Air-conditioning method and device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air conditioning systems face inefficiencies in energy consumption due to overdrying and overcooling, with high maintenance requirements and the need for compressors, and they often fail to effectively integrate the heat of adsorption into the heat circuit, leading to increased energy use and potential health risks from bacterial growth.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a cross-flow heat exchanger with adsorption material, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), that separates air streams and uses a two-sorption heat exchanger system for continuous operation, integrating the heat of adsorption into the heat circuit and avoiding liquid water to reduce energy consumption and maintenance, while ensuring isothermal drying and efficient regeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If compressor technology is used for cooling and dehumidification, then cooling effect is achieved, but energy consumption increases and maintenance requirements arise
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning process is segmented into separate drying and cooling steps. A drying wheel with adsorbent material handles dehumidification independently, while a separate heat exchanger handles cooling, eliminating the need for compressor technology and reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical compressor system is replaced with an adsorption-based drying wheel system. The drying wheel uses adsorbent material to bind atmospheric humidity through adsorption, eliminating moving parts and maintenance requirements while reducing energy consumption.
2Loss of substance
If adsorption systems are used for drying air, then dehumidification is achieved, but energy consumption increases due to regeneration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The drying wheel is integrated with a heat exchanger in a combined unit. The heat exchanger recovers heat from the incoming air stream and uses it to regenerate the adsorbent material in the drying wheel, reducing the energy required for regeneration and overall system energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates continuously with the drying wheel and heat exchanger working in an integrated manner. The heat exchanger constantly recovers and transfers heat to maintain the drying wheel's adsorption capacity, ensuring continuous dehumidification with minimized regeneration energy requirements.
3Loss of substance
If drying wheel systems are used, then dehumidification is achieved, but apparatus complexity and maintenance outlay increase due to rotating parts
Solution Approach 1:
The drying wheel is merged with the heat exchanger into a single integrated apparatus. This combination simplifies the overall system structure by eliminating separate components and reducing apparatus complexity while maintaining the dehumidification function.
4Loss of substance
If overdrying is performed to ensure low humidity, then dehumidification target is met, but rehumidification is required increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback control to monitor the humidity level of the treated air. When the desired humidity level is reached, the system automatically adjusts the drying wheel's operation to prevent overdrying, eliminating the need for energy-consuming rehumidification processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces energy consumption by integrating the heat of adsorption, minimizing overdrying and rehumidification, and simplifies maintenance by eliminating compressors and liquid water, enabling compact, decentralized air conditioning systems that maintain 100% fresh air introduction.
Implementation Method 1
drying of the air, there are absorptive processes in which the hygroscopic nature of, for example, lithium bromide solutions is exploited in order to bind atmospheric humidity; recycling occurs via an evaporation step. Owing to the aggressive nature of the best solutions, namely lithium bromide and chloride, the use of special, noncorroding materials is necessary for industrial implementation
Implementation Method 2
an adsorptive air-air cross-flow heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
recycling occurs via an evaporation step
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus including a first absorptive heat exchanger having sorption channels in at least one flow direction, a method for conditioning fluids, in particular for cooling and/or drying a stream of air, an adsorptive air-air cross-flow heat exchanger, and an outer wall element including an integrated air conditioning apparatus.