Dehumidifier Drain Pan Mist Elimination for Water Entrainment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dehumidification systems are inefficient in increasing water removal capacity when air flow is increased, leading to water droplets being entrained in the air, which reduces performance and durability, especially during defrost conditions.
Innovation Solution
A dehumidification system with a drain pan featuring a sloped bottom, ribs, and a mist eliminator that restricts air flow and changes the velocity vector to prevent water entrainment, including a basin with a sloped bottom, first, second, third, and angled ribs, and a mist eliminator with apertures to control air and water drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air flow is increased through the dehumidification system, then water removal capacity is improved, but air velocity increases causing water droplets to be entrained in the air, which reduces water removal performance
Solution Approach 1:
A mist eliminator is introduced as an intermediary component between the evaporator and the surrounding environment. The mist eliminator captures water droplets entrained in high-velocity air flow, allowing the system to maintain high air flow rates for improved water removal capacity while preventing water loss through entrainment. The mist eliminator acts as a mediator that decouples the relationship between air velocity and water removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mist eliminator utilizes a porous structure with numerous small openings that allow air to pass through while capturing water droplets through impaction and condensation on the porous surfaces. This porous material enables the system to maintain high air flow rates without water entrainment, resolving the contradiction between productivity and air velocity.
2Productivity
If air flow velocity is increased to improve water removal capacity, then more water can be removed, but water droplets are entrained in the air, reducing system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The mist eliminator serves as an intermediary that prevents water droplet entrainment in the air stream. By capturing these droplets, the system maintains high air flow rates for improved water removal capacity without the energy loss associated with water being carried away from the system. This intermediary component preserves system efficiency while enabling high productivity.
3Productivity
If air flow is increased during defrost conditions, then water removal capacity is improved, but high velocity causes water droplets to be entrained, reducing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The mist eliminator provides consistent performance during defrost conditions by acting as a reliable intermediary that captures water droplets regardless of air flow velocity or thermal conditions. This ensures that the system maintains consistent water removal performance even during challenging defrost cycles when high air velocities are necessary to prevent ice buildup.
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 system improves water removal efficiency by minimizing air velocity and preventing water reabsorption, maximizing water drainage, and maintaining performance during defrost conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a mist eliminator that restricts air flow and changes the velocity vector to prevent water entrainment
Implementation Method 2
The sloped bottom of the basin is configured to allow water to flow from a first side of the basin towards a second side of the basin
Implementation Method 3
The first rib and the second rib are directly underneath below the lowest coils of the evaporator and are configured to restrict an area between the evaporator and the drain pan through which air may pass, thereby minimizing the gap between the evaporator and the drain pan, restricting the air flowing between the evaporator and the drain pan, reducing velocity of the air flowing through the drain pan, and preventing water from being entrained in the air
Data Source
AI summary
A dehumidification system includes an evaporator, a condenser positioned next to the evaporator, and a drain pan including a mist eliminator. The drain pan is disposed at least partially below the evaporator and the condenser. The drain pan at least includes a basin disposed at least partially below the evaporator. The basin includes a sloped bottom, a first rib disposed on the sloped bottom, a second rib parallel to the first rib and including a central gap, a third rib positioned between the first rib and the second rib, and an angled rib attached to the second rib. The third rib is parallel to and shorter than the first rib. The third rib is configured to at least partially block the central gap of the second rib. The angled rib is inclined towards the third rib and configured to change a velocity vector of the air flowing through the drain pan. The mist eliminator is configured to remove water droplets from the air.