Dehumidifier

Abstract

To provide a dehumidifier that offers high dehumidification and energy-saving effects, even when the dew point of the air to be treated is high. [Solution] The dehumidifier of the present invention is configured with two adsorption rotors, a first adsorption rotor 1 and a second adsorption rotor 7, which have the ability to adsorb moisture. The first adsorption rotor 1 is divided into a first processing zone 2, a first regeneration zone 3, and a first purging zone 4. The air to be processed A containing moisture is cooled by a first cooling device 5 and branched into first processed air a, first purged air b, and first mixing air c. Partial purging is used, in which the first mixing air, the air that has passed through the first purging zone, and the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone are mixed to form first regenerated air.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention uses a dehumidifying rotor as an adsorption rotor, and relates to a dehumidifying device capable of supplying low dew point air with reduced energy consumption.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the demand for lithium batteries has been increasing, and accordingly, their production has also been increasing. Lithium batteries react with moisture in the air, and the performance of the lithium batteries produced by this reaction deteriorates. Therefore, the production line of lithium batteries needs to be kept in a dry state. As means for keeping it in a dry state, there are means for purging the inside of the production factory with dry nitrogen, and means for using a dehumidifying device using a dehumidifying rotor having a moisture adsorbent such as hydrophilic zeolite or silica gel.

[0003] As the applications of lithium batteries expand to automotive uses such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, the scale of production factories has increased, and the means using dehumidifying devices are more frequently adopted.

[0004] In the case of a dehumidifying device, high-temperature air is used for regenerating the dehumidifying rotor, and it is intended to minimize the energy for producing the air. In recent years, the soaring energy prices, the tight supply and demand of electricity, the movement towards carbon neutrality, etc. have accelerated, and further energy saving is required. Therefore, the development of energy-saving dehumidifying devices and dehumidifying flows is underway.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a dehumidifying device that can suppress the amount of heat required for regeneration and save energy with a simple configuration by using the air passing through the cooling device as either the processed air or the purge air only, without reducing the dehumidifying performance.

[0006] In addition to reducing running costs through energy conservation, a reduction in initial costs is also desirable. To reduce initial costs, it is desirable to configure the dehumidifier with a single-stage adsorption rotor to achieve both the supply of low-dew-point air and energy conservation. However, depending on the conditions of the air to be treated, the limit of low-dew-point air that can be supplied with a single-stage adsorption rotor is around -50°C DP (hereinafter, all temperatures will be expressed in degrees Celsius). Therefore, although the initial cost will be slightly higher, by configuring the dehumidifier with a two-stage adsorption rotor, it is possible to supply ultra-low-dew-point air of -60°C DP or lower (hereinafter, low-dew-point air of -60°C DP or lower will be referred to as "ultra-low-dew-point air"). For convenience, in this specification, a dehumidifier configured with a single-stage adsorption rotor may be referred to as "single-stage dehumidification," and a dehumidifier configured with a two-stage adsorption rotor may be referred to as "two-stage dehumidification."

[0007] Figures 7 and 8 of Patent Document 1 (Figure 6 of this application) disclose a dehumidification device composed of a two-stage adsorption rotor. This two-stage dehumidification device includes a first adsorption rotor and a second adsorption rotor having the ability to adsorb moisture. The first adsorption rotor is divided into at least a first processing zone and a first regeneration zone, and the second adsorption rotor is divided into at least a second processing zone, a second regeneration zone, and a second purge zone. The air to be treated is passed through the first processing zone, the air after passing through the first processing zone is sent to the second processing zone and / or second purge zone of the second adsorption rotor, the air after passing through the second processing zone is sent to the supply destination, the air after passing through the second purge zone is passed through a second heating device as regenerated air and passed through the second regeneration zone, the air after passing through the second regeneration zone is mixed with outside air and passed through the first heating device and passed through the first regeneration zone, and the air after passing through the first regeneration zone is discharged.

[0008] Figures 1 and 5 of Patent Document 2 show a first adsorption (dehumidification) rotor divided into at least two zones: a first regeneration zone and a first processing (adsorption) zone, and a second adsorption rotor divided into at least two zones: a second regeneration zone and a second processing zone. The system cools and dehumidifies outside air with a first cooling device (cooler) and passes it through the first processing zone of the first adsorption rotor. The air that has passed through the first processing zone is cooled by a second cooling device using the evaporator of a heat pump, passes through the second processing zone, and then passes through the condenser of the heat pump. A dehumidification device is disclosed that uses a heating device (heater) to adjust the temperature of the air supplied to the destination, mixes the return air from the destination with the air that has passed through the first processing zone, branches off a portion of the air that has passed through the second processing zone, heats it with a second heating device using a heat pump condenser and passes it to the second regeneration zone, and heats the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone with a first heating device using a heat pump condenser and passes it to the first regeneration zone (for convenience, some expressions have been modified to correspond to each element of the present invention). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7592919 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6251311 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] The higher the dew point of the air being treated, the greater the energy consumption of the cooling system. Even with a dehumidifier consisting of a two-stage adsorption rotor, there is a limit to the dehumidification capacity required to generate low-dew-point air for the supply air SA. Increasing the regeneration temperature is effective in increasing dehumidification capacity, but there is an upper limit to the heat resistance temperature of the adsorption rotor and its components, making this undesirable from an energy-saving standpoint.

