Membrane Contactor-Based Air Conditioning Unit

Abstract

The air conditioner (400) includes an air flow passage (408) configured to direct the airflow (115, 105) in a direction. The air conditioner (400) also includes an evaporative cooling membrane panel (100) disposed within the air flow passage (408) and including a surface (113) disposed at an oblique angle (409) relative to the direction. The surface (113) is defined by the microporous fibers (104) of the evaporative cooling membrane panel (100). Each microporous fiber (104) is configured to receive liquid (107) within a fluid flow passage (112) of the microporous fiber (104) such that the airflow (115, 105) over the microporous fiber (104) produces vapor (114). Each microporous fiber (104) is also configured to emit vapor (114) into the airflow (115, 105) through the pores (111) of the microporous fiber (104).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 147,420, entitled "MEMBRANE-CONTACTOR-BASED AIR CONDITIONER," filed February 9, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. [Background technology]

[0002] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, as described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. As such, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0003] HVAC equipment and independent cooling devices, such as air handling units, local air coolers, fan walls, and building systems, face many design constraints during development. The air delivered through such equipment must meet strict design specifications, its footprint must be minimized to conserve space on-site, and overall energy consumption must be optimized. As a result, designers must carefully select any components within the equipment to meet these and other constraints.

[0004] Therefore, due to its low energy consumption compared to other cooling methods, the use of evaporative cooling technology has increased in recent years. Evaporative coolers reduce the temperature of an air stream through the introduction and subsequent evaporation of water particles. These components have been shown to be particularly useful when inlet air conditions are dry and warm. Conventional evaporative coolers generally consist of an evaporative medium, an assembly for holding the medium in place, a supply water reservoir, and a water distribution system. Water is piped from the reservoir to the top of the evaporative medium. As the water drains downward by gravity, some of the water is absorbed by the evaporative medium, and the rest returns to the supply water reservoir. As air passes through this wet medium, water evaporates into the air stream, and it is this process that adiabatically cools the air. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional evaporative coolers have several drawbacks. For example, conventional evaporative coolers are susceptible to water carryover. Water carryover is a process in which air passing through the evaporative medium draws excess water droplets into the air, resulting in unintended water accumulation in downstream areas. At high air velocities, this process becomes more pronounced. Furthermore, the evaporative medium of a conventional evaporative cooler may be oriented generally perpendicular to the airflow passing through the evaporative medium so that the pressure and velocity profile across the medium is substantially uniform. While this orientation can reduce water carryover, it increases the size of the conventional evaporative cooler. The relatively large size of conventional evaporative coolers can be further exacerbated by including a containment device below the evaporative medium that collects water as it gravity-fed downward and by using a mist eliminator configured to absorb water carried through the air downstream of the evaporative medium. The mist eliminator also generates a pressure drop that increases the power requirements of conventional evaporative coolers and correspondingly reduces their overall efficiency.

[0006] Furthermore, conventional evaporative coolers may require the use of relatively clean water to reduce mineral deposits, commonly known as "scale" buildup. Because conventional evaporative coolers are susceptible to mineral deposits, they may require time-consuming maintenance techniques and / or excessive water changes. Furthermore, conventional evaporative coolers are limited in their ability to accurately control the temperature and humidity of the supply air. Generally, the exhaust air can be controlled by turning the conventional evaporative cooler on or off depending on the temperature or humidity requirements. That is, water delivery to the evaporative medium can be enabled when the conventional evaporative cooler is on and disabled when the evaporative cooler is off. However, the evaporative medium can remain wet for a period of time after the conventional evaporative cooler is turned off, generating additional cooling and humidification, which contributes to controlling the latency of conventional evaporative coolers. Furthermore, once the medium is wet, the amount of water evaporated into the airflow is entirely dependent on the incoming air conditions. For the foregoing reasons, among others, it is recognized that improved evaporative cooling systems and methods are desirable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these particular embodiments, and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

[0008] In one embodiment, an air conditioning device includes an air flow path configured to direct airflow in a direction. The air conditioning device also includes an evaporative cooling membrane panel disposed within the air flow path and including a surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to the direction. The surface is defined by microporous fibers of the evaporative cooling membrane panel. Each microporous fiber is configured to receive liquid within a fluid flow path of the microporous fiber such that airflow over the microporous fiber generates vapor. Each microporous fiber is also configured to release vapor into the airflow through pores in the microporous fiber.

[0009] In another embodiment, an air conditioning device includes an air flow channel configured to direct airflow in a certain direction and an evaporative cooling panel disposed within the air flow channel. The evaporative cooling panel has a membrane defined by microporous fibers, each microporous fiber including a fluid flow channel configured to pass a fluid therethrough and pores configured to prevent fluid in liquid form from passing through the pores but allow fluid in vapor form to pass through the pores. The membrane has a surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to the direction. The surface is configured to facilitate passage of airflow over the microporous fibers, generation of vapor from the liquid in the microporous fibers based on heat exchange between the fluid and the airflow, and release of the vapor into the airflow through the pores.

[0010] In another embodiment, an air conditioning device includes a first evaporative cooling membrane panel disposed in an airflow channel configured to receive airflow therethrough, a second evaporative cooling membrane panel disposed in the airflow channel, and a controller. The controller is configured to control movement of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel, the second evaporative cooling membrane panel, or both to create an open configuration in which a gap is formed in the airflow channel. The gap is configured to receive a portion of the airflow such that a portion of the airflow bypasses the first and second evaporative cooling membrane panels. The controller is also configured to control movement of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel, the second evaporative cooling membrane panel, or both to create a closed configuration in which the gap is eliminated. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] The various aspects of the present disclosure may be better understood by reading the following detailed description and by reviewing the drawings, in which:

