Counter-Flow Dehumidifier Core for Air Precooling and Reheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dehumidification technologies face inefficiencies in effectively precooling and reheating air streams, particularly in systems that require both dehumidification and heating or cooling, due to limitations in heat exchange designs and material thermal conductivity.
Innovation Solution
A dehumidification apparatus featuring a cooled core with alternating embossed generally planar elements forming air inlet and outlet pathways, where air flows in counter-current directions through pathways with varying thermal conductivity, enhancing heat exchange efficiency and allowing for heat reuse, and incorporating a core-surrounding air flow pre-cooling and post-heating assembly for efficient air treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional heat exchange designs are used in dehumidification systems, then the system structure is simple, but the heat exchange efficiency is insufficient and energy waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange structure is segmented into multiple alternating planar elements (first and second elements) forming separate first and second air pathways. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each pathway while maintaining efficient counter-flow heat exchange between them, resolving the contradiction between heat exchange efficiency and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional single-dimension heat exchange to multi-dimensional counter-flow heat exchange by creating alternating planar elements that extend in multiple directions. This dimensional change enables simultaneous precooling and reheating processes to occur in different spatial zones, significantly improving heat exchange efficiency without excessive structural complexity.
2Productivity
If air pathways are designed without counter-flow arrangement, then the structure is simple, but precooling and reheating efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements counter-flow arrangement where the first air pathway and second air pathway flow in opposite directions through the alternating planar elements. This inversion of conventional parallel-flow design enables efficient precooling of incoming air by outgoing cold air, and simultaneous reheating of precooled air by outgoing warm air, significantly improving dehumidification productivity.
3Loss of energy
If uniform thermal conductivity materials are used throughout the system, then material selection is simple, but heat exchange performance cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different thermal conductivity materials to different components: high thermal conductivity material for the cooled core to maximize heat transfer, and low thermal conductivity material for the air pathways to minimize unwanted heat loss. This local quality differentiation optimizes heat exchange performance while maintaining reasonable material selection complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses composite material construction with alternating planar elements made of different materials optimized for their specific functions. The cooled core uses high thermal conductivity material while pathway elements use low thermal conductivity material, creating a composite structure that enhances overall heat exchange performance.
4Loss of energy
If heat recovery is not implemented, then the system design is simple, but energy waste occurs from discarded heat
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the precooling and reheating functions into a single integrated heat exchange structure where the first and second air pathways interact through alternating planar elements. This combining of functions enables automatic heat recovery without requiring separate heat recovery systems, improving energy efficiency while maintaining design simplicity.
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 apparatus achieves enhanced dehumidification and heating/cooling efficiency by optimizing heat exchange through counter-flow air paths and thermal conductivity differences, enabling effective precooling and reheating of air streams while reusing heat energy, thus improving overall system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cooled core (102) having a plurality of cooling pathways (108) extending through the core
Implementation Method 2
at least first and second air inlet pathways (108) and at least first and second air outlet pathways (112) are in heat exchange propinquity with one another whereby relatively humid air in the first and second air inlet pathways is precooled upstream of the cooled core
Implementation Method 3
relatively dry air in the first and second air outlet pathways is heated downstream of the cooled core
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Dehumidification apparatus (100) including a cooled core (102) coupled to an external cooling source, at least first and second relatively humid air inlet pathways (108) leading to the cooled core and at least first and second relatively dry air outlet pathways (112) leading from the cooled core, the outlet pathways being in heat exchange propinquity with the inlet pathways whereby relatively humid air in the inlet pathways is precooled upstream of the cooled core and relatively dry air in the outlet pathways is heated downstream of the cooled core, the cooled core defining a multiplicity of mutually adjacent cooling pathways extending therethrough which are each coupled to one of the inlet pathways and to one of the outlet pathways such that air passes through adjacent ones of the mutually adjacent cooling pathways in mutually different directions.