Dehumidification system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current dehumidification systems face challenges in minimizing energy consumption and achieving stable operation, particularly in the regeneration process of desiccant materials, which requires high-temperature air streams and can be inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A dehumidification system incorporating a sorption dehumidifier unit with a process air circuit, a regeneration air circuit, and a heat pump, along with an intermediate fluid circuit that controls the cooling fluid temperature to optimize the cooling of process air and heating of regeneration air, using a flow control system to manage the flow of cooling fluid and heat transfer between the air streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If process air is cooled prior to dehumidifier inlet to remove moisture, then dehumidification effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases due to additional cooling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function and heat pump function into an integrated system where the heat pump serves dual purposes: cooling the process air before it enters the dehumidifier and heating the regeneration air. This merging of functions allows the system to achieve effective dehumidification while recovering and reusing thermal energy, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate fluid circuit as a mediator between the heat pump and the process air cooling system. This intermediate fluid acts as a heat transfer medium, enabling efficient thermal energy transfer from the heat pump to the process air without direct contact between components, thus optimizing the cooling process while maintaining energy efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If heat pump is used to heat regeneration air and cool process air, then energy effectiveness is improved through heat recovery, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pump is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously performs cooling of process air and heating of regeneration air. This universal application of the heat pump allows the system to recover thermal energy from the process air cooling process and utilize it for regeneration air heating, thereby improving overall energy effectiveness while managing system complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the process air before it enters the dehumidifier, and simultaneously prepares heated regeneration air in advance. This preliminary action approach allows the heat pump to pre-condition both air streams, optimizing the dehumidification process and reducing the energy required during actual operation.
3Temperature
If cooling fluid flow is increased to improve process air cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but heat transfer efficiency to regeneration air decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic flow control system that adjusts the cooling fluid flow rate based on real-time operational requirements. By making the flow rate variable rather than fixed, the system can optimize cooling effectiveness when needed while maintaining sufficient heat transfer efficiency for regeneration air heating, thereby balancing both requirements dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback control mechanisms that monitor the temperatures and flow rates of both process air and regeneration air. This feedback information is used to adjust the cooling fluid flow rate automatically, ensuring that cooling effectiveness is maintained while preventing excessive flow that would reduce heat transfer efficiency to the regeneration 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 approach reduces energy consumption by pre-cooling the process air and pre-heating the regeneration air, ensuring stable dehumidification and efficient heat transfer, thereby enhancing the overall energy effectiveness and reliability of the dehumidification process.
Implementation Method 1
an intermediate fluid circuit with a cooling fluid (C), arranged to cool the process air in a heat exchanger before inlet of the process air into the dehumidifier unit
Implementation Method 2
The heat subtracted from the process air flow during cooling can be transferred to the regeneration air stream by the provision of a heat pump in the dehumidification system. US2005/0050906A1 shows an example of this, where process air is cooled by the evaporator of a heat pump prior to the dehumidifier inlet
Implementation Method 3
the heat subtracted from the process air flow during cooling can be transferred to the regeneration air stream by the provision of a heat pump in the dehumidification system
Implementation Method 4
process air is cooled by the evaporator of a heat pump prior to the dehumidifier inlet, and the regeneration air is heated by the condenser of the heat pump
Implementation Method 5
A sorption dehumidifier typically comprises a dehumidifying element in the form of a wheel or rotor holding desiccant material, which is effective in attracting and retaining water vapour. The desiccant material in the rotor extracts moisture from the process air
Implementation Method 6
the intermediate fluid circuit further comprising a flow control system arranged to control the flow of cooling fluid (C) in the intermediate fluid circuit to obtain a cooling fluid temperature dependent parameter value (T1) in the intermediate fluid circuit upstream of the process air cooling heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A dehumidification system (1) comprising a sorption dehumidifier unit (2); a process air circuit (3) arranged to conduct a process air flow through desiccant material in the dehumidifier unit (2); a regeneration air circuit (4) arranged to conduct a regeneration air flow through desiccant material in the dehumidifier unit (2); and a heat pump (5) comprising an evaporator (6) and a condenser (7), where the system further comprises an intermediate fluid circuit (8) with a cooling fluid (C), arranged to cool the process air in a heat exchanger (9) before inlet of the process air into the dehumidifier unit (2), said intermediate fluid circuit (8) comprising a fluid pump (11) and a main conduit (8a) arranged to conduct cooling fluid (C) through the process air cooling heat exchanger (9) and through the evaporator (6) of the heat pump, and the intermediate fluid circuit (8) further comprising a flow control system (10) arranged to control the flow of cooling fluid (C) in the intermediate fluid circuit (8) to obtain a cooling fluid temperature dependent parameter value (T1) in the intermediate fluid circuit (8) upstream of the process air cooling heat exchanger (9), which corresponds to a given set-point cooling fluid temperature dependent parameter value (T1set).