotor comprises three process chambers. 7. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 6, wherein said desiccant rotor comprises one reactivation chamber. 8. An air-dehumidifier for conditioning air, comprising: (a) a desiccant rotor comprising one or more process chambers and one or more reactivation chambers, through which chambers air can flow; wherein said process chambers are adapted to heat and dehumidify a process air stream to form a post-process air stream for removing moisture from a moisture-laden space or structure; and (b) at least one shielded radiant burner assembly comprising a radiant burner having a directional shield, a combustion blower, and a combustion air plenum adapted to supply a suitable amount of fuel and air to said radiant burner to allow for combustion and emission of radiant heat when ignited; wherein said shielded radiant burner assembly is adapted to regenerate said desiccant rotor by removing moisture from said one or more reactivation chambers by projecting a suitable amount of radiant heat onto said desiccant rotor and by transferring a suitable amount of radiant heat from said radiant burner to a pre-reactivation air stream flowing near said directional shield; wherein said directional shield is sized and shaped to minimize the potential for the pre-reactivation air stream to interrupt the combustion of air and fuel by said radiant burner; and wherein said combustion blower is adapted to eject a mixture of fuel and air through said radiant burner; and wherein said combustion blower further comprises a damper capable of controllably adjusting the air and fuel pressures to a level sufficiently greater than ambient pressure, and loading the air and fuel into said radiant burner. 9. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 1 or 8, wherein said air-dehumidifier further comprises a process air blower adapted to draw into said one or more process chambers a process air stream and to eject a post-process air stream into a moisture-laden space or structure. 10. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 1 or 8, wherein said air-dehumidifier further comprises a reactivation air blower adapted to draw into said one or more reactivation chambers a reactivation air stream. 11. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 1 or 8, wherein the pre-reactivation air stream flows in a direction parallel to said directional shield. 12. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 1 or 8, wherein the pre-reactivation air stream flows pass said directional shield at a velocity of at least 500 ft/mm. 13. A method for drying a moisture-laden space or structure, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a process air stream into an air-dehumidifier comprising a desiccant rotor comprising one or more process chambers and one or more reactivation chambers, through which chambers air can flow; and a shielded radiant burner assembly comprising a radiant burner having a directional shield, a combustion blower, and a combustion air plenum adapted to supply a suitable amount of fuel and air to said radiant burner to allow for combustion and emission of radiant heat; wherein the process air stream is drawn into the desiccant rotor through the one or more process chambers; and wherein the air-dehumidifier further comprises a control system having a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the pre-reactivation air stream; and wherein the control system is adapted to control the temperature of the pre-reactivation air stream by modulating the gas pressure and combustion airflow to adjust the amount of radiant heat generated by the radiant burner; (b) igniting fuel and air supplied to the radiant burner to create a flame adapted to generate radiant heat; (c) heating and dehumidifying the process air stream by flowing the process air stream through the one or more process chambers and carrying over heat from the one or more reactivation chambers to the process air stream; and wherein the heat produced by the one or more reactivation chambers allows for dehumidification of the process air stream by absorbing water vapor from the one or more reactivation chambers; (d) ejecting the post-process air stream into the moisture laden space or structure; (e) drawing a pre-reactivation air stream into the air-dehumidifier from the moisture laden space or structure, or from the ambient environment; (f) flowing the pre-reactivation air stream near the directional shield; (g) shielding the flame produced by the radiant burner from the pre-reactivation air stream; (h) reactivating the pre-reactivation air stream by transferring the radiant heat from the radiant burner to the pre-reactivation air stream flowing near the directional shield; and (i) removing moisture from the one or more reactivation chambers by projecting a suitable amount of radiant heat onto the desiccant rotor and by flowing the reactivation air stream through the one or more reactivation chambers. 14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the air-dehumidifier further comprises a controller assembly having an ignition controller and a temperature sensor. 15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the desiccant rotor comprises three process chambers. 16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the desiccant rotor comprises one reactivation chamber. 