Liquid Desiccant Air Conditioning With Bypass Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems face inefficiencies and desiccant loss due to high air flow rates, which impair dehumidification performance and cause desiccant blow-out, especially when trying to achieve both cooling and humidity control simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a dual-chamber desiccant configuration with bypass ducts to limit air flow through dehumidification and regeneration chambers, using liquid desiccant in multiple contact volumes with heat exchangers and a vapor compression system to manage air flow rates and prevent desiccant loss, while maintaining humidity control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high air flow rate is used through the desiccant chamber, then productivity is improved, but desiccant is lost through blow-out
Solution Approach 1:
The desiccant chamber is segmented into a first chamber for dehumidification and a second chamber for regeneration. By dividing the single chamber into two separate chambers, the system can maintain high overall air flow rates while keeping the actual desiccant contact zones at optimal lower flow rates, preventing desiccant blow-out while maintaining productivity.
2Reliability
If desiccant is used to dehumidify air, then humidity control is improved, but desiccant requires regeneration which complicates the system
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the dehumidification function and desiccant regeneration function into a single integrated dual-chamber apparatus. The first chamber performs dehumidification while the second chamber regenerates the desiccant, and both chambers share common structural elements and fluid pathways. This combination achieves reliable humidity control while reducing overall system complexity compared to separate independent systems.
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 configuration allows for higher air flow rates and improved humidity control, reducing desiccant blow-out and enhancing system efficiency by optimizing air flow through the chambers and utilizing heat exchangers to manage desiccant regeneration and dehumidification effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a first contact volume in which a first portion of a first airflow is received such that it contacts a first portion of the liquid desiccant
Implementation Method 2
A first heat exchanger is associated with the first portion of the liquid desiccant and configured to transfer heat between the first portion of the liquid desiccant and a first medium
Implementation Method 3
a third contact volume in which at least a portion of a second airflow is brought into contact with a second portion of the liquid desiccant
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for conditioning air has a quantity of liquid desiccant. A first portion of a first airflow is received in a first contact volume such that it contacts a first portion of the liquid desiccant. A second contact volume is in parallel with the first contact volume and receives a second portion of the first airflow. At least a portion of a second airflow is brought into contact with a second portion of the liquid desiccant in a third contact volume. A first heat exchanger is associated with the first portion of the liquid desiccant and configured to transfer heat between the first portion of the liquid desiccant and a first medium. A second heat exchanger is associated with the second portion of the liquid desiccant and configured to transfer heat between the second portion of the liquid desiccant and a second medium.