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the downstream side of an individual membrane contactor panel, including a panel frame, a plurality of hollow fibers, and one possible configuration for water inlet and outlet ports, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the upstream side of an individual membrane contactor panel of FIG. 1, including a panel frame, a plurality of hollow fibers, and one possible configuration for water inlet and outlet ports, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an enlarged view showing the water and air membrane interfaces of microporous hollow fibers present within an individual membrane contactor panel, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner incorporating a matrix of membrane contactor panels, a housing for framing and supporting the panels, and one possible configuration for the water distribution piping connected to each panel, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner with an optional water storage tank attached to the bottom of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner, providing a means to recirculate water to the membrane contactor panels for the purpose of reducing overall water usage, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner with an optional water storage tank located in a remote (i.e., external) location for the dual purpose of recirculating water to the membrane contactor panels to reduce water usage and minimize the overall size of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner in which a matrix of membrane contactor panels is banked in a vertical plane to increase the available surface area of ​​the membrane contactor panels within the overall housing, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 8]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner shown in FIG. 4 with a matrix of membrane contactor panels banked in a horizontal plane to increase the available surface area of ​​the membrane contactor panels within the overall housing, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner incorporating the use of a horizontal bypass damper to provide improved control of airflow through the membrane contactor-based air conditioner, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner incorporating the use of a vertical bypass damper to provide improved control of airflow through the membrane contactor-based air conditioner, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 1 is an isometric view of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner, where the membrane contactor-based air conditioner is integrated into a duct system, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a diagram of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner, where the membrane contactor-based air conditioner is integrated into an air handling unit (AHU), according to one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 13] 1 is a diagram of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner, where the membrane contactor-based air conditioner is oriented in a V-bank array within an air handling unit (AHU), according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 14] 1 is a diagram of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner oriented in a multiple V-bank array within an air handling unit (AHU) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, where the membrane contactor-based air conditioner is integrated into an air handling unit (AHU) such that the direction of airflow through the membrane contactor panel is parallel to the direction of gravity, highlighting the ability of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner to be oriented in any direction. [Figure 16]1A-1C are diagrams of possible piping schemes for individual membrane contactor panels, in which a single supply water line and a single return water line are each routed to an individual membrane contactor panel, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a possible piping scheme for multiple membrane contactor panels routed in series, with a single supply water line and a single return water line each going to and from the membrane contactor panels, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a possible piping scheme for multiple membrane contactor panels routed in both series and parallel, where a supply distribution manifold delivers water to the multiple membrane contactor panels and a return water manifold discharges water from the multiple membrane contactor panels for recirculation and / or drainage, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and the possible piping scheme allows each individual group of membrane contactor panels to be selectively activated and deactivated. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a possible piping scheme for multiple membrane contactor panels routed in parallel, where a common supply distribution manifold delivers water to multiple supply branch piping, which in turn delivers water to multiple membrane contactor panels, and where multiple return branch piping receives return water from the multiple membrane contactor panels and discharges it to a common return manifold for eventual recirculation and / or drainage, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the possible piping scheme allowing each individual group of membrane contactor panels to be selectively activated and deactivated. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a possible piping scheme for multiple membrane contactor panels individually routed to independent water supply sources and possible independent wastewater sources, allowing each individual membrane contactor panel to be selectively activated and deactivated, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 21] 1 is an optional piping scheme for a water storage tank, where a makeup water line connects a water supply to the storage tank, a feed water line distributes water from the tank to a membrane contactor panel, a return line returns water from the membrane contactor panel to the storage tank, and a drain line allows the storage tank to be drained, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a matrix of membrane contactor panels, where specific membrane contactor panels are selectively activated to condition the air, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 23] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a possible feature of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner in which two or more physically distinct matrices of membrane contactor panels meet at a common interface, each of which is hinged to an axis that allows rotation about that axis through the use of an actuator, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 24] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a possible feature of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which two or more physically distinct matrices of membrane contactor panels meet at a common interface, each of which is connected to an axis that allows translation along that axis through the use of an actuator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. The described embodiments are merely examples of the technology of the present disclosure. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described herein. It should be understood that the development of any such actual implementation, as with any engineering or design project, will require many implementation-specific decisions to be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, including compliance with system-related and industry-related constraints, which may vary from implementation to implementation. It should be further understood that such a development effort may be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0014] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "a," "an," and "the" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. In addition, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

[0015] The present disclosure relates to a modular membrane contactor-based air conditioner for use in HVAC equipment or as a stand-alone cooling and / or humidification device. In particular, the present disclosure relates to evaporative cooling, humidification, and other such processes that provide conditioned air for use in applications including, but not limited to, building rooms, data center server rooms, agricultural facilities, and industrial processes.

[0016] Evaporative cooling technology has seen increased use in recent years due to its low energy consumption compared to other cooling methods. Evaporative coolers reduce the temperature of an air stream through the introduction and subsequent evaporation of water particles. These components have been shown to be particularly useful when inlet air conditions are dry and warm. A conventional evaporative cooler generally consists of an evaporative medium, an assembly for holding the medium in place, a supply water reservoir, and a water distribution system. Water is piped from the reservoir to the top of the evaporative medium. As the water drains downward by gravity, some of the water is absorbed by the evaporative medium, while the rest returns to the supply water reservoir. As air passes through this wet medium, water evaporates into the air stream, and it is this process that adiabatically cools the air.

[0017] One drawback of conventional evaporative cooling systems is their size. The need for a containment device to collect water draining below the evaporative medium means these systems tend to occupy more space than other standard cooling methods, such as chilled water coils. Further exacerbating this size issue is the fact that conventional evaporative media are susceptible to "water carryover" at high face velocities. Water carryover is a process in which air passing over the evaporative medium draws excess water droplets into the air, resulting in unintended accumulation of water in downstream areas. At high air velocities, this process becomes more pronounced. As a result, the face area of ​​conventional evaporative coolers tends to be large to reduce face velocities, further increasing the overall footprint. Certain existing solutions, such as the use of "mist eliminators" that absorb any water carried by the air, can address water carryover. However, this extra material in the air path increases the cooling system's power requirements, thereby reducing its overall efficiency.

[0018] Furthermore, conventional evaporative media must be used with relatively clean water to function properly. As water evaporates into the airstream, it leaves behind mineral deposits commonly known as "scale" buildup. As water continues to flow over the media, these minerals are redissolved in the system water. If the concentration of dissolved minerals becomes too high, the rate of scale formation and corrosion increases, reducing the lifespan of the media and the entire system. To avoid these problems, conventional evaporative coolers periodically bleed off a portion of their feedwater and replace it with clean, fresh water. The need to periodically "bleed" water to maintain high water quality means that conventional evaporative coolers waste a large amount of water over their lifetime, leading to reduced operational and environmental efficiency.

[0019] Another drawback of conventional evaporative coolers is that their media must be carefully installed and maintained to function properly. If the media is installed improperly, water carryover can occur. This occurs because any gaps in the media create high air velocities, which draw large amounts of water into downstream areas. Furthermore, improper media installation can reduce the performance of an evaporative cooler. Because media is designed to provide a certain amount of adiabatic cooling to meet design conditions, improper media installation can result in lower cooling capacity than designed. Furthermore, conventional evaporative media are prone to maintenance issues, such as biological growth. Biological growth in the context of evaporative media requires several factors: a moist environment and the availability of minerals and nutrients. Because conventional media is continuously moistened with water containing dissolved minerals, biological growth can easily occur if left untreated for long periods of time. To avoid this, strict maintenance procedures must be followed. For example, some manufacturers suggest periodically drying the media, which takes valuable time away from cooling and humidifying the airflow. Some have suggested using detergents, but this is also incomplete as the chemically modified water must be drained after use, leading to further water waste and other potential environmental impacts.

[0020] Additionally, conventional evaporative coolers can only exist in a limited number of orientations, and all of these orientations require water to be sprayed onto the top of the media and drip into a supply reservoir below.