[0011] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a dehumidifying device that, in a dehumidifying device composed of a two-stage adsorption rotor, has a higher dehumidification capacity than conventional dehumidifying devices even when the dew point of the air to be treated is high, and is capable of supplying highly dehumidified low-dew-point air, while also providing a highly energy-saving dehumidifying device that suppresses the energy consumption required for cooling and regeneration without requiring a complex device configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The dehumidifier of the present invention comprises a first adsorption rotor and a second adsorption rotor having the ability to adsorb moisture, the first adsorption rotor is divided into at least a first processing zone, a first regeneration zone and a first purging zone, the second adsorption rotor is divided into at least a second processing zone and a second regeneration zone, the air to be processed is split into a first processing air, a first purging air and a first mixing air, the first processing air is passed through the first processing zone and the first purging air is passed through the first purging zone and the first processing zone The air that has passed through the first zone is passed through a second processing zone, the air that has passed through the second processing zone is branched and a portion is sent to the supply destination, the remaining air is passed through a second heating device, the air that has passed through the second heating device is sent to a second regeneration zone, the first mixing air, the air that has passed through the first purging zone and the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone are mixed and passed through the first heating device, the air that has passed through the first heating device is passed through the first regeneration zone and the air that has passed through the first regeneration zone is discharged. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The dehumidifier of the present invention employs a two-stage dehumidification system. Because the first adsorption rotor removes almost all of the moisture from the air being treated, the regeneration flow rate of the second adsorption rotor is reduced, allowing for a smaller capacity for the second heating device and thus reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, since the temperature of the air passing through the second regeneration zone is relatively high, the capacity of the first heating device can be reduced, further reducing energy consumption.

[0014] Furthermore, the dehumidifier of the present invention uses partial purging in the preceding first adsorption rotor, and has particularly high dehumidification capacity when the dew point (absolute humidity) of the air to be treated is high after cooling. Therefore, there is no need to excessively cool the air to be treated with the first cooling device, the capacity of the first cooling device can be reduced, and energy consumption can be reduced. If the cooling capacity of the first cooling device can be reduced, the frequency and amount of condensate removal will decrease, reducing the risk of the growth of microorganisms, bacteria, and mold originating from condensate, making it more hygienic. Moreover, because the dehumidifier of the present invention has high dehumidification capacity, the regeneration temperature can be lowered, and if the regeneration temperature is low, a heat pump can also be used.

[0015] The dehumidifying device of the present invention reduces the capacity of the second cooling device and thus reduces energy consumption by limiting the air that passes through the second cooling device to only the air that passes through the second processing zone. In this case, since the second purged air does not pass through the second cooling device, the purge outlet temperature rises, the capacity of the second heating device can be reduced, and energy is saved.

[0016] Furthermore, the dehumidifier of the present invention partially branches off the air that has passed through the first processing zone as second regenerated air (second purge air) before mixing it with the return air RA, so that the regenerated air does not contain return air RA, which is relatively high-value (low dew point) air. Since the air whose temperature has risen after passing through the first processing zone is used for the regeneration of the second adsorption rotor, the heating load and energy consumption of the second heating device can be reduced. In addition, since the second regenerated air (second purge air) is branched off first from the air that has passed through the first processing zone, and the return air from the supply destination is mixed with the remaining second processing air, the risk of contaminants originating from the outside air being mixed into the supply destination is reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a flow chart of Example 1 of the dehumidification device of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flow chart of Example 2 of the dehumidification device of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart of Embodiment 3 of the dehumidification device of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart of Example 4 of the dehumidifying device of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart of Example 5 of the dehumidifying device of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a dehumidification flow (Comparative Example 1) of a conventional general two-stage adsorption rotor.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] The dehumidifying device of the present invention arranges a two-stage adsorption rotor to configure the dehumidifying device in order to supply, for example, ultra-low dew point air of -60°C DP or less, preferably -70°C DP or less, more preferably -80°C DP or less to a supply destination. In the order in which the air to be treated A passes through the treatment path, the first adsorption rotor 1 is arranged in the front stage, and the second adsorption rotor 7 is arranged in the rear stage. The adsorption rotors 1 and 7 have silica gel, zeolite, etc. carried thereon as a moisture adsorbent having a moisture adsorption ability on a honeycomb rotor made of a base material such as inorganic fibers such as glass fibers. Hereinafter, the dehumidifying device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the elements corresponding to the elements of the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, and the description thereof will be omitted unless particularly necessary. Furthermore, in this specification, the air before and after passing through the cooling device and the heating device may be referred to as treated air and regeneration air, respectively.

[0019] A dehumidifying device composed of a two-stage adsorption rotor is larger in size than a dehumidifying device composed of a single-stage adsorption rotor, and the initial cost is relatively high. However, it is advantageous for obtaining highly dehumidified low dew point air compared to single-stage dehumidification as a dehumidifying device, and has the feature that the running cost is generally low.

Examples

[0020] Hereinafter, Example 1 of the dehumidifying device of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 1.

