Desiccant air conditioning methods and systems using evaporative chiller
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25D-017/06
F24F-003/14
H01L-031/052
H01L-031/042
B01D-053/26
출원번호
US-0115776
(2011-05-25)
등록번호
US-9429332
(2016-08-30)
발명자
/ 주소
Vandermeulen, Peter F.
Hanoka, Jack I.
출원인 / 주소
7AC Technologies, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Foley Hoag LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
4인용 특허 :
108
초록▼
A desiccant air conditioning system for treating an air stream entering a building space includes a conditioner, an air treatment unit, and a regenerator. The air treatment unit acts as an evaporative chiller in a warm weather operation mode to cool heat transfer fluid used in the conditioner. The e
A desiccant air conditioning system for treating an air stream entering a building space includes a conditioner, an air treatment unit, and a regenerator. The air treatment unit acts as an evaporative chiller in a warm weather operation mode to cool heat transfer fluid used in the conditioner. The evaporative chiller receives at least a portion of a dehumidified air stream exiting the conditioner and heat transfer fluid from the conditioner, and causes the portion of the dehumidified air stream to absorb water from a water source and thereby cool the heat transfer fluid. The regenerator receives liquid desiccant from the conditioner and absorbs water from the liquid desiccant.
대표청구항▼
1. A desiccant air conditioning system for treating an air stream entering a building space, comprising: a conditioner including a plurality of structures arranged in a substantially vertical orientation, each structure having at least one surface across which the liquid desiccant can flow, wherein
1. A desiccant air conditioning system for treating an air stream entering a building space, comprising: a conditioner including a plurality of structures arranged in a substantially vertical orientation, each structure having at least one surface across which the liquid desiccant can flow, wherein the air stream flows between the structures such that the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air stream in a warm weather operation mode, each structure further includes a desiccant collector at a lower end of the at least one surface for collecting liquid desiccant that has flowed across the at least one surface of the structure, said conditioner utilizing a liquid heat transfer fluid to cool the liquid desiccant or the air stream in the warm weather operation mode;an air treatment unit connected to the conditioner and comprising an evaporative chiller in the warm weather operation mode, the evaporative chiller receiving and cooling the liquid heat transfer fluid used in the conditioner, the evaporative chiller being coupled to the conditioner such that a portion, but not all, of the dehumidified air stream exiting the conditioner and flowing to the building space is diverted to the evaporative chiller, and wherein the evaporative chiller causes the portion of the dehumidified air stream to absorb water from a water source and thereby cool the liquid heat transfer fluid which is provided to the conditioner;a regenerator connected to the conditioner for receiving liquid desiccant from the desiccant collectors in the conditioner and absorbing water from the liquid desiccant in the warm weather operation mode;an apparatus for moving the air stream through the conditioner and the evaporative chiller in the warm weather operation mode;an apparatus for circulating the liquid heat transfer fluid through the conditioner and evaporative chiller in the warm weather operation mode; andan apparatus for circulating the liquid desiccant through the conditioner and regenerator. 2. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein return air from the building space flows through the regenerator to absorb water from the liquid desiccant. 3. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus for moving the air stream further comprises a mechanism for controlling the amount of the air stream diverted from the conditioner to the evaporative chiller to regulate the temperature of the air stream entering the building space. 4. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising a photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) module connected to the conditioner for generating electrical power used in operating the desiccant air conditioning system and for cooling the heat transfer fluid used in the conditioner by radiating heat from the heat transfer fluid at night, and further comprising a tank for storing the heat transfer fluid cooled by the PVT module. 5. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising a first photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) module connected to the regenerator for generating electrical power used in operating the desiccant air conditioning system and for heating a heat transfer fluid utilized in the regenerator during the day, and further comprising a tank for storing the heat transfer fluid heated by the first PVT module. 6. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising a tank connected to the conditioner for storing the liquid desiccant used in the conditioner, wherein the liquid desiccant varies in concentration along the height of the tank, and further comprising a mechanism for drawing liquid desiccant from the tank at different selected heights of the tank in order to obtain liquid desiccant having a given concentration. 7. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the conditioner and the air treatment unit are configured to heat and humidify the air stream in a cold weather operation mode, and wherein the regenerator is configured to heat and add water to the liquid desiccant in the cold weather operation mode. 8. