Desiccant Water Management With Adaptive Evaporator Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water management systems struggle to efficiently remove water from air when the dew point is low, and they fail to adapt to changing environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity variations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a controllable desiccant and heat exchanger configuration that includes a first chamber for water removal and a second chamber for water evaporation, with a sensor-controlled valve to manage the flow of fluids and maintain system efficiency across varying conditions, allowing for effective water extraction and humidification/dehumidification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional condensation systems are used to remove water from air, then water removal is effective when dew point is high, but water removal becomes difficult or impossible when dew point is below freezing point
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical-chemical parameters of the desiccant material to enable water removal at low temperatures. By selecting desiccants with appropriate adsorption characteristics and adjusting their operational parameters, the system achieves effective water extraction even when the dew point is below freezing, overcoming the limitation of conventional condensation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical condensation system with a chemical adsorption system using desiccant materials. Instead of relying on temperature-based phase change (condensation), the system uses chemical adsorption mechanisms that remain effective at low temperatures, thereby substituting a temperature-dependent mechanical process with a chemistry-based process.
2Ease of operation
If conventional water management systems are used, then system operation is simple, but system efficiency deteriorates when environmental conditions change
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, dew point) and automatically adjust operational parameters such as desiccant selection, airflow rates, and regeneration cycles. This feedback control enables the system to maintain high efficiency across varying environmental conditions while requiring minimal manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be dynamic, allowing it to adapt its configuration and operational parameters in response to changing environmental conditions. By implementing variable control mechanisms for airflow, desiccant regeneration, and system configuration, the system maintains optimal efficiency across different temperature and humidity conditions without sacrificing operational simplicity.
3Quantity of substance
If desiccant material is used to remove water from air at low dew point, then water removal effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases due to need for environmental condition monitoring and control
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be largely self-regulating, where the desiccant material and system configuration automatically adapt to environmental conditions without requiring complex external control systems. The desiccant's inherent adsorption characteristics and the system's passive design elements enable it to self-adjust its water removal effectiveness based on ambient temperature and humidity, reducing the need for sophisticated monitoring and control infrastructure.
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
Enables efficient water removal from air even when the dew point is low and maintains system efficiency by adjusting to changing environmental conditions, ensuring consistent performance and adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
A desiccant is capable of being introduced into the first chamber for removing water from the first fluid moving through the first chamber
Implementation Method 2
The second chamber includes an inlet and an outlet for facilitating movement of a second fluid into and out of the second chamber. This facilitates evaporation of water from the desiccant into the second fluid, thereby increasing water content in the second fluid
Implementation Method 3
A system heat exchanger is configured to receive a third fluid therethrough, and to receive the second fluid from the second chamber to facilitate a transfer of heat from the second fluid to the third fluid. This facilitates removal of water from the second fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for managing water content in a fluid includes a collection chamber for collecting water from the fluid with a desiccant, and a regeneration chamber for collecting water from the desiccant and transferring it to a second fluid. An evaporator cools the desiccant entering the collection chamber, and a second evaporator cools the second fluid to extract the water. The evaporators use a refrigerant, the flow of which is controlled by a flow control valve. When the temperature in the second evaporator drops below a set point, the refrigerant flow to the second evaporator is stopped, and the refrigerant flow to the first evaporator is increased. This increases the water collection in the collection chamber, and causes a rise in the temperature in the second evaporator. The valve is then opened to increase the cooling in the second evaporator.