Recycling of waste heat by dehumidifier appliance: apparatus and method
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B01D-053/26
F24F-003/00
B01D-053/06
F24F-003/14
F24F-012/00
출원번호
US-0030696
(2015-03-18)
등록번호
US-9795919
(2017-10-24)
국제출원번호
PCT/US2015/021149
(2015-03-18)
국제공개번호
WO2015/142983
(2015-09-24)
발명자
/ 주소
Laurent, Robert A.
출원인 / 주소
2525 Group, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Tysver Beck Evans, PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
11
초록▼
The present invention is a dehumidifier powered by an engine. The dehumidifier recycles waste heat from the engine and other components for the drying process. Moisture is transferred by advection and evaporation from an air stream flowing through the target environment (e.g., building interior) int
The present invention is a dehumidifier powered by an engine. The dehumidifier recycles waste heat from the engine and other components for the drying process. Moisture is transferred by advection and evaporation from an air stream flowing through the target environment (e.g., building interior) into a hot system air stream.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus, comprising: a) a system air blower, which forces a system air stream from a system air inlet through a ducting system, then out through a system air outlet;b) a heating module, including (i) an engine, which burns fuel to create mechanical energy, and which produces an exhaust air s
1. An apparatus, comprising: a) a system air blower, which forces a system air stream from a system air inlet through a ducting system, then out through a system air outlet;b) a heating module, including (i) an engine, which burns fuel to create mechanical energy, and which produces an exhaust air stream,(ii) a generator or an alternator, which produces electrical energy from mechanical energy of the engine;c) the ducting system, which routes the system air stream into thermal contact with the exhaust air stream, with a radiator, and with surfaces of the engine and of the generator or the alternator, thereby heating the system air stream prior to entry of the system air stream into a drying module;d) a target air blower, which forces a target air stream from a target air inlet through the drying module, then out through a target air outlet; ande) the drying module, wherein moisture is transferred from the target air stream to the system air stream. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drying module includes: (i) a first chamber, through which the target air stream passes,(ii) a second chamber, through which the system air stream passes, and(iii) a rotor, which (A) contains desiccant that adsorbs or absorbs moisture from the target air stream, and(B) transfers the desiccant into the system air stream, where moisture is removed from the desiccant. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the target air stream enters the target air inlet from a building, and the target air stream exits the target air outlet into the building. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, the heating module further including (iii) a first air-to-air heat exchanger through which the target air stream flows. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, the heating module further including (iv) a muffler, wherein the target air stream is routed through the first air-to-air heat exchanger, then in thermal contact with the muffler, and an exhaust air stream containing engine exhaust is routed through the muffler and then through the first air-to-air heat exchanger, thereby warming the target air stream. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, the heating module further including (iv) a second air-to-air heat exchanger, wherein the target air stream is routed through the first air-to-air heat exchanger, then through the second air-to-air heat exchanger, and an exhaust air stream containing engine exhaust is routed through the second air-to-air heat exchanger and then through the first air-to-air heat exchanger, thereby warming the target air stream. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, the heating module further including (iii) an electric heater that heats the system air stream prior to entry of the system air stream into the drying module. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, the heating module further including (iii) an air bypass, which has a first configuration whereby all air of the system air stream that enters the air bypass continues beyond the air bypass within the system air stream, and a second configuration whereby a nonzero fraction of the air of the system air stream that enters the air bypass is diverted into an expelled air stream. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the expelled air stream is merged into the target air stream. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the system air stream flows through a radiator, then through the air bypass, and then into an air-to-air heat exchanger. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, the heating module further including (iv) a sensor that measures temperature of the engine, the temperature determining whether the air bypass is in the first configuration or the second configuration. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, the heating module further including (iv) a controller that receives temperature measurements from the sensor, sets the configuration of the air bypass, and when the air bypass is in the second configuration sets the fraction of diverted air. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: f) a user interface, through which the controller receives a value of a parameter that affects how temperature measurements from the sensor correspond to settings of the air bypass. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the temperature is an engine surface temperature. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the temperature is an engine coolant temperature. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ducting system routes the system air stream through the apparatus in the following relative order: (i) through ducting in thermal contact with a generator or alternator,(ii) through ducting in thermal contact with the engine,(iii) through a radiator,(iv) through an air bypass having a first and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration a nonzero fraction of the air is diverted from the system air stream,(v) through an air-to-air heat exchanger where the system air stream is heated by engine exhaust,(vi) through ducting in thermal contact with a muffler, or through a second air-to-air heat exchanger where the system air stream is heated by an exhaust air stream,(vii) through an electric heater, and(viii) into the drying module. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ducting system routes an exhaust air stream from the engine through the apparatus in the following relative order: (i) through a muffler,(ii) through an air-to-air heat exchanger, where the exhaust air stream heats the system air stream, and(iii) through an air outlet that removes the exhaust air from the apparatus. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: f) a housing that encloses the system air blower, the heating module, the ducting system, the target air blower, and the drying module. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: g) an electrical outlet on the surface of the housing that is powered by the generator or the alternator. 20. A method, comprising: a) forcing a system air stream from a system air inlet through a ducting system;b) routing the system air stream into thermal contact with an exhaust air stream, with a radiator, and with surfaces of an engine and of a generator or an alternator, thereby heating the system air stream prior to entry of the system air stream into a drying module;c) forcing a target air stream from a target air inlet into the drying module;d) in the drying module, transferring moisture from the target air stream into the system air stream; ande) forcing the system air stream out through a system air outlet. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: f) passing the system air stream and the exhaust air stream through an air-to-air heat exchanger, whereby heat is transferred from the exhaust air stream to the system air stream. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: g) upon sensing an engine temperature in a specified range, opening an air bypass to expel a nonzero fraction of air from the system air stream. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: h) routing the system air stream into thermal contact with a muffler.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (11)
Northrup ; Jr. Lynn L. (Dallas TX), Air conditioning system with regeneratable desiccant bed.
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