High performance dehumidifier apparatus using heat pump

Abstract

This invention combines a heat pump, currently available, that provides heat for regeneration at temperatures below 100°C, preferably below 80°C, and more preferably between 60°C and 80°C, with a dehumidification device comprising a dehumidifying rotor using a special adsorbent material that can be well regenerated at temperatures between 60°C and 80°C. This special adsorbent material is a porous and crystalline material with a surface area in the range of 500 m² / g to 10,000 m² / g and a regeneration temperature between 60°C and 80°C. Therefore, compared to dehumidification devices with dehumidifying rotors configured to support reference materials (silicone and molecular sieves), this dehumidification device has shown a higher adsorption performance (moisture removal) of greater than 15–25% under similar operating conditions. The present invention combines the now available heat pumps delivering heat at temperatures of less than 100 DegC, preferably less than 80 DegC, preferably between 60 DegC to 80 DegC for regeneration, with a dehumidifier apparatus incorporating desiccant wheel using special adsorbent materials that can be very well regenerated at temperatures between 60 DegC to 80 DegC. The special adsorbent materials are porous and crystalline materials, with surface area in a range of 500 m2 / g to 10,000 m2 / g, and a regeneration temperature between 60 DegC to 80 DegC. Thus, the present dehumidification apparatus has shown greater than 15-25% higher adsorption performance (water removal), under similar operating conditions when compared with dehumidifier apparatuses deploying desiccant wheel carrying benchmark materials (silica gels and molecular sieves).

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