[0021] Furthermore, conventional evaporative coolers are limited in their ability to precisely control the temperature and humidity of supply air. Simply put, exhaust air can be controlled by turning the entire evaporative cooler on or off depending on temperature or humidity requirements. When the supply air temperature exceeds a threshold or the humidity falls below a limit, the evaporative cooler is turned on. Conversely, when the temperature falls below a threshold or the humidity rises above a limit, the evaporative cooler is turned off. However, this setup does not fully function because the media is still wet when the evaporative cooler is turned off. Because it takes a significant amount of time to dry the media, the air continues to be cooled and / or humidified beyond the required amount long after the evaporative cooler is turned off, resulting in a high degree of control latency associated with these conventional evaporative cooling systems. To solve this problem, bypass dampers can be added. These allow some air to completely "bypass" the evaporative cooler, providing more control over supply air conditions. However, bypass dampers occupy additional space within the system, further expanding the design's footprint. Another way to control the exiting air conditions is to provide "staging" within the evaporative cooler. Staging is a design feature that allows an evaporative cooler to activate / wet specific sections of its media independently of any other sections of the media. Each independent media section is known as a "stage." This allows the control system to turn them on in stages, thereby providing more precise control over cooling capacity and water consumption compared to single-stage chillers. However, staging in conventional evaporative coolers is imperfect because of the aforementioned control latency issues that arise when an evaporative cooler stage is turned off. Furthermore, the media can only be divided vertically, since water must be drained downward by gravity. This significantly limits the number of cooling stage configurations and the total number of stages per configuration that can be practically built. Finally, conventional evaporative coolers offer no way to control the evaporation rate. Once the media is wetted, the amount of water that evaporates into the airflow is entirely dependent on the conditions of the incoming air.

[0022] Membrane contactor panels consisting of multiple microporous hollow fibers are known in the art (e.g., 3M® media utilizing CELGARD® microporous hollow fibers). Such membrane contactor panels have an internal cavity through which water can flow. The walls of the microporous hollow fibers are permeable only to water in vapor form; liquid water cannot exit the walls of the microporous hollow fibers and directly mix with the surrounding gas stream. When water vapor exits the walls of the microporous hollow fibers through the wall pores, it comes into direct contact with the gas stream, resulting in a transfer of mass and energy. This is in contrast to conventional evaporative media, where liquid water wetting the surface of the media evaporates directly into the surrounding gas stream.

[0023] An objective of the present disclosure is to integrate membrane contactor technology into membrane contactor-based air conditioning systems that can be utilized in HVAC equipment or as stand-alone cooling and / or humidification devices.

[0024] The present disclosure is directed to the integration of independent, modular membrane contactor panels that enable different embodiments of membrane contactor-based air conditioners that can be custom assembled in any combination of vertical or horizontal bank configurations and orientations to suit numerous applications. The presently disclosed system allows for maximization of exposed surface area in contact with the airflow for a given system size footprint, tolerance of numerous airflow patterns at angles of airflow direction that are not necessarily aligned or parallel to the horizontal plane, infinite scalability of the device to accommodate any membrane contactor panel size and quantity, and the use of standardized, independent components that promote economies of scale in components, increase design versatility, and improve ease of assembly.

[0025] Additionally, the presently disclosed system avoids the risk of water droplet carryover and eliminates the need for "mist eliminators," which increase overall system power consumption. The presently disclosed system improves cooling efficiency by minimizing water usage through precise control of modular membrane contactor panels. Sections of membrane contactor panels or matrices of membrane contactor panels can be selectively activated and deactivated and moved in and out of the airflow through the use of actuators, providing infinite cooling capacity control to better match fluctuating application cooling demands and reduced control latency. Furthermore, the disclosed modular design promotes interchangeability between modular membrane contactor panels, reducing interdependencies between components within an assembly, and individual modules can be easily disconnected from the overall assembly. This allows for component-by-component maintenance, repair, or replacement of the membrane contactor panels, reducing overall system lifecycle service costs and service time for membrane contactor-based air conditioners.

[0026] Generally, the present disclosure solves problems associated with conventional evaporative coolers by employing membrane contactor media within air conditioning systems. For example, the use of media utilizing microporous hollow fibers allows for mass and energy transfer as water evaporates from the microporous hollow fiber walls into the gas stream flowing over the fibers. Furthermore, because only water vapor exits the microporous hollow fibers, there is limited risk of liquid water carryover into the gas stream.

[0027] An individual membrane contactor panel 100 suitable for use in the present disclosure is shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows the downstream side of the membrane contactor panel 100 (e.g., relative to the direction of air flow). The membrane contactor panel 100 comprises a frame 101, a water outlet port 102, a water inlet port 103, and a plurality of microporous hollow fibers 104 supported by a fabric or other means. Air stream 105 represents the conditioned exhaust air exiting the membrane contactor panel 100. Water enters the membrane contactor panel through the water inlet port 103, is distributed to the cavities of each individual microporous hollow fiber 104, and is collectively discharged through the water outlet port 102. 106 represents the effluent water inlet stream, 107 represents water flowing through the plurality of microporous hollow fibers 104, and 108 represents the wastewater outlet stream. 1 shows one possible configuration in which the water inlet port 103 is located at the bottom of the membrane contactor panel and the water outlet port 102 is located at the top of the membrane contactor panel, it should be noted that the locations of the water inlet port 103 and the water outlet port 102 may be located in other relative orientations or positions on the membrane contactor panel frame 101. The direction of water flow 107 through the plurality of microporous hollow fibers depends on the locations of the water inlet and water outlet ports and the orientation of the microporous hollow fibers.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the membrane contactor panel 100 includes a downstream surface 109 through which the exhaust (or conditioned) airflow 105 passes. The downstream surface 109 may be formed by a plurality of microporous hollow fibers 104 and a fabric (or other means) utilized to support the microporous hollow fibers 104. While the downstream surface 109 generally extends along a plane, it should be understood that the downstream surface 109 may not form a perfect plane (e.g., due to curvature of each microporous hollow fiber 104, fabric waves (or other means), etc.). Furthermore, it should be understood that a screen, mesh, or other component of the membrane contactor panel 100 may be positioned downstream of the downstream surface 109. For example, the frame 101 may extend further downstream than the microporous hollow fibers 104 of the downstream surface 109. As will be understood in view of the following figures and corresponding description, in accordance with the present disclosure, the downstream surface 109 may be oriented at an oblique angle relative to the direction of airflow through the membrane contactor panel 100.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows the upstream side (e.g., relative to the direction of airflow) of the membrane contactor panel 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the membrane contactor panel 100 includes an upstream face 113 configured to receive an incoming (or unconditioned) airflow 115. The upstream face 113 may be formed by a plurality of microporous hollow fibers 104 and a fabric (or other means) utilized to support the microporous hollow fibers 104. While the upstream face 113 generally extends along a plane, it should be understood that the upstream face 113 may not form a perfect plane (e.g., due to curvature of each microporous hollow fiber 104, fabric waviness (or other means), etc.). Furthermore, it should be understood that a screen, mesh, or other component of the membrane contactor panel 100 may be positioned downstream of the upstream face 113. For example, the frame 101 may extend further downstream than the microporous hollow fibers 104 of the upstream face 113. As will be understood in view of the following figures and corresponding description, in accordance with the present disclosure, the upstream face 113 may be oriented at an oblique angle relative to the direction of air flow through the membrane contactor panel 100 .