17. A method for drying a moisture-laden space or structure, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a process air stream into an air-dehumidifier comprising a desiccant rotor comprising one or more process chambers and one or more reactivation chambers, through which chambers air can flow; and a shielded radiant burner assembly comprising a radiant burner having a directional shield, a combustion blower, and a combustion air plenum adapted to supply a suitable amount of fuel and air to said radiant burner to allow for combustion and emission of radiant heat; wherein the process air stream is drawn into the desiccant rotor through the one or more process chambers; and wherein the combustion blower further comprises a damper capable of controllably adjusting the air and fuel pressures to a level sufficiently greater than ambient pressure, and loading the air and fuel into the radiant burner; (c) igniting fuel and air supplied to the radiant burner to create a flame adapted to generate radiant heat; (c) heating and dehumidifying the process air stream by flowing the process air stream through the one or more process chambers and carrying over heat from the one or more reactivation chambers to the process air stream; and wherein the heat produced by the one or more reactivation chambers allows for dehumidification of the process air stream by absorbing water vapor from the one or more reactivation chambers; (d) ejecting the post-process air stream into the moisture laden space or structure; (e) drawing a pre-reactivation air stream into the air-dehumidifier from the moisture laden space or structure, or from the ambient environment; (f) flowing the pre-reactivation air stream near the directional shield; (g) shielding the flame produced by the radiant burner from the pre-reactivation air stream; (h) reactivating the pre-reactivation air stream by transferring the radiant heat from the radiant burner to the pre-reactivation air stream flowing near the directional shield; and (i) removing moisture from the one or more reactivation chambers by projecting a suitable amount of radiant heat onto the desiccant rotor and by flowing the reactivation air stream through the one or more reactivation chambers. 18. A method as recited in claim 13 or 17, wherein the air-dehumidifier further comprises a process air blower adapted to draw into the one or more process chambers a process air stream and to eject a post-process air stream into the moisture-laden space or structure. 19. A method as recited in claim 13 or 17, wherein the air-dehumidifier further comprises a reactivation air blower adapted to draw into the one or more reactivation chambers a reactivation air stream. 20. A method as recited in claim 13 or 17, wherein the pre-reactivation air stream flows in a direction parallel to the directional shield. 21. A method as recited in claim 13 or 17, wherein the pre-reactivation air stream flows pass the directional shield at a velocity of at least 500 ft/mm. 22. A shielded radiant burner assembly, comprising: (a) a radiant burner adapted to combust air and fuel and to project a suitable amount of radiant heat onto an object or mammal, or into a space or structure; (b) a combustion air plenum adapted to supply a suitable amount of fuel and air to said radiant burner to allow for combustion and emission of radiant heat when ignited; (c) a directional shield sized and shaped to minimize the potential for the interruption of the combustion of air and fuel by an air stream flowing near said radiant burner at a velocity which would be expected to interrupt the flame produced by a similar radiant burner without a directional shield; (d) an air blower adapted to flow an air stream near said directional shield such that a suitable amount of radiant heat is transferred from the radiant burner to the air stream by convecting the radiant heat through said directional shield; and (e) a combustion blower; wherein said combustion blower is adapted to eject a mixture of fuel and air through said radiant burner, wherein said combustion blower further comprises a damper capable of controllably adjusting the air and fuel pressures to a level sufficiently greater than ambient pressure, and loading the air and fuel into said radiant burner. 23. A shielded radiant burner assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein the air stream flows in a direction parallel to said directional shield. 24. A shielded radiant burner assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein the air stream flows pass said directional shield at a velocity of at least 500 ft/mm. 25. A shielded radiant burner assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein said directional shield has a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, rectangular, square and triangular. 26. A shielded radiant burner assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein said shielded radiant burner assembly further comprises an air plenum adapted to direct the air stream drawn by said air blower near said directional shield. 27. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 8, wherein said air-dehumidifier further comprises a controller assembly having an ignition controller and a temperature sensor. 28. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 8, wherein said air-dehumidifier is adapted to draw the pre-reactivation air stream from inside the moisture-laden space or structure. 29. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 8, wherein said air-dehumidifier is adapted to draw the pre-reactivation air stream from outside the moisture-laden space or structure. 30. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 8, wherein said desiccant rotor further comprises a desiccant mass selected from the group consisting of silica gel, molecular sieve, and lithium chloride. 31. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 8, wherein said desiccant rotor comprises three process chambers. 32. An air-dehumidifier as recited in claim 31, wherein said desiccant rotor comprises one reactivation chamber. 33. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the air-dehumidifier further comprises a controller assembly having an ignition controller and a temperature sensor. 34. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the desiccant rotor comprises three process chambers. 35. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the desiccant rotor comprises one reactivation chamber.