[0021] (The first adsorption rotor) The first adsorption rotor 1 is divided into a first processing zone 2, a first regeneration zone 3, and a first purging zone 4, and these are rotated in this order by a geared motor (not shown) or the like. For example, the air to be processed A containing moisture, such as outside air OA, is cooled by the first cooling device 5 and branched into first processed air a, first purged air b, and first mixed air c (hereinafter referred to as "partial purging"). The first processed air a is passed through the first processing zone 2. In the first processing zone 2, moisture contained in the first processed air a is adsorbed and removed by the adsorbent supported on the first adsorption rotor 1. The air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is sent to the second adsorption rotor 7 (second processing zone 8).

[0022] The first purge air b is passed through the first purge zone 4. In the first purge zone 4, cooled air is passed through to cool the adsorbent of the first adsorption rotor 1, whose temperature has risen in the first regeneration zone 3, and restore its adsorption performance. The air that has passed through the first purge zone 4 is mixed with the first mixing air c and the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone 9 to form the first regenerated air d, which is then passed through the first heating device 6. In the first heating device 6, the first regenerated air d is heated to a temperature sufficient to desorb moisture from the adsorbent (for example, 60-200°C). The air that has passed through the first heating device 6 is passed through the first regeneration zone 3, and the air that has passed through the first regeneration zone 3 is discharged outside the dehumidifier, such as into the atmosphere, as exhaust EA.

[0023] (Second suction rotor) Similar to the first adsorption rotor 1, the second adsorption rotor 7 is divided into a second processing zone 8 and a second regeneration zone 9, and rotated by a geared motor (not shown) or the like. The air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is cooled by the second cooling device 11 and passed through the second processing zone 8 as second processed air f. The low dew point air from which moisture has been removed after passing through the second processing zone 8 is branched, a portion of which is sent as supply air SA to production facilities, dry rooms, and other supply destinations (Room), and the remaining air is passed through the second heating device 12 as second regenerated air h. The air that has passed through the second heating device 12 is passed through the second regeneration zone 9, and the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone 9 is sent to the first adsorption rotor 1 (first regeneration zone 3).

[0024] (First cooling device) In general, in two-stage dehumidification, the first adsorption rotor 1 removes approximately 80-90% or more of the moisture content in the air to be treated A that has passed through the first cooling device 5. If the dew point (absolute humidity) of the air to be treated A is high, the air to be treated is pre-cooled and condensed in the cooling device to lower the absolute humidity and perform pre-dehumidification. In addition, the relative humidity of the cooled air is raised to close to 100% RH to improve the dehumidification efficiency of the adsorption rotor. For example, before introducing the air to be treated A into the first processing zone 2, it is cooled to around 10°C in the first cooling device 5 and pre-dehumidified. As a preliminary step before the first adsorption rotor 1 removes most of the moisture content in the air to be treated A, the first cooling device 5 is required to have a relatively large cooling and condensation capacity that can remove moisture from the air to be treated by cooling and condensation.

[0025] (Second cooling device) The second cooling device 11 is required to have a cooling capacity that can cool the air to be treated to a sufficient degree to obtain the target dew point of the supply air SA. In addition, the second cooling device 11 has the effect of increasing the dehumidification efficiency of the second adsorption rotor 7, (if there is a second purge zone 10, effectively cooling the adsorbent whose temperature has risen,) and increasing the regeneration efficiency of the adsorbent in the second regeneration zone 9. Generally, since more than 95% of the moisture in the air to be treated A is removed by the time it passes through the first processing zone 2, the cooling capacity of the second cooling device 11 can be reduced compared to the first cooling device 5.

[0026] Examples of cooling devices (first cooling device 5, second cooling device 11) include chilled water coils, brine coils, and heat pump evaporators, while examples of heating devices (first heating device 6, second heating device 12) include electric heaters, steam heaters, hot water heaters, and heat pump condensers.

[0027] (Supplier) The supply destination (Room) receives high-quality, low-dew-point air with a high degree of moisture removal. Examples of supply destinations include cold storage warehouses, dry rooms, and manufacturing processes and production plants for lithium batteries, organic EL displays, etc. At the supply destination, the low-dew-point air supply SA is used as a dry environment, and to prevent contamination by diffusion, etc., the space at the supply destination is maintained at positive pressure, with a portion of the pressure being exhausted (not shown).

[0028] In Example 1, the second dehumidifying rotor 7 has only two zones: a processing zone and a regeneration zone. Therefore, compared to Examples 3 to 5 described later (in which the second dehumidifying rotor 7 has three zones: a processing zone, a regeneration zone, and a purging zone), the subsequent structure can be made simpler. Also, since a portion of the ultra-low dew point air SA is used as the second regenerated air h, this is effective when the regeneration temperature of the second heating device 12 is to be set to a low temperature, for example, 60°C. For example, if the second adsorption rotor 7 is configured with a zone area ratio of processing zone:regeneration zone = 6:1, the dew point of the supply air SA can be achieved at a low temperature of 60°C. Therefore, when the regeneration temperature is low, materials with high heat resistance are not required for the dehumidifying device, and readily available and inexpensive materials can be used.