[0030] An enlarged cross section of a single microporous hollow fiber 104 is shown in Figure 3. A water stream 107 (in the liquid phase) travels through the microporous hollow fiber cavities 112 and is contained within the volume enclosed by the microporous hollow fiber walls 110. An unconditioned (or intake) air stream 115 is directed into the microporous hollow fibers 104. If ambient conditions permit, the liquid water undergoes a phase change and evaporates into the air stream (outside the microporous hollow fiber walls 110). Water vapor 114 exits the microporous hollow fiber cavities 112 through a plurality of pores 111 and comes into direct contact with the ambient air. The water vapor mixes with the ambient air, adiabatically cooling and / or humidifying the air stream. This results in the discharged air stream 105 being conditioned from the surface of the membrane contactor panel 100.

[0031] A membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200 of the present disclosure is shown in Figure 4. The membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200 includes a matrix of membrane contactor panels 205, a housing structure 206, a water inlet port 202 attached to a feedwater distribution manifold 204, and a water outlet port 201 connected to a returnwater collection manifold 203. In this embodiment, the matrix of membrane contactor panels 205 is installed in a flat bank configuration within the structured matrix, although individual membrane contactor panels of the present disclosure can be arranged in various orientations and configurations, as outlined in subsequent figures. The water inlet 202 supplies water to the matrix of membrane contactor panels 205 via the feedwater distribution manifold 204, and conversely, the returnwater collection manifold 203 collects water exiting the matrix of membrane contactor panels 205 and discharges it via the water outlet port 201. While FIG. 4 shows one possible configuration in which the water inlet port 202 is located at the bottom of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner and the water outlet port 201 is located at the top of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner, it should be noted that the locations of the water inlet port 202 and the water outlet port 201 may be located in other relative orientations or positions on the membrane contactor-based air conditioner housing structure 206. Furthermore, water flows through the hollow fibers in each membrane contactor panel 205 using a fluid movement device (e.g., a pump) external to the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200. As air flows through the matrix of the membrane contactor panels 205, it contacts the outer surfaces of the fibers and is subsequently cooled and / or humidified to the required supply air conditions. A portion of the water flowing through the hollow membrane fibers evaporates in the form of water vapor through the pores in the fiber walls into the airflow. Airflow 105 represents the conditioned discharge air. The membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200 is a self-contained and self-supporting unit that can be incorporated into air handling systems or other evaporative cooling and / or humidification applications in a variety of orientations.

[0032] Another embodiment of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200 is shown in FIG. 5, in which a water storage tank 210 is attached to the base of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner housing structure 206. The water storage tank 210 provides a means for collecting water draining from the matrix of membrane contactor panels 205 and recirculating it back to the membrane contactor panels 205. To do so, water flows from the water storage tank 210 to the feedwater distribution manifold 204 by the action of a fluid movement device (e.g., a pump) 212. Upon entering the feedwater distribution manifold 204, the water is distributed to the membrane contactor panels 205 and circulates within the hollow fibers of the membrane contactor panels 205. The water then drains from the membrane contactor panels 205 into the return water collection manifold 203. From the return water collection manifold, the water returns into the water storage tank 210. As the water follows this circulation pattern, the airflow 105 moves through the membrane contactor panels and is conditioned in the process. Additionally, as shown, it should be noted that FIG. 5 shows a removable cover 211 placed on top of the water storage tank 210. In one embodiment, the cover 211 may remain in place to protect the water source from any contaminants. However, in another embodiment, the cover 211 may be removed to leave the water open to the environment. If desired, water can be drained from the water storage tank via outlet 213 to an external on-site drainage system, and fresh make-up water can be introduced through source inlet 214 to replace water leaving through the evaporation process and drainage. Additional details regarding the plumbing components of this water storage tank are shown in FIG. 21.

[0033] Another embodiment of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200 is shown in FIG. 6 in which a remote water storage tank 220 is connected to the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200. This embodiment contrasts with the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in which the storage tank is not remotely located but rather is mounted directly beneath the membrane contactor-based air conditioner housing structure 206. As in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the connected remote water storage tank 220 provides a means to collect water draining from the matrix of membrane contactor panels 205 for potential recirculation. However, the design shown in FIG. 6 offers an additional advantage: for a membrane contactor-based air conditioner of the same overall size, the remote water storage tank 220 is physically located in a different location, resulting in more surface area available for the matrix of membrane contactor panels 205 in FIG. 6 compared to FIG. 5. Furthermore, in this embodiment, water flows from the remote water storage tank 220 into the feedwater distribution manifold 204 via the water inlet port 202. The water is then distributed to a matrix of membrane contactor panels 205 before being discharged into a return water collection manifold 203. From there, the water travels through the outlet port 201 and back into the remote water storage tank 220. If needed, water can be discharged from the remote water storage tank 220 to an external on-site drainage system via the tank water outlet 222. Fresh make-up water can then enter through the tank water inlet 221 to replace any lost water. Additional details regarding the piping components of this remote storage tank are shown in Figure 21.

[0034] Another embodiment of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200 is shown in Figure 7, in which the membrane contactor panels 205 are oriented in a V-banked matrix in a vertical plane. The membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200 comprises a housing bounded by surfaces 230, 231, 232, and 233 that act to house and support the membrane contactor panels 205. Additionally, there are additional vertical supports 234 that extend from the top surface of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 230 to the bottom surface of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 232. These supports provide additional support for the membrane contactor panels and also seal the interface where two membrane contactor panels meet at an angle, thereby ensuring that the airflow 105 passes through the membrane contactor panels rather than around them at the connection interface. In one embodiment, water enters membrane contactor-based air conditioning 200 at water inlet port 202, is distributed to the membrane contactor panels in multiple ways (as detailed in subsequent figures), and then leaves membrane contactor-based air conditioning device 200 at water outlet port 201. In another embodiment, water inlet port 202 and water outlet port 201 may be reversed or oriented relative to one another in any possible configuration.

[0035] Figure 8 shows another embodiment of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200, with the same details as Figure 7, except that the membrane contactor panels 205 are banked in a V-shape in the horizontal plane. In this embodiment, the supports 240 run widthwise across the unit from the left side 231 to the right side 233, along the interface where the two membrane contactor panels meet at an angle. In another possible embodiment, the water inlet and water outlet ports are reversed.

