Compressorless air conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems are inefficient in terms of electricity usage and greenhouse gas emissions, and they often transport unwanted mold and bacteria into conditioned spaces due to their design and operation.
Innovation Solution
A compressorless air conditioning system that uses a heat-to-mass extractor and a mass-to-heat converter, both physically disconnected but operating in tandem, to control humidity and temperature without refrigerants or ductwork, utilizing liquid desiccants and low-grade heat to manage humidity and temperature within a conditioned space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a conventional air conditioning system with compressor and refrigerant is used, then cooling function is achieved, but electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the compressor and refrigerant from the air conditioning system, extracting the harmful components that consume electricity and emit greenhouse gases. The system achieves cooling without these traditional components by using direct evaporative cooling with water and air, eliminating the need for mechanical compression and refrigerant circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical compressor-based refrigeration cycle with a passive evaporative cooling system. Instead of using mechanical energy to compress refrigerant, the system uses the natural evaporative cooling effect where water evaporates into air, absorbing heat and lowering temperature without mechanical intervention.
2Ease of operation
If conventional air conditioning system with ductwork is used, then air circulation is achieved, but mold and bacteria are transported into conditioned spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the ductwork system from the air conditioning design, extracting the pathway that transports mold and bacteria into conditioned spaces. The system provides localized cooling without requiring extensive duct networks that can harbor and distribute contaminants throughout the building.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water as an intermediary substance for heat transfer instead of using air circulation through ducts. The evaporative cooling process transfers heat from the air to the water, which then dissipates the heat through evaporation, avoiding the need for mechanical air circulation systems that can distribute contaminants.
3Reliability
If compressor and condenser are used in air conditioning system, then refrigeration cycle is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the compressor and condenser from the air conditioning system, extracting the complex mechanical components required for traditional refrigeration cycles. The system achieves cooling functionality without these components by utilizing the simple physical principle of evaporative cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters of the cooling system from mechanical compression-based temperature reduction to evaporative cooling-based temperature reduction. This parameter change allows the system to achieve cooling with simpler components by exploiting the phase change of water from liquid to vapor, which absorbs heat from the surrounding air.
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 system reduces energy consumption, minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, and prevents the transport of mold and bacteria into the conditioned space by efficiently controlling humidity and temperature without the need for compressors or refrigerants, using the air within the space as a medium for heat and mass transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-to-mass extractor, configured to extract moisture from air in a conditioned space
Implementation Method 2
a mass-to-heat converter, configured to reduce a temperature of the air in the conditioned space
Data Source
AI summary
According to various aspects, the present disclosure provides an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system can be a compressorless air conditioning system. According to at least one aspect, the air conditioning system can include a heat-to-mass extractor and a mass-to-heat converter. The heat-to-mass extractor can be configured to extract moisture from air in a conditioned space without increasing the temperature of the air. The heat-to-mass extractor can include a liquid desiccant, a collector, and a regenerator. The regenerator and the collector can be fluidically coupled via the liquid desiccant. The mass-to-heat converter can be configured to reduce a temperature of the air in the conditioned space via the evaporation of water and can be physically disconnected from the heat-to-mass extractor.