[0029] The air to be treated A has a large flow rate because it takes in the flow rate to be sent to the supply destination and the flow rate necessary for the regeneration of the dehumidifier. The first adsorption rotor 1 processes this large flow rate of air to be treated A, and in order to remove 80-90% or more of the moisture contained in the cooled air to be treated A from the total amount of moisture removed by the dehumidifier, the zone area of ​​the first processing zone 2 needs to be large. On the other hand, the first regeneration zone 3 also needs a certain zone area and regeneration flow rate in order to desorb the moisture adsorbed in the first processing zone 2. For this reason, a person skilled in the art would normally select a rotor having only a processing zone and a regeneration zone as the first adsorption rotor 1. For example, they would select an adsorption rotor with a zone area ratio of processing zone:regeneration zone = 1:1 or 3:1. For this reason, it is rare to deliberately use an adsorption rotor that has a purge zone in addition to the processing zone and regeneration zone as the first adsorption rotor, as in the present invention.

[0030] Furthermore, branching the air to be treated A not only into treated air a and purging air b, but also into the first mixing air c, would reduce the flow rate of the supply air SA and the regeneration flow rate if the flow rate of the air to be treated A remains unchanged. On the other hand, if the flow rate of the supply air SA and the regeneration flow rate remain unchanged, the flow rate of the air to be treated A would increase by the flow rate of the first mixing air c, thus increasing the cooling load on the first cooling device 5. Therefore, even a person skilled in the art would not easily conceive of the idea of ​​branching the first mixing air c from the air to be treated A.

[0031] Here, the higher the dew point of the air to be treated (A), the greater the cooling and condensation capacity required, which increases the capacity and energy consumption of the cooling equipment, resulting in higher running costs. Furthermore, the cooling equipment requires frequent maintenance and inspection, which may result in production stoppages. In addition, condensate is generated and must be removed, which poses a risk of contamination by microorganisms, bacteria, and mold, potentially causing hygiene problems.

[0032] Therefore, although the first cooling device 5 is used to cool the air to be treated A, this is not limited to this configuration. The first cooling device 5 may be placed after branching the air to be treated A, and the first processed air a, the first purged air b, or the first mixed air c may be cooled after branching. Alternatively, the first cooling device 5 may be placed after branching one of the first processed air a, the first purged air b, or the first mixed air c from the air to be treated A, and the air after branching or the remaining air after branching may be cooled. For example, the first mixed air c may be branched first from the air to be treated A, and the remaining air after branching (a mixture of the first processed air a and the first purged air b) may be cooled by the first cooling device 5. In this case, the air after passing through the first cooling device 5 is branched into the first processed air a and the first purged air b, and introduced into the first processing zone 2 and the first purging zone 4, respectively. The first cooling device 5 is not limited to one; multiple devices may be provided. Furthermore, if the dew point of the air to be treated A is sufficiently low, the first cooling device 5 does not need to be operated, or the first cooling device 5 may not even be provided.

[0033] In this way, by selecting the air to be passed through the first cooling device 5, which requires a higher cooling and condensation capacity than the second cooling device 11, the cooling capacity and energy consumption can be reduced compared to the case where the air to be treated A is passed directly through the first cooling device 5. [Examples]

[0034] The following describes Embodiment 2 of the dehumidifier of the present invention, with reference to the flow diagram in Figure 2. Explanations of overlapping parts will be omitted. In Embodiment 2, the air e that has passed through the first adsorption rotor 1 (first processing zone 2) is branched, a portion of which is cooled by the second cooling device 11 and passed through the second processing zone 8 as second processed air f, and the remaining air is passed through the second heating device 12 as second regenerated air h.

[0035] The air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 has a relatively higher dew point than the air SA that has passed through the second processing zone 8, and the regeneration capacity of the second adsorption rotor 7 for the regenerated air h is inferior to that of Example 1. However, since the first processing zone 2 adsorbs approximately 80-90% or more of the moisture content of the air to be processed A that has passed through the first cooling device 5, the temperature rise of the air is greater in the first processing zone 2 than in the second processing zone 8, and the temperature of the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is higher. Therefore, the load on the second heating device 12 can be reduced accordingly, resulting in energy savings. In addition, since the flow rate of the second processed air f that passes through the second cooling device 11 is reduced compared to Example 1, the capacity of the second cooling device 11 can be reduced, making it possible to reduce energy consumption.

[0036] In addition, the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 may be mixed with the return air RA (air i) from the supply source (Room). In Example 2, the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is split into second regenerated air h and the remaining air, the remaining air is mixed with the return air RA (air i) from the supply source (Room) and passed through the second cooling device 11, and the air that has passed through the second cooling device 11 is sent to the second processing zone 8 as second processed air f. [Examples]

[0037] The following describes Embodiment 3 of the dehumidifier of the present invention, with reference to the flow diagram in Figure 3. Explanations of overlapping parts will be omitted. In Embodiment 3, the second adsorption rotor 7 has a second processing zone 8, a second regeneration zone 9, and a second purge zone 10, and is rotationally driven in this order by a geared motor (not shown) or the like. After the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is cooled by passing it through the second cooling device 11, it is branched into second processed air f and second purge air g. The second processed air f is passed through the second processing zone 8, and the low dew point air from which moisture has been removed after passing through the second processing zone 8 is sent as supply air SA to a supply destination (Room) such as production equipment or a dry room. The second purge air g is passed through the second purge zone 10, and the air that has passed through the second purge zone 10 is passed through the second heating device 12 as second regenerated air h. The air that has passed through the second heating device 12 is passed through the second regeneration zone 9, and the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone 9 is sent to the first adsorption rotor 1 (first regeneration zone 3).