[0036] Another embodiment of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200 is shown in Figure 9, in which an air bypass damper 250 is integrated into the membrane contactor-based air conditioner housing 206. As the air flow approaches the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200, the device now has two paths it can potentially take. When the air bypass damper 250 is fully closed, the air flow 105 travels strictly through the matrix of membrane contactor panels 205, as before. However, when the air bypass damper 250 is opened, bypass air 252 passes through the air bypass damper 250 and is exhausted unregulated from the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200, with the remainder of the air 105 traveling through the membrane contactor panels 205. When the damper is fully open, the maximum amount of bypass air 252 (depending on the design size) passes through the air bypass damper 250, and a reduced air flow 105 passes through the membrane contactor panels 205. 9 includes a memory 256 and a processor 258. The memory 256 includes instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor 258, cause the processor 258 to perform various functions. The controller 254 may be utilized, for example, to open and close the bypass damper 250. In some embodiments, the controller 254 may be communicatively coupled to sensors 259 configured to detect one or more operating conditions of the air conditioner 200. For example, the sensors 259 may detect airflow temperature, airflow velocity, airflow pressure, airflow humidity, power consumption of the air conditioner 200, operating efficiency of the air conditioner 200, sound of the air conditioner 200, etc. The controller 254 may receive data indicative of one or more operating conditions of the air conditioner 200 and determine the position of the bypass damper 250 based on the sensor data.

[0037] In one embodiment, water enters through water inlet port 202 and into supply water distribution manifold 204. The water then circulates through the membrane contactor panel and exits into return water collection manifold 203. Finally, the water exits through drain outlet port 201. In another possible embodiment, the water inlet and water outlet ports are reversed. Another embodiment of membrane contactor-based air conditioner 200 is shown in Figure 10, with the same details as Figure 9, except that the air bypass damper 260 is now positioned vertically.

[0038] The embodiments shown in Figures 4-10 should not be considered as separate designs, but rather as a subset of multiple possible features, not explicitly shown, that make up the base design of the embodiment shown in Figure 4.

[0039] Any one feature shown in the above figures can be combined with any other feature to produce a unique, customized membrane contactor-based air conditioner for a desired application. For example, a membrane contactor-based air conditioner can have an attached storage tank, v-bank membrane contactor panels in a vertical plane, and a vertical bypass damper, or any combination thereof.

[0040] A further embodiment and possible application of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 300 within a duct system 301 according to the present disclosure is shown in Figure 11. The membrane contactor-based air conditioner 300 comprises a duct housing 302 containing membrane contactor panels 303 and 305 oriented in a V-bank configuration. Air flow 105 travels through the duct system 301 and then through the membrane contactor panels 303 and 305. As the air flow 105 passes through these membrane contactor panels, the air is simultaneously cooled and humidified by interaction with the fluid moving within the membrane contactor panels. In one embodiment, the fluid enters the membrane contactor panels (303 and 305) through water inlet port 307, circulates within the membrane contactor panels, and then exits through water outlet port 308. In another embodiment, the fluid can instead enter at 308 and exit through 307. 11, the membrane contactor panels may be supported by horizontal support members 304, which support the cooling membrane contactor panels and help hold them in place. The horizontal support members 304 are themselves supported by optional vertical support members 306, which provide rigidity to the configuration. While this embodiment shows the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 300 within a rectangular duct system 301, it should not be limited to only rectangular duct systems; rather, the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 300 may be applied within any duct system of any shape, material, orientation, or description.

[0041] A further embodiment and possible application of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 12, in which a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404 is incorporated within an air handling unit (AHU) 400. In this embodiment, the air handling unit is defined by its outer casing 402. Unconditioned air flow 115 enters through opening 401, moves through a set of filters 403, and then enters the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404. As the air passes through the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404, the air is cooled and / or humidified and exits the membrane contactor-based air conditioner as conditioned air 105. The conditioned air is then drawn into an air moving device (e.g., a fan) 405 and then exits the AHU 400 through opening 406. While only one membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404 is shown here extending from side to side of the AHU 400, other configurations are possible. These include, but are not limited to, two membrane contactor-based air conditioners in a linear parallel arrangement, three membrane contactor-based air conditioners in a linear parallel arrangement, etc. Additionally, multiple membrane contactor-based air conditioners can be installed in series relative to the air flow direction.

[0042] Similar to Figure 12, a further embodiment and possible application of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner of the present disclosure is shown in Figure 13, where the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404 is incorporated into an air handling unit (AHU) 400. The difference between the embodiment shown in Figure 13 and the embodiment shown in Figure 12 is that the membrane contactor-based air conditioners 404 in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 are banked at an angle and meet at a common interface.

[0043] For example, each membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404 of FIG. 13 may include one or more membrane contactor panels 100 (e.g., as shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown, incoming (or unconditioned) air flow 115 is directed in an airflow direction 407 through a flow path 408 defined by the outer casing 402 (or enclosure) of the AHU 400. Note that airflow direction 407 may correspond to an average or general airflow direction through flow path 408, and the movement of specific individual particles in airflow 115 may vary. As shown, each membrane contactor panel 100 may be oriented at an oblique angle 409 relative to the airflow direction 407. For example, the upstream surface 113 of the membrane contactor panel 100 may be oriented at an oblique angle 409 relative to the airflow direction 407. In the illustrated embodiment, the downstream surface 109 of the membrane contactor panel 100 is also oriented at an oblique angle 409 relative to the airflow direction 407. Orientations of the membrane contactor panel 100 at an oblique angle 409 (or V-banked) relative to the airflow direction 407 are also shown in at least Figures 7, 8, 11, and 14 of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the example of the presently disclosed AHU 400 in Figure 13 is non-limiting, i.e., orienting the membrane contactor panel 100 at an oblique angle 409 relative to the airflow direction 407 is applicable in the context of other air conditioning devices, including, but not limited to, diffusers, induced displacement units, terminal units, localized air coolers, fan walls, systems for data centers, and building systems.

[0044] An advantage of arranging two banked membrane contactor-based air conditioners 404 within the AHU 400 (e.g., at an oblique angle 409) is that it allows for an increase in the surface area of ​​the membrane contactor panel 100. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 , unconditioned airflow 115 enters the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 400 and passes through a set of filters 403. Note that the filters 403 may not include a mist eliminator. That is, the illustrated embodiment may exclude a mist eliminator in accordance with the present disclosure. While mist eliminators may be utilized in conventional evaporative cooling systems due to associated water carryover, such mist eliminators may increase the pressure drop of conventional systems (thereby increasing power consumption and reducing efficiency). The disclosed system is less susceptible to water carryover and therefore does not require a mist eliminator.

[0045] After air flow 115 passes through membrane contactor-based air conditioners 404 and filters 403, it is then split, with a portion of the air passing through one bank of membrane contactor-based air conditioners and the remaining air passing through the other. After exiting membrane contactor-based air conditioners 404, the now conditioned air flow 115 is drawn into air moving device 405 and then exhausted from AHU 400 through opening 406.