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 7, further comprising a heater for heating the heat transfer fluid in the conditioner in the cold weather operation mode. 9. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 7, further comprising one or more pre-heaters for heating air streams entering the conditioner or the air treatment unit in the cold weather operation mode. 10. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the air treatment unit includes a plurality of structures arranged in a substantially vertical orientation, each structure having at least one surface across which the liquid desiccant can flow, wherein the air stream flows through or between the structures such that the liquid desiccant heats and humidifies the air stream, each structure further includes a desiccant collector at a lower end of the at least one surface for collecting liquid desiccant that has flowed across the at least one surface of the structure. 11. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of structures includes a passage through which the heat transfer fluid can flow, and further comprising a cold source for cooling the heat transfer fluid. 12. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 11, wherein the liquid desiccant and the heat transfer fluid flow in generally opposite directions in the conditioner. 13. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of structures are secured within the conditioner in a way that permits the structures to expand or contract in a direction that is generally parallel to the thermal gradient to alleviate thermal-induced stress on the structures. 14. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising a sheet of material positioned proximate to the at least one surface of each structure between the liquid desiccant and the air stream, said sheet of material guiding the liquid desiccant into the desiccant collector of the structure and permitting transfer of water vapor between the liquid desiccant and the air stream. 15. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 14, wherein the surface tension of the liquid desiccant and properties of the sheet of material facilitate transfer of the liquid desiccant to a desiccant collector. 16. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 14, wherein in each structure, a lower edge of the sheet of material is not fixedly connected to a lower portion of the structure to reduce pressure buildup of liquid desiccant. 17. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 14, wherein the sheet of material comprises a membrane or a hydrophilic material. 18. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 14, wherein the sheet of material comprises a hydrophobic micro-porous membrane. 19. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 14, wherein the sheet of material comprises a layer of hydrophobic material and a layer of hydrophilic material between the hydrophobic material and the at least one surface of the structure. 20. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 14, wherein each structure includes two opposite surfaces across which the liquid desiccant can flow, and wherein a sheet of material covers the liquid desiccant on each opposite surface, each sheet of material comprising an outer layer of a hydrophobic material and an inner layer of hydrophilic material, said inner layer facing one of the surfaces of the structure. 21. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 20, wherein each structure includes an internal passage through which a heat transfer fluid can flow for transfer of heat between the heat transfer fluid and the liquid desiccant or the air stream. 22. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 14, further comprising one or more vent holes in the sheet of material of each structure to enable liquid desiccant to flow between the sheet of material and the at least one surface of the structure and inhibit vacuum lock. 23. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of structures comprises a plurality of plate assemblies arranged in a substantially vertical orientation and spaced apart to permit flow of the air stream between adjacent plate assemblies. 24. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 23, wherein each plate assembly includes a convoluted plate. 25. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of structures comprises a plurality of tubular members arranged in a substantially vertical orientation, at least some of which include an annular passage through which the liquid desiccant can flow and a central passage surrounded by the annular passage through which the air stream can flow. 26. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for causing turbulence in the air stream flowing through or between the structures in the conditioner. 27. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein each structure comprises a thermally conductive plastic material. 28. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the regenerator includes a plurality of structures arranged in a substantially vertical orientation, each structure having at least one surface across which the liquid desiccant can flow, wherein the air stream flows through or between the structures causing the liquid desiccant to desorb water, each structure further includes a desiccant collector at a lower end of the structure for collecting liquid desiccant that has flowed across the at least one surface of the structure. 29. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of structures are secured within the conditioner in a way that permits the structures to expand or contract in a direction that is generally parallel to the thermal gradient to alleviate thermal-induced stress on the structures. 30. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 28, further comprising a sheet of material positioned proximate to the at least one surface of each structure in the regenerator between the liquid desiccant and the air stream, said sheet of material guiding the liquid desiccant into the desiccant collector of the structure and permitting transfer of water vapor between the liquid desiccant and the air stream. 31. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 30, wherein the surface tension of the liquid desiccant and properties of the sheet of material facilitate transfer of the liquid desiccant to the desiccant collector. 32. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 30, wherein in each structure, a lower edge of the sheet of material is not fixedly connected to a lower portion of the structure to reduce pressure buildup of liquid desiccant. 33. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 30, wherein the sheet of material comprises a membrane or a hydrophilic material. 34. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 30, wherein the sheet of material comprises a hydrophobic micro-porous membrane. 35. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 30, wherein the sheet of material comprises a layer of hydrophobic material and a layer of hydrophilic material between the hydrophobic material and the at least one surface of the structure. 36. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 30, wherein each structure includes two opposite surfaces across which the liquid desiccant can flow, and wherein a sheet of material covers the liquid desiccant on each opposite surface, each sheet of material comprising an outer layer of a hydrophobic material and an inner layer of hydrophilic material. 37. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 36, wherein each structure includes an internal passage through which a heat transfer fluid can flow for transfer of heat between the heat transfer fluid and the liquid desiccant or the air stream. 38. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 30, further comprising one or more vent holes in the sheet of material of each structure to enable liquid desiccant to flow between the sheet of material and the at least one surface of the structure and inhibit vacuum lock. 39. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 28, wherein said plurality of structures in the regenerator comprises a plurality of plate assemblies arranged in a substantially vertical orientation and spaced apart to permit flow of the air stream between adjacent plate assemblies. 40. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 39, wherein each plate assembly includes a convoluted plate. 41. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of structures in the regenerator comprises a plurality of tubular members arranged in a substantially vertical orientation, at least some of which include an annular passage through which the liquid desiccant can flow and a central passage surrounded by the annular passage through which the air stream can flow. 42. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the air stream entering the building space flows in a generally horizontal direction through the conditioner and a return air stream from the building space or outdoor air flows in a generally horizontal direction through the regenerator. 43. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the air stream entering the building space flows in a generally vertical direction through the conditioner and a return air stream from the building space or outdoor air flows in a generally vertical direction through the regenerator. 44. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the evaporative chiller includes a plurality of structures arranged in a substantially vertical orientation and configured to permit a flow of the dehumidified air stream through or between the structures, each structure having an internal passage through which the heat transfer fluid can flow, each structure also including an outer surface across which the water from the water source can flow such that the dehumidified air stream absorbs water and thereby cools the heat transfer fluid, each structure further includes a water collector at a lower end of the structure for collecting water that has flowed across the outer surface of the structure. 45. The desiccant air-conditioning system of claim 44, wherein the dehumidified air stream is directed to flow in a substantially horizontal direction through or between the structures. 46. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the regenerator and the conditioner are physically separated to form a split air conditioning system. 47. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising one or more liquid-to-air heat exchangers in the building space, said one or more liquid-to-air heat exchangers configured to receive chilled heat transfer fluid from the evaporative chiller to provide sensible space cooling. 48. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the liquid-to-air heat exchangers comprise ceiling panels or fan coils. 49. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the dehumidified air stream exiting the conditioner is directly transferred to the evaporative chiller. 50. The desiccant air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of structures in the conditioner are spaced apart from each other with an air stream gap between each pair of adjacent structures, wherein the at least one outer surface of each structure faces an air stream gap, wherein the air stream flows through the air stream gaps between the structures, and wherein the desiccant collectors are spaced apart from each other to permit airflow therebetween.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (108)
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