[0038] (Comparison of Example 3 and Comparative Example 1 in the first adsorption rotor) In Example 3, the air to be treated A is, for example, ambient air OA, and its temperature and humidity are reduced to 14°C and absolute humidity to 8.3 g / kg (DA) by the first cooling device 5. The cooled air to be treated A is then split into, for example, first treated air a:first purged air b:first mixed air c = 9:1:2. The first regenerated air d is heated to 140°C by the first heating device 6. At this time, the air that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is at -23°C DP.

[0039] In Comparative Example 1 (Figure 6), described later, the first adsorption rotor 1 is divided into two zones: a first processing zone 2 and a first regeneration zone 3, resulting in a rotor with a zone area ratio of processing zone:regeneration zone = 3:1. Air cooled to 14°C and with an absolute humidity of 8.3 g / kg (DA) by the first cooling device 5 is introduced into the first processing zone 2. The first regenerated air d is heated to 140°C by the first heating device 6. At this point, the air that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is at -16°C DP.

[0040] In Example 3 and Comparative Example 1, the processing inlet conditions and regeneration inlet temperature of the first adsorption rotor 1 are the same. In this case, Example 3 has a lower dew point for the air that has passed through the first processing zone 2 and thus higher dehumidification performance. Example 3 differs from Comparative Example 1 in that the first adsorption rotor 1 has a first purge zone 4 and is a partial purge. In the case of Comparative Example 1, the first adsorption rotor 1, which is heated by the regenerated air, enters the first processing zone 2 immediately after passing through the first regeneration zone 3 as rotation changes. Therefore, cooling of the rotor begins first in the first processing zone 2, and adsorption of moisture begins after the rotor has cooled. As a result, the amount of adsorption in the first processing zone 2 is reduced. On the other hand, in Example 3, a first purge zone 4 is provided, and the rotor is cooled by passing cooled first purge air b through it. As a result, adsorption of rotor moisture begins immediately after the first adsorption rotor 1 enters the first processing zone 2 as rotation changes. This purging zone increases the amount of moisture adsorbed in the first processing zone 2 in Example 3 compared to Comparative Example 1, thus improving dehumidification performance. In this way, the first adsorption rotor 1 in Example 3 has the effect of improving dehumidification performance by having a purging zone.

[0041] Here, we compare the case where the first adsorption rotor is divided into three zones: a first processing zone, a first regeneration zone, and a first purging zone, and the air to be processed A is simply split into two: the first processing air a and the first purging air b (hereinafter referred to as "full purging"). In full purging, the rotor can be sufficiently cooled because the flow rate of the purging air in the purging zone is higher than in partial purging in Example 3, but excess moisture contained in the purging air is adsorbed by the rotor, reducing the amount of adsorption in the processing zone. On the other hand, in Example 3, partial purging splits the air to be processed A into three parts: the first processing air a, the first purging air b, and the first mixing air c. This reduces the flow rate of the first purging air b, allowing the rotor to be cooled appropriately while suppressing the adsorption of moisture by the rotor in the first purging zone 4. By suppressing moisture adsorption in the purging zone, the amount of adsorption in the processing zone increases. Therefore, compared to full purging, the partial purging of Example 3 results in a lower dew point for the air that has passed through the first processing zone 2, and thus higher dehumidification performance. Furthermore, by using the air that has passed through the first purging zone 4 and whose temperature has risen as part of the first regenerated air d, the energy consumption of the first heating device 6 can also be reduced. Thus, the first adsorption rotor 1 of Example 3 has the effect of further improving dehumidification performance by having partial purging. For example, when the temperature and humidity of the air to be processed A is reduced to 10°C and absolute humidity to 7.5 g / kg (DA) by the first cooling device 5, and the temperature of the first regenerated air d is raised to 140°C by the first heating device 6, the air that has passed through the first processing zone 2 will be -24°C DP in the case of full purging, and -36°C DP in the case of partial purging.

[0042] In particular, when the dew point of the air to be treated A that has passed through the first cooling device 5 is high, that is, when the absolute humidity is high, for example, 5 to 11 g / kg (DA), preferably 6 to 9 g / kg (DA), the partial purging of Example 3 has the highest dehumidification performance compared to when the first adsorption rotor 1 is composed of two zones, a processing zone and a regeneration zone, as in Comparative Example 1, and when it is composed of three zones, a processing zone, a regeneration zone, and a purging zone, and is a full purging. Therefore, in the partial purging of Example 3, it is not necessary to excessively cool the air to be treated A with the first cooling device 5, and it may be possible to reduce the cooling capacity and energy consumption. Note that when the dew point of the air to be treated A that has passed through the cooling device is high, condensation may occur on the regeneration outlet side, which may reduce the dehumidification performance, so it is necessary to cool the air to be treated A to the extent that condensation does not occur on the regeneration outlet side.