[0046] A further embodiment and possible application of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404 disposed within an air handling unit (AHU) 400 is shown in Figure 14. The difference between the embodiment shown in Figure 14 and the embodiment shown in Figure 13 is that the embodiment shown in Figure 14 includes multiple V-banked membrane contactor-based air conditioners 404 disposed within the air handling unit 400.

[0047] A further embodiment and possible application of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404 disposed within an air handling unit (AHU) 400 is shown in Figure 15. In this embodiment, the AHU 400 is in a vertical orientation with the base 410 of the AHU 400 sitting on the ground / base 411. Furthermore, the unconditioned air flow 115 directed into the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404 is parallel to the direction of gravity. The conditioned air flow 105 exits the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 404 parallel to the direction of gravity and is then pulled to the right by an air moving device (e.g., fan) 405 and discharged through an opening 406. This vertical orientation of the AHU 400 illustrates that a membrane contactor-based air conditioner can be oriented with its surface area perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

[0048] Embodiments of the present disclosure in which membrane contactor-based air conditioners 404 are incorporated into air handling units (AHUs) are not limited to those designs shown in Figures 12-15. Rather, these figures illustrate possible applications, all of which can be expanded and constructed infinitely. Furthermore, these figures illustrate that membrane contactor-based air conditioners can operate in any orientation, including with their surface area parallel to the direction of gravity, perpendicular to the direction of gravity, or any orientation in between.

[0049] A piping system 500 for an individual membrane contactor panel 504 is shown in FIG. 16. The individual membrane contactor panels 504 may be installed in any of the previously described embodiments of the present disclosure. The piping system includes a water supply line 501 routed to a water inlet port 503 of the individual membrane contactor panel 504, a water return line 506 routed from a water outlet port 505 of the individual membrane contactor panel 504, and a control valve 502. The water supply line 501 distributes water pumped from an upstream water source (not shown in FIG. 16) to the individual membrane contactor panels 504. The water flows through the hollow membranes present within the membrane contactor panels (in the general direction starting from the water inlet port 503 to the water outlet port 505) and contacts dry, warm process air 115 directed through the face of the membrane contactor panel. The inlet air 115 flows through the face of the membrane contactor panel 504 and is subsequently cooled and / or humidified. A water return line 506 discharges any residual, unevaporated water to an optional integrated or external storage tank for recirculation and / or drainage. A control valve 502 regulates the fluid flow rate in the piping circuit and may be installed in the water supply line 501 (shown in FIG. 18 ) or the water return line 506. The controller 254 may operate to control the position of the valve 502 (e.g., open, partially open, closed). Other accessories associated with the piping system 500, including, but not limited to, water filtration, water meters, water hammer arrestors, backflow prevention devices, and metering devices, may be included in the system to meet specific application requirements.

[0050] A possible piping scheme for multiple individual membrane contactor panels 504 is shown in Figure 17. In this embodiment, the membrane contactor panels 504 are plumbed in series such that residual water discharged from the water outlet port 505 of one membrane contactor panel enters the water inlet port 503 of the subsequent membrane contactor panel using intermediate piping 510. A control valve 502 regulates fluid flow throughout the series of membrane contactor panels and may be located in either the water supply line 501 (shown in Figure 16) or the water return line 502. As previously described, the controller 254 may control the control valve 502 to regulate fluid flow. Inlet air 115 flows through the face of each membrane contactor panel 504 and is then cooled and / or humidified.

[0051] A further possible piping scheme for multiple individual membrane contactor panels 504 is shown in Figure 18. In this embodiment, the membrane contactor panels 504 are plumbed both in series (as shown in Figure 17) and in parallel, with multiple control valves 502 regulating flow to different groups of membrane contactor panels in the matrix. A controller 254 may control the multiple control valves 502 collectively or independently. Each group of membrane contactor panels can be selectively activated to provide cooling needs. A water supply line 501 is connected to a water distribution manifold 520 that directs water to the water inlet ports 503 of the membrane contactor panels in each group. Within each group of membrane contactor panels, water discharged from the water outlet port 505 of one membrane contactor panel uses intermediate piping 510 to enter the water inlet port 503 of the subsequent membrane contactor panel in the series. A return water collection manifold 521 directs residual water from each group of membrane contactor panels to a water return line 506 for eventual recirculation and / or drainage. Control valves 502 may be located at the outlet connections of the feedwater distribution manifold 520 or at the inlet connections of the returnwater collection manifold 521. Isolation valves 522 may be included to provide flow logic and prevent backflow to particular membrane contactor panel groups. Inlet air 115 flows through the face of each membrane contactor panel 504 and is then cooled and / or humidified.

[0052] A further possible piping scheme for multiple individual membrane contactor panels 504 is shown in FIG. 19. In this embodiment, the membrane contactor panels 504 are plumbed in parallel, with multiple control valves 502 (and a controller 254 configured to control the multiple control valves 502) regulating flow to different groups of membrane contactor panels in the matrix. In addition to the previously described feedwater distribution manifold 520 and returnwater collection manifold 521 shown in FIG. 18, FIG. 19 illustrates the use of branch piping (530 and 531) to direct water to and from each membrane contactor panel group, respectively. Branch piping 530 is routed from the feedwater distribution manifold 520 to the water inlet port 503 of each membrane contactor panel 504 in a designated group. Branch piping 531 is routed from the water outlet port 505 of each membrane contactor panel 504 in a designated group to the returnwater collection manifold 521. This piping scheme represents the use of reverse return piping, where the overall system flow is divided into approximately equal flows through the membrane contactor panels 504. The control valve 502 may be located at the outlet connection of the feedwater distribution manifold 520 or the inlet connection of the returnwater collection manifold 521. An optional balancing valve may be used in the system to fine-tune the flow rate as needed. Shut-off valves 522 may be included to provide flow logic and prevent backflow to particular membrane contactor panel groups. Inlet air 115 flows through the face of each membrane contactor panel 504 and is then cooled and / or humidified.

[0053] A further possible piping scheme for multiple individual membrane contactor panels 504 is shown in Figure 20. In this embodiment, each membrane contactor panel 504 is plumbed to its own water supply. Separate supply lines (540, 542, 544) direct water from separate water sources to each membrane contactor panel 504, and separate return lines (541, 543, 545) direct residual water from the membrane contactor panels 504 to individual or common reservoirs for recirculation and / or drainage. Multiple independent control valves 502 regulate water flow to each membrane contactor panel 504, allowing each membrane contactor panel 504 to be selectively activated for application-specific cooling needs. Inlet air 115 flows past the face of each membrane contactor panel 504 and is then cooled and / or humidified. For example, in an embodiment having two of the membrane contactor panels 504, and therefore two valves 502, both valves 502 may be controlled to an open position by the controller 254, both valves 502 may be controlled to a closed position by the controller 254, or one valve 502 may be controlled to an open position by the controller 254 and the other valve 502 may be controlled to a closed position by the controller 254. As mentioned above, the controller 254 may operate the valves 502 based on data feedback from the sensors 259. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 254 may receive input (e.g., from an operator) and control the valves 502 based on the input.

[0054] All piping schemes described herein are infinitely scalable to match the total amount of membrane contactor panels in the system. The flexibility and ease of adding or removing membrane contactor panels and combining and / or replacing piping schemes enables autonomous, infinite capacity and precise demand-matching control strategies.

[0055] FIG. 21 shows an optional water storage tank 559, which may be integrated into the membrane contactor-based air conditioner (as shown in FIG. 5) or located at a remote location (as shown in FIG. 6). A feedwater source 550 is supplied to the inlet 552 of the storage tank 559 by a makeup water line 551. The makeup water line 551 may be connected directly to the membrane contactor supply line 501 if the storage tank 559 is not required. Makeup water is required for all of the above piping schemes to maintain a continuous evaporative cooling process. When cooling is needed, a fluid movement device (e.g., a sump pump or in-line pump 554) is turned on (e.g., by the controller 254), allowing water from the storage tank 559 to exit through outlet 553 and flow through supply line 501 to the downstream membrane contactor panel. An optional strainer 555 or other water filtration and / or treatment component may be installed to improve the quality of the water supplied to the membrane contactor panel. In a recirculation system, return line 506 returns the residual water volume discharged from the membrane contactor panel to a storage tank 559 for reuse or mixing with make-up water. The storage tank can be drained through a drain outlet 556 to a drain line 558 by opening a drain control valve 557 (e.g., via controller 254). An example of a situation requiring tank drainage is when the concentration of dissolved solids accumulated in the piping system needs to be reduced.

[0056] A control scheme for multiple individual membrane contactor panels 504 is shown in Figure 22. For cooling system 600, each membrane contactor panel 504 is individually plumbed to its own supply line 601, return line 602, and control valve 502, similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 20. The control valves 502 can be wired independently of each other, and each membrane contactor panel 504 is routed to its own water supply, so that selective membrane contactor panels 504 can be activated or deactivated (e.g., by controller 254). Figure 22 shows both an activated membrane contactor panel 603 and a deactivated membrane contactor panel 604. For example, in an embodiment having two membrane contactor panels 603, the controller 254 may control both membrane contactor panels 603 in an activated configuration (e.g., via a valve such as valve 502 in FIG. 20), both membrane contactor panels 603 in a deactivated configuration (e.g., via a valve such as valve 502 in FIG. 20), and one membrane contactor panel 603 in an activated configuration and the other membrane contactor panel 603 in a deactivated configuration (e.g., via a valve such as valve 502 in FIG. 20). Furthermore, the activation sequence control scheme can be automated such that the membrane contactor panels 504 can be activated in either a synchronous or asynchronous manner depending on predetermined control system delays or setpoint configurations. The membrane contactor panels can also be installed in different zones within an enclosed space or volume to provide area-focused air conditioning.

[0057] A potential feature of a membrane contactor-based air conditioner 700 is shown in FIG. 23, in which two physically distinct matrices (704 and 705) of a membrane contactor panel 701 are hinged on a rotation axis 703. Through the use of any potential actuator (e.g., a motor 706 controlled by the controller 254), the matrices (704 and 705) can be rotated 702 about the axis 703. This feature allows for different air paths to exist within the entire membrane contactor-based air conditioner 700. When the matrices (704 and 705) are rotated so that they touch at their common interface, the gap shown in FIG. 23 is closed and all air passes through the membrane contactor panel 701, directly creating the conditioned airflow 105. Conversely, when the matrices (704 and 705) are rotated so that they are no longer touching at their common interface, a gap exists as shown in the figure. In this example, some air 105 continues through membrane contactor panel 701 and is conditioned, while some air 252 bypasses membrane contactor panel 701 and exits membrane contactor-based air conditioner 700 unconditioned. Controller 254 may control motor 706 based on sensor feedback from sensor 259 or input entered into controller 254 (e.g., via an operator).

[0058] An additional potential feature of the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 700 is shown in Figure 24. In this figure, two physically distinct matrices (712 and 713) of the membrane contactor panel 701 are connected to an axis 711 that allows translation 710 perpendicular to the direction of airflow (105 and 252) using any potential actuator. The translation 710 of the membrane contactor panel 701 may be caused by an actuation mechanism such as a motor 715 controlled by the controller 254 (e.g., based on sensor data from the sensor 259 or input received by the controller 254 from an operator). This feature allows for the creation of distinct air paths within the entire membrane contactor-based air conditioner 700. In one example, if the matrices (712 and 713) meet at a common interface, no gaps exist as shown in the figure. In this way, all air 105 passes through the membrane contactor panel 701 and is conditioned as it exits the membrane contactor-based air conditioner. Conversely, when the matrices (712 and 713) translate apart (in direction 710), a gap forms between the matrices (712 and 713), allowing some of the air 105 to be conditioned as it moves through the membrane contactor panel, while at the same time allowing some of the air 252 to bypass the membrane contactor panel 701 entirely and exit the membrane contactor-based air conditioner 700 unconditioned.

[0059] The present disclosure is not limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the present disclosure in addition to those described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0060] While only certain features and embodiments have been illustrated and described, those skilled in the art may conceive numerous modifications and changes, such as variations in the size, dimensions, structure, shape, and proportions of various elements, parameter values ​​including temperature and pressure, mounting arrangements, use of materials, color, orientation, and the like, without substantially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the claimed subject matter. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be changed or re-ordered in accordance with alternative embodiments. It should therefore be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the present disclosure. Moreover, in order to provide a concise description of example embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation may be described (e.g., those that are unrelated to the currently contemplated best mode for carrying out the disclosure or that are unrelated to enabling the claimed disclosure). It should be understood that, as in any engineering or design project, many implementation-specific decisions may be made in the development of any such actual implementation. While such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, it would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.

[0061] The technology presented and claimed herein refers to and applies to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that clearly improve the art, and is therefore not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Furthermore, if any claim appended at the end of this specification contains one or more elements designated as "means for [performing] [function]..." or "steps for [performing] [function]...," it is intended that such elements be construed under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claim containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements not be construed under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

[0062] All patents, applications, publications, test methods, literature, and other materials cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

Claims

1. An air conditioning device, an air flow path configured to direct airflow; an evaporative cooling membrane panel disposed within the air flow path and including a surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to the direction; the surface is defined by a plurality of microporous fibers; each microporous fiber of the plurality of microporous fibers is configured to receive liquid into the fluid flow passages of the respective microporous fiber such that the air flow over the respective microporous fiber generates vapor, and to release the vapor into the air flow through pores of the respective microporous fiber; The air conditioner includes a controller, the controller is configured to control movement of the evaporative cooling membrane panel to create an open configuration in which a gap is formed in the air flow path, the gap being configured to receive a portion of the air flow such that the portion of the air flow bypasses the evaporative cooling membrane panel; and The air conditioner, wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the evaporative cooling membrane panel to create a closed configuration in which the gap is eliminated.

