Dual Evaporator-Condenser Coil Pack for Higher Dehumidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dehumidifiers are inefficient in reducing humidity levels, particularly in applications like fire and flood restoration, where rapid drying is necessary, and they often require additional power to increase dehumidification capacity.
Innovation Solution
A dehumidification system with a secondary evaporator and condenser, which causes part of the refrigerant to evaporate and condense twice in one refrigeration cycle, increasing compressor capacity without adding power, utilizing a closed refrigeration loop with multiple metering devices and a coil pack configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single evaporator and condenser are used in conventional dehumidifiers, then the device structure is simple, but the dehumidification efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the refrigeration system into multiple evaporators and condensers operating in sequence. The refrigerant flows through a first evaporator, then a first condenser, then a second evaporator, and finally a second condenser, creating segmented heat exchange stages that collectively enhance dehumidification capacity beyond what a single evaporator-condenser pair can achieve
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the traditional single-stage refrigeration cycle into a multi-dimensional sequence of evaporators and condensers. By arranging heat exchange components in a sequential chain rather than a single unit, the system adds operational dimensions to the thermodynamic process, enabling cumulative dehumidification effects across multiple stages
2Productivity
If additional power is supplied to increase dehumidification capacity, then the drying potential increases, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous heat exchange through a sequence of evaporators and condensers where the refrigerant continuously cycles through multiple heat transfer stages. This continuous multi-stage process maximizes the utilization of refrigerant thermal energy at each stage, achieving enhanced dehumidification capacity without proportionally increasing compressor power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermodynamic parameters of the refrigerant through multiple sequential phase changes and heat transfers. By controlling the refrigerant to undergo evaporation and condensation cycles across multiple stages with different temperature and pressure parameters, the system extracts maximum dehumidification potential from each unit of refrigerant circulation
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 enhances dehumidification efficiency by providing more dehumidification per kilowatt of power used, allowing for increased drying potential in applications such as fire and flood restoration.
Implementation Method 1
receive an inlet airflow and output a first airflow, the first airflow comprising cooler air than the inlet airflow, the first airflow generated by transferring heat from the inlet airflow to the flow of refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
receive the first airflow and output a second airflow, the second airflow comprising cooler air than the first airflow, the second airflow generated by transferring heat from the first airflow to the flow of refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
receive the second airflow and output a third airflