초록 ▼

A moisture removal system having a crop drying enclosure for holding a crop product to be dried. A closed loop air circulation system is provided which includes a moisture removal enclosure for removing moisture from circulating air along with air ducting operatively connecting the moisture removal

A moisture removal system having a crop drying enclosure for holding a crop product to be dried. A closed loop air circulation system is provided which includes a moisture removal enclosure for removing moisture from circulating air along with air ducting operatively connecting the moisture removal enclosure to the crop drying enclosure air inlet to form a closed loop moisture removal air system. A heat pump system, including a compressor, a first heat exchanger capable of operation as a condenser, along with two additional heat exchangers, each capable of operating as either a condenser or evaporator are positioned within the moisture removal enclosure, to remove excess moisture from the circulating air without the addition or extraction of heat from the ambient air temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A moisture removal system comprising: a crop drying enclosure for holding a subject product, said crop drying enclosure having an air inlet and an air outlet;a moisture removal enclosure for removing moisture from circulating air, said enclosure having a moisture removal enclosure air inlet and a

1. A moisture removal system comprising: a crop drying enclosure for holding a subject product, said crop drying enclosure having an air inlet and an air outlet;a moisture removal enclosure for removing moisture from circulating air, said enclosure having a moisture removal enclosure air inlet and a moisture removal enclosure air outlet;air ducting means for operatively connecting the moisture removal enclosure air outlet to the crop drying enclosure air inlet, and the crop drying enclosure air outlet to the moisture removal enclosure air inlet, to form a form a closed loop moisture removal air system; a compressor;a first heat exchanger capable of operation as a condenser positioned within the moisture removal enclosure;a second heat exchanger capable of operation as either an evaporator or a condenser positioned with the moisture removal enclosure;a third heat exchanger capable of operation as either and evaporator positioned within the moisture removal enclosure;a first expansion valve for coupling said first and second heat exchangers when said second heat exchanger is operating as an evaporator;a second expansion valve for coupling said first and third heat exchangers when said second heat exchanger is operating as an evaporator;a switching means for changing the respective function of said second and heat exchangers from operation as a condenser to evaporator or evaporator to condenser;wherein said compressor, first, second, and third heat exchanger, and expansion valves are each in fluid communication with one another by way of conduit means; andat least one blower mounted within one of said sections of air ducting for forcing air through the closed loop moisture removal system. 2. The moisture removal system of claim 1 which further comprises a four-way valve in fluid communication with said first, second, and third heat exchangers and the compressor. 3. The moisture removal system of claim 1 which further comprises a plurality of solenoid operated flow-controlling valves operable to switch from a first cycle of operation wherein the second heat exchanger functions as a condenser and the third heat exchanger as an evaporator to a second cycle of operation in which the second heat exchanger functions as an evaporator and the third heat exchanger functions as a condenser. 4. The moisture removal system of claim 3 wherein said switching means is controlled by a timer. 5. A moisture removal system comprising: a drying enclosure for holding a crop product, said drying enclosure having an intake side and an exhaust side;a moisture removal enclosure for removing moisture from circulating air, said enclosure having an inlet side and an outlet side and comprising a heat pump, which further comprises: a first heat exchanger having a condenser inlet, and a valve outlet;a second heat exchanger having a valve controlled inlet for receiving either hot compressed refrigerant gas or cold expanded refrigerant gas, and an outlet for connection to a four-way valve;a third heat exchanger having a valve controlled inlet for receiving either hot compressed refrigerant gas or cold expanded refrigerant gas, and an outlet for connection to the four-way valve;a four-way valve having a first heat exchanger inlet, a second heat exchanger outlet, a third heat exchanger outlet, and an compressor outlet;a first expansion valve having an inlet and an outlet;a second expansion valve having an inlet and an outlet;a plurality of flow-controlling solenoid operated valves; anda switching means operable to change the state of said flow-controlling devices and the four-way valve for changing the fluid operation of said heat pump to change the respective function of said second and third heat exchangers from condenser to evaporator or evaporator to condenser; whereinsaid suction inlet of said compressor is in fluid communication with said compressor outlet of said four-way valve compressor outlet by way of a conduit means;said discharge outlet of said compressor is in selective fluid communication with either the inlet of said second heat exchanger or the inlet of said third heat exchanger by way of a conduit means wherein each conduit means is controlled open or shut by at least one of said flow-controlling devices;wherein the outlets of both the second and third heat exchanges are in fluid communication with said four-way valve;said inlet of said first heat exchanger is in fluid communication with said first heat exchanger outlet of said four-way valve by way of a conduit means;said evaporator outlet of said first heat exchanger is in selective fluid communication with each of said inlet of said first expansion valve by way of a conduit means;said outlet of said first expansion valve is in fluid communication with said inlet of said second heat exchanger by way of a conduit means comprising at least one of said flow-controlling devices, and is in fluid communication with the inlet of said third heat exchanger by way of a conduit means comprising at least one of said flow-controlling devices;a first section of duct for conveying air from said drying enclosure to said moisture removal enclosure, said first section of duct connected between said exhaust side of said drying enclosure and said inlet side of said moisture removal enclosure;a second section of duct for conveying air from said moisture removal enclosure to said product container, said second section of duct connected between said outlet side of said moisture removal enclosure and said intake side of said drying enclosure; andat least one blower mounted within one of said sections of duct for forcing air through said product;wherein said drying enclosure and said moisture removal enclosure are in fluid communication with one another by way of said sections of duct. 6. The moisture removal system of claim 5 wherein said switching means comprises a timer. 7. The moisture removal system of claim 5 wherein said flow-controlling means are solenoids.