2. the fluid flow path of each microporous fiber of the plurality of microporous fibers is configured to conduct the liquid therethrough; 2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the pores of each microporous fiber of the plurality of microporous fibers are configured to block the passage of the liquid therethrough but allow the passage of the vapor therethrough.

3. an additional evaporative cooling membrane panel disposed within the air flow path and including an additional surface defined by an additional plurality of microporous fibers; 2. The air conditioning device of claim 1, wherein each additional microporous fiber of the additional plurality of microporous fibers is configured to receive the liquid into additional fluid flow paths of the additional microporous fiber such that the air flow over the additional microporous fiber generates additional vapor, and is configured to release the additional vapor into the air flow through additional pores of the additional microporous fiber.

4. 4. An air conditioning system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the additional surface is disposed at an additional oblique angle relative to the direction.

5. The evaporative cooling membrane panel is arranged in series with the additional evaporative cooling membrane panel with respect to the flow of the liquid, so that the evaporative cooling membrane panel receiving the liquid at an inlet; 4. The air conditioner of claim 3, configured to discharge the liquid through an outlet associated with an additional evaporative cooling membrane panel.

6. The evaporative cooling membrane panel is arranged parallel to the additional evaporative cooling membrane panel with respect to the flow of the liquid, so that the evaporative cooling membrane panel is configured to receive a first portion of the liquid; The air conditioner of claim 3 , wherein the additional evaporative cooling membrane panel is configured to receive a second portion of the liquid that is different from the first portion of the liquid.

7. 4. The air conditioning system of claim 3, wherein the face of the evaporative cooling membrane panel is disposed at an angle to the additional face of the additional evaporative cooling membrane panel.

8. 4. The air conditioning system of claim 3, wherein the surface of the evaporative cooling membrane panel is parallel to the additional surface of the additional evaporative cooling membrane panel.

9. a first valve configured to be actuated to a first open position that allows a first flow of the liquid to the evaporative cooling membrane panel, and configured to be actuated to a first closed position that blocks the first flow of the liquid to the evaporative cooling membrane panel; 4. The air conditioning system of claim 3, further comprising: a second valve configured to be actuated to a second open position that allows a second flow of the liquid to the additional evaporative cooling membrane panel, and configured to be actuated to a second closed position that blocks the second flow of the liquid to the additional evaporative cooling membrane panel.

10. A bypass damper disposed in the air flow path, 2. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the bypass damper is configured to be operated between a closed position in which the airflow is prevented from passing through the bypass damper and an open position in which a portion of the airflow is directed through the bypass damper such that the portion of the airflow bypasses the evaporative cooling membrane panel.

11. Equipped with a liquid tank, The liquid tank is a first outlet configured to direct the liquid toward the evaporative cooling membrane panel; a first inlet configured to receive the liquid after it has passed through the plurality of microporous fibers of the evaporative cooling membrane panel; a second outlet configured to discharge a portion of the liquid away from the evaporative cooling membrane panel; and a second inlet configured to receive a replacement fluid.

12. An air conditioning system as described in claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system does not include a mist eliminator.

13. An air conditioning device, an air flow path configured to direct airflow; an evaporative cooling panel disposed within the air flow path; a membrane of the evaporative cooling panel, the membrane being defined by a plurality of microporous fibers, each microporous fiber of the plurality of microporous fibers including a fluid passageway configured to direct a fluid therethrough and a pore configured to prevent the fluid in liquid form from passing through the pore but to allow the fluid in vapor form to pass through the pore; a surface of the membrane disposed at an oblique angle relative to the direction and configured to promote passage of the air stream over the plurality of microporous fibers, generation of vapor from liquid within the microporous fibers due to heat exchange between the fluid and the air stream, and release of the vapor into the air stream through the pores; an additional evaporative cooling panel disposed within the air flow path; an additional surface of the additional evaporative cooling panel disposed at an additional oblique angle relative to the direction; a controller; the controller is configured to control rotational or translational movement of the evaporative cooling panel, the additional evaporative cooling panel, or both to create an open configuration in which a gap is formed between the evaporative cooling panel and the additional evaporative cooling panel, the gap being configured to receive a portion of the airflow such that the portion of the airflow bypasses the evaporative cooling panel and the additional evaporative cooling panel; and The air conditioning apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to control rotational or translational movement of the evaporative cooling panel, the additional evaporative cooling panel, or both, to create a closed configuration in which the gap is eliminated.

14. An air conditioning system as described in claim 13, wherein the evaporative cooling panel and the additional evaporative cooling panel are arranged in series with respect to the flow of the fluid so that the additional evaporative cooling panel receives the fluid from the evaporative cooling panel.

15. An air conditioning device as described in claim 13, wherein the evaporative cooling panel and the additional evaporative cooling panel are arranged parallel to the flow of the fluid so that the evaporative cooling panel receives a first portion of the fluid and the additional evaporative cooling panel receives a second portion of the fluid different from the first portion.

16. An air conditioning device, a first evaporative cooling membrane panel disposed in the airflow channel configured to receive an airflow therethrough, wherein a first surface of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel is disposed at a first oblique angle relative to a direction of the airflow; a second evaporative cooling membrane panel disposed in the airflow channel, a second surface of the second evaporative cooling membrane panel disposed at a second oblique angle relative to the direction of the airflow; a controller; the first evaporative cooling membrane panel and each of the first evaporative cooling membrane panels include a plurality of microporous fibers, each microporous fiber of the plurality of microporous fibers including a fluid passage configured to direct a fluid therethrough and a pore configured to prevent the fluid in liquid form from passing through the pore but to allow the fluid in vapor form to pass through the pore; the controller is configured to control movement of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel, the second evaporative cooling membrane panel, or both, to create an open configuration in which a gap is formed in the airflow channel, the gap being configured to receive a portion of the airflow such that the portion of the airflow bypasses the first evaporative cooling membrane panel and the second evaporative cooling membrane panel; and The air conditioning apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel, the second evaporative cooling membrane panel, or both, to create a closed configuration in which the gap is eliminated.

17. An air conditioning device as described in claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to control the movement of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel, the second evaporative cooling membrane panel, or both, to create the open configuration in which the gap is formed within the air flow channel between the first evaporative cooling membrane panel and the second evaporative cooling membrane panel.

18. An air conditioning device as described in Claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to control the movement of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel by controlling the rotation of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel around an axis.

19. An air conditioning device as described in claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to control the movement of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel by controlling the translation of the first evaporative cooling membrane panel relative to the second evaporative cooling membrane panel.

20. A motor configured to receive a control signal from the controller, 17. The air conditioner of claim 16, wherein the motor is configured to move the first evaporative cooling membrane panel in response to the control signal.

Images