Air dehumidifier
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVACR systems face challenges in efficiently dehumidifying air while maintaining optimal humidity levels, particularly in environments with high humidity, and there is a need for improved air handling units that can effectively regenerate desiccants to enhance dehumidification capacity.
Innovation Solution
The HVACR system incorporates a dual desiccant wheel configuration with separate air dehumidifying and air regeneration paths, utilizing two desiccant wheels and cooler heat exchangers, along with a chiller that supplies liquid at or above 50°F to cool and dehumidify air, and a heater to regenerate desiccants, enhancing dehumidification efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional chiller systems use low-temperature chiller fluids to achieve dehumidification, then the dehumidification capability is improved, but the system efficiency deteriorates and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the dehumidification process into two separate stages using two desiccant wheels: a first desiccant wheel for initial dehumidification and a second desiccant wheel for further dehumidification. This segmentation allows each wheel to operate at different temperature conditions, with the first wheel handling the bulk of moisture removal and the second wheel achieving the target dew point, thereby eliminating the need for uniformly low-temperature chiller fluids throughout the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the chiller liquid from conventional low temperatures to at or above 50°F. By using higher temperature chiller liquid in combination with the two-stage desiccant process, the system achieves the same dehumidification effect while improving chiller efficiency and allowing the use of alternative cooling sources such as waste heat recovery or ambient cooling.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional chiller systems use low-temperature chiller fluids to achieve dehumidification, then the dehumidification capability is improved, but the operating cost deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the chiller liquid from conventional low temperatures to at or above 50°F. By using higher temperature chiller liquid in combination with the two-stage desiccant process, the system achieves the same dehumidification effect while improving chiller efficiency and allowing the use of alternative cooling sources such as waste heat recovery or ambient cooling.
3Device complexity
If a single desiccant wheel is used for dehumidification, then the device complexity is reduced, but the dehumidification performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the dehumidification process into two separate stages using two desiccant wheels: a first desiccant wheel for initial dehumidification and a second desiccant wheel for further dehumidification. This segmentation allows each wheel to operate at different temperature conditions, with the first wheel handling the bulk of moisture removal and the second wheel achieving the target dew point, thereby eliminating the need for uniformly low-temperature chiller fluids throughout the entire system.
4Temperature
If chiller liquid is supplied at low temperature for dehumidification, then the cooling effect is improved, but the ability to use alternative cooling sources deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the chiller liquid from conventional low temperatures to at or above 50°F. By using higher temperature chiller liquid in combination with the two-stage desiccant process, the system achieves the same dehumidification effect while improving chiller efficiency and allowing the use of alternative cooling sources such as waste heat recovery or ambient cooling.
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
The system achieves enhanced dehumidification capabilities by rotating desiccants between dehumidifying and regenerating paths, ensuring effective moisture removal and maintaining desired humidity levels, thereby improving air quality in conditioned spaces.
Implementation Method 1
The first cooler heat exchanger is disposed in the AD flow path upstream of the first desiccant wheel and the second desiccant wheel and is configured to cool the air in the AD flow path with a chiller liquid
Implementation Method 2
The second cooler heat exchanger is disposed in the AD flow path between the first desiccant wheel and the second desiccant wheel and is configured to cool the air with the chiller liquid
Implementation Method 3
The heater is disposed in the AR flow path upstream of the first desiccant wheel and the second desiccant wheel
Implementation Method 4
The first desiccant wheel is disposed in each of the AD flow path and the AR flow path and is configured to dehumidify air in the AD flow path
Implementation Method 5
The second desiccant wheel is disposed in each of the AD flow path and the AR flow path and is configured to further dehumidify the air in the AD flow path
Implementation Method 6
The chiller is configured to supply the chiller liquid to the first cooler heat exchanger and the second cooler heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
The AHU includes an air dehumidifying (AD) flow path, an air regeneration (AR) flow path, a first desiccant wheel and a second desiccant wheel each in the AD flow path and the AR flow path, a first cooler heat exchanger in the AD flow path, a second cooler in the AD flow path, and a heater disposed in the AR flow path. An HVACR system includes the AHU and a chiller configured to supply chiller liquid to the first cooler heat exchanger and the second cooler heat exchanger in the AHU. A method of conditioning air in an HVACR system includes directing air through the air dehumidifying (AD) flow path and directing air through an air regeneration (AR) flow path to regenerate the desiccant in a first desiccant wheel and the desiccant in a second desiccant wheel.