[0043] As described above, configuring the first adsorption rotor 1 as a partial purge exhibits a particularly high dehumidification effect when the air to be treated A has a high dew point, i.e., high absolute humidity, and the first adsorption rotor 1 processes air that is close to saturated air with a relative humidity of 100%RH (air with an absolute humidity of 5 to 11 g / kg(DA), preferably 6 to 9 g / kg(DA)) after passing through a cooling device. By improving the dehumidification performance of the first adsorption rotor 1, the diameter of the second adsorption rotor 7 can be reduced, or the flow rate of the second regenerated air h can be reduced. [Examples]

[0044] The following describes Embodiment 4 of the dehumidification device of the present invention, with reference to the flow diagram in Figure 4. Explanations of overlapping parts will be omitted. Embodiment 4 has the same configuration as Embodiment 3, but the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is split into the second processed air f and the second purged air g, and only the second processed air f is cooled by the second cooling device 11. The second processed air f cooled by the second cooling device 11 is passed through the second processing zone 8, and the low dew point air from which moisture has been removed after passing through the second processing zone 8 is sent as supply air SA to the supply destination (Room) such as production equipment or a dry room.

[0045] In this case, by not passing the second purge air g through the second cooling device 11, the air that has passed through the second purge zone 10 is at a higher temperature, reducing the amount of dehumidification in the second purge zone 10. When the temperature of the second purge air g is high, the cooling effect of the second adsorption rotor 7 decreases, which negatively impacts the adsorption performance. Furthermore, adsorption of moisture is less likely to occur in the second purge zone 10, and low-dew-point air is not generated in the second purge zone 10, which also negatively impacts the desorption performance. However, since the dew point of the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 and is sent to the second processing zone 8 is low, for example, -20°C DP, even if the amount of dehumidification in the second purge zone 10 decreases, the air processed by the second adsorption rotor 7 is dry air, so the impact on desorption performance is small. When the dew point of the air that has passed through the first adsorption rotor 1 is -20°CDP, the dew point of the supply air SA in both Example 3 and Example 4 is ultra-low dew point air around -70°CDP, so there is no significant difference in practical terms, and the dehumidification performance can be said to be equivalent. Therefore, when the dew point of the air that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is low, the effect of not passing the second purge air g through the second cooling device 11 is significant. In addition, since the temperature of the air that has left the second purge zone 10 can be increased, the capacity of the second heating device 12 can be reduced, resulting in energy savings. Furthermore, the capacity of the second cooling device 11 and energy consumption can be reduced compared to Example 3.

[0046] In Examples 1, 3, and 4, the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is mixed with the return air RA (air i) from the supply destination (Room), cooled by the second cooling device 11, and all or part of the air that has passed through the second cooling device 11 may be used as the second processed air f. This allows for the reuse of low-dew-point air at the supply destination (Room) and reduces the load on the dehumidifier. Specifically, in Example 1, all of the return air RA is mixed with the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2, cooled by the second cooling device 11, and sent to the second processing zone 8 as the second processed air f. In Example 3, the return air RA is mixed with the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 and cooled by the second cooling device 11, and the air that has passed through the second cooling device 11 is split into the second processed air f and the second purged air g, which are then passed through the second processing zone 8 and the second purged zone 10, respectively. In Example 4, the return air RA is mixed with the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2, and this air is split into a second processed air f and a second purged air g. The second processed air f is cooled by the second cooling device 11 and sent to the second processing zone 8, and the second purged air g is sent to the second purged zone 10. [Examples]

[0047] The following describes Embodiment 5 of the dehumidifier of the present invention, with reference to the flow diagram in Figure 5. Explanations of overlapping parts will be omitted. In Embodiment 5, the air that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is split into the second purged air g and the remaining air. This remaining air is mixed with the return air RA (air i) from the supply destination (Room) and passed through the second cooling device 11. The air that has passed through the second cooling device is sent to the second processing zone 8 as the second processed air f'.

[0048] When the return air RA is returned to the dehumidification process path, the supply air SA, the supply destination (Room), and the return air RA (air i) form a semi-closed loop in which low-dew-point air circulates at a constant flow rate during the operation of the dehumidifier. The purpose of this semi-closed loop is to reduce the amount of air to be treated A introduced to the minimum necessary flow rate, such as the flow rate lost due to exhaust from the supply destination and the flow rate required for regenerating the adsorption rotor. Generally, the dew point of the return air RA is higher than that of the supply air SA, but is still sufficiently low. For example, if the supply air SA is -60°C DP, the humidity load at the supply destination will cause the return air RA to be, for example, -40 to -30°C DP, which is equivalent to or lower than the dew point of the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2.

