Heat and mass exchange module and use thereof

Abstract

A heat and mass exchange (HMX) module comprising a plurality of plates in a spaced-apart arrangement and provided with a plurality of air channels for air flow and a plurality of liquid channels for flow of liquid, wherein a liquid channel is present on a surface of a plate and is arranged adjacent to an air channel with a mutual exchange surface, wherein the liquid channel is provided with a width extending substantially perpendicular to a flow direction in the liquid channel, further comprising means for setting a flow profile over the width of the liquid channel.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a 371 national stage application of PCT Patent Application No. PCT / NL2015 / 050682, entitled “Heat and mass exchange module and use thereof,” filed on Sep. 30, 2015, which claims priority to Dutch Patent Application No. 2013563 filed on Oct. 2, 2014 and Dutch Patent Application No. 2013988 filed on Dec. 16, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a heat and mass (HMX) exchange module comprising a plurality of plates in a spaced-apart arrangement and provided with a plurality of air channels for air flow and a plurality of liquid channels for flow of liquid, such as liquid desiccant material, wherein a liquid channel is embodied at a surface of a plate and is arranged adjacent to an air channel with a mutual exchange surface, which liquid channel is provided with an entry and an exit and which air channel is provided with an inlet and an ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In accordance with the invention, a module is provided that is particularly designed for cross-flow and that comprises means with which the liquid flow in the liquid channel may be set across the width of the liquid channel. It has been understood by the inventors that rather than varying the air flow rate to a large extent, it is preferred to vary the liquid flow. In fact, a major variation of the air flow has at least two disadvantages. The first is that an increase in the air flow from a predefined flow rate based on efficiency to an enhanced flow rate would easily make the air flow to become turbulent, at least in certain portions in the air channel. This increases the risk of carry-over of liquid, particularly liquid desiccant. Such carry-over is undesired, as it may not be healthy and moreover, liquid desiccants are often corrosive, thus damaging pipes and other materials in an unpredictable and undesired manner. The second disadvantage particularly relates to the integration of a module, such as a dehumidifier or an evaporator, into an air-conditioning system. It may often be the case that much more dehumidification than cooling is desired, or in the alternative that more cooling than dehumidification is desired. However, if the operation of the module is arranged by means of variation of the air flow rate, this not merely binds the module, for instance the dehumidification module, but also the other modules within an air-conditioner system.

[0032]In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of applying a second liquid flow into a second portion of the liquid channels. The second liquid flow can herein be arranged as an additional flow to enlarge the mutual exchange surface, and / or to enhance the exchange over the exchange surface. Therewith, the second flow may be used for switching the operation of the module from a normal operation mode into an enhanced operation mode, with more powerful operation, such as more powerful dehumidification. This particularly occurs without creating turbulence in the air channel.

Problems solved by technology

This increases the risk of carry-over of liquid, particularly liquid desiccant.

Such carry-over is undesired, as it may not be healthy and moreover, liquid desiccants are often corrosive, thus damaging pipes and other materials in an unpredictable and undesired manner.

The second disadvantage particularly relates to the integration of a module, such as a dehumidifier or an evaporator, into an air-conditioning system.

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