[0049] On the other hand, in the configurations of Examples 1, 3, and 4, the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 is mixed with return air RA, which is air with a higher value, before being processed by the second adsorption rotor 7. A portion of this mixed air is used for regeneration as the second purge air g and the second regenerated air h, which increases the dehumidification load on the second cooling device 11 and the second adsorption rotor 7. In addition, there is a risk that contaminants originating from the air to be treated A, such as pollutants contained in the outside air OA and air contaminated by microorganisms, bacteria, and mold originating from the first cooling device 5, will be mixed into the circulating air of the semi-closed loop. Therefore, in Example 5, the second purge air g is branched off from the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2, and the remaining air is mixed with the return air RA (air i) and sent to the second processing zone 8. This results in the second regenerated air h not containing relatively high levels of return air RA, which reduces the dehumidification load on the second cooling device 11 and the second adsorption rotor 7, and reduces the risk of contaminants originating from outside air OA mixing into the semi-closed loop circulating air. This effect can also be obtained in Example 2, in which the second regenerated air h is branched off from the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 before mixing with the return air RA (air i), and in the modified versions of Examples 2 to 5 described later, in which the second purge air g and the second regenerated air h are branched off from the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 before mixing with the return air RA (air i), as shown by the dotted line.

[0050] Furthermore, according to the configuration of Example 5, the second processed air f' is cooled by the second cooling device 11, similar to Example 4, which has the effect of reducing cooling capacity and energy consumption.

[0051] (modified version) In Examples 1 to 5, as shown by the dashed lines in Figures 1 to 5, the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone 9 may be mixed with outside air OA (air j) and sent to the first regeneration zone 3. This increases the flow rate required for the regeneration of the first adsorption rotor 1. On the other hand, the regeneration flow rate of the second adsorption rotor 7 can be reduced, thereby reducing the load, capacity, and energy consumption of the second heating device 12. Note that the air j mixed with the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone 9 is not limited to outside air OA; other air such as return air RA may be used, and the flow may not include mixing with outside air OA.

[0052] As mentioned above, the dew point of the return air RA is higher than that of the supply air SA, but it is still a sufficiently low dew point, and its dew point is the same as or lower than that of the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2. Therefore, in Examples 1 to 5, the return air RA can be mixed directly with the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 without being cooled by the second cooling device 11. That is, as shown by the dotted line, the return air RA (air i) may be mixed with the air that has passed through the second cooling device 11 and sent to the second processing zone 8 as the second processed air f or f'. Furthermore, the return air RA (air i) may not be mixed between the first adsorption rotor 1 and the second adsorption rotor 7, but may be mixed with the air to be processed A and introduced into the first adsorption rotor 7, or it may be discharged entirely from the supply source (Room) without mixing as return air RA from the supply source (in this case, it becomes a single pass).

[0053] The type of adsorbent material used in the first adsorption rotor 1 and the second adsorption rotor 7 is not limited; they may be the same material or different materials. For example, by using silica gel, which is good at dehumidifying in relatively high humidity ranges, for the adsorbent material of the first adsorption rotor 1, and zeolite, which is good at dehumidifying in relatively low humidity ranges, for the adsorbent material of the second adsorption rotor 7, high dehumidification performance can be achieved.

[0054] In the above embodiments 1 to 5, a blower or other means of supplying air (not shown) is appropriately installed at any location. Although the first purge air b, which is branched from the air to be treated A, is passed through the first purge zone 4, this is not the only option, and other air such as outside air OA, air that has passed through the first treatment zone 2, or return air RA from the supply source may be used. Similarly, the second purge air g is not limited to air branched from the air that has passed through the first treatment zone 2, but may also be other air such as return air RA, outside air OA, or a portion of the air that has passed through the second treatment zone 8. The air that passes through treatment zones 2, 8 or purge zones 4, 10 may be connected to piping that carries outside air OA, return air RA, etc., and flow control devices such as valves and dampers, or route switching devices such as three-way valves may be installed in this piping to adjust the flow rate of air flowing to each zone or to switch the type of air.

[0055] Furthermore, temperature control devices may be provided at any desired location to cool or heat any of the air, individually or in combination, from the processed air a, f(f'), purged air b, g, and the first mixing air c, as needed. In addition, the supply air SA may be heated or cooled. Separate zones may be provided for the adsorption rotors 1 and 7. The air that has passed through the second processing zone 8 and the air that has passed through the first regeneration zone 3 may be supplied to or discharged at any desired location. If the temperature of the air after passing through the first regeneration zone 3 is high, heat exchange may be performed with the outside air OA (air j) or the first mixing air c, etc., which are mixed with the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone 9.

[0056] (Comparative Example 1) Figure 6 shows the dehumidification flow of a conventional two-stage adsorption rotor (Comparative Example 1). Explanations of overlapping parts are omitted. In Figure 6, the first adsorption rotor 1 is divided into two zones: the first processing zone 2 and the first regeneration zone 3. The air to be processed A is cooled by passing it through the first cooling device 5 and passed through the first processing zone 2 as the first processed air a. The air that has passed through the second regeneration zone 9 is passed through the first heating device 6 as the first regenerated air d. The air that has passed through the first heating device 6 is sent to the first regeneration zone 3.

[0057] As mentioned above, in Comparative Example 1, the air e that has passed through the first processing zone 2 may be mixed with the return air RA (air i) from the supply destination (Room), and the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone 9 may be mixed with outside air OA (air j) to form the first regenerated air d.

[0058] Comparing Comparative Example 1 with Examples 1-5, the dehumidifier of the present invention is characterized by having a first adsorption rotor 1 with three zones: a first processing zone 2, a first regeneration zone 3, and a first purging zone 4. A portion of the air to be treated A is branched off as a first mixing air c and used as part of the first regenerated air d, which is a partial purging method. The difference from Comparative Example 1 is the provision of a path for the first purging zone 4 and the first mixing air c, allowing the present invention to be implemented with a simpler configuration. As a result, the first adsorption rotor 1 of the dehumidifier of the present invention has the effect of improving dehumidification performance by having a first purging zone 4, compared to Comparative Example 1 which only has a first processing zone 2 and a first regeneration zone 3. Furthermore, compared to a configuration that has a first purging zone and performs full purging, the present invention uses partial purging, which has the effect of exhibiting high dehumidification performance, especially when the dew point (absolute humidity) of the air to be treated A is high. [Industrial applicability]

[0059] The present invention provides a dehumidifier that supplies ultra-low dew point air to manufacturing processes requiring a dry environment, such as lithium battery production, thereby reducing costs and enabling energy-saving operation without compromising dehumidification performance. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0060] 1. First suction rotor 2. First processing zone 3. First regeneration zone 4. First Purge Zone 5. First cooling device 6. First heating device 7. Second suction rotor 8. Second processing zone 9. Second regeneration zone 10. Second Purge Zone 11. Second cooling device 12. Second heating device A. Air to be treated a. First processed air b. First purge air c. First air mixture d First recycled air e Air that has passed through the first processing zone f, f' Second processed air g Second purge air h Second recycled air i. Return air from the supplier j outside air

Claims

1. It comprises a first adsorption rotor and a second adsorption rotor having the ability to adsorb moisture, The first adsorption rotor is divided into at least a first processing zone, a first regeneration zone, and a first purging zone. The second adsorption rotor is divided into at least a second processing zone and a second regeneration zone, The air to be treated, having passed through the first cooling device, is split into a first treated air, a first purging air, and a first mixing air. The first processed air is passed through the first processing zone, The first purge air is passed through the first purge zone, The air that has passed through the first processing zone is first split into second regenerated air and the remaining air. The return air from the supply source is mixed with the remaining air and passed through the second processing zone as second processed air. The air that has passed through the second processing zone is sent to the supply destination. The second regenerated air is passed through the second heating device, The air that has passed through the second heating device is sent to the second regeneration zone. The first mixing air, the air that has passed through the first purging zone, and the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone are mixed and passed through the first heating device as first regenerated air. The air that has passed through the first heating device is passed through the first regeneration zone, A dehumidifier characterized in that it discharges the air that has passed through the first regeneration zone, A dehumidifying device characterized in that either the remaining air or the second processed air is passed through a second cooling device and sent to the second processing zone.

2. It comprises a first adsorption rotor and a second adsorption rotor having the ability to adsorb moisture, The first adsorption rotor is divided into at least a first processing zone, a first regeneration zone, and a first purging zone. The second adsorption rotor is divided into at least a second processing zone, a second purging zone, and a second regeneration zone. The air to be treated, having passed through the first cooling device, is split into a first treated air, a first purging air, and a first mixing air. The first processed air is passed through the first processing zone, The first purge air is passed through the first purge zone, The air that has passed through the first processing zone is passed through the second cooling device. The air that has passed through the second cooling device is first split into the second purge air and the remaining air. The return air from the supply source is mixed with the remaining air and passed through the second processing zone as second processed air. The air that has passed through the second processing zone is sent to the supply destination. The second purge air is passed through the second purge zone, The air that has passed through the second purging zone is passed through the second heating device as second regenerated air. The air that has passed through the second heating device is sent to the second regeneration zone. The first mixing air, the air that has passed through the first purging zone, and the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone are mixed and passed through the first heating device as first regenerated air. The air that has passed through the first heating device is passed through the first regeneration zone, A dehumidifier characterized by discharging the air that has passed through the first regeneration zone.

3. comprising a first adsorption rotor and a second adsorption rotor having the ability to adsorb moisture, The first adsorption rotor is divided into at least a first processing zone, a first regeneration zone, and a first purging zone. The second adsorption rotor is divided into at least a second processing zone, a second purging zone, and a second regeneration zone. The air to be treated, having passed through the first cooling device, is split into a first treated air, a first purging air, and a first mixing air. The first processed air is passed through the first processing zone, The first purge air is passed through the first purge zone, The air that has passed through the first processing zone is first split into the second purged air and the remaining air. The return air from the supply source is mixed with the remaining air and passed through the second processing zone as second processed air. The air that has passed through the second processing zone is sent to the supply destination. The second purge air is passed through the second purge zone, The air that has passed through the second purging zone is passed through the second heating device as second regenerated air. The air that has passed through the second heating device is sent to the second regeneration zone. The first mixing air, the air that has passed through the first purging zone, and the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone are mixed and passed through the first heating device as first regenerated air. The air that has passed through the first heating device is passed through the first regeneration zone, A dehumidifier characterized in that it discharges the air that has passed through the first regeneration zone, A dehumidifying device characterized in that either the remaining air or the second processed air is passed through a second cooling device and sent to the second processing zone.

4. A dehumidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it mixes the air that has passed through the second regeneration zone with outside air and uses the mixed air as part of the first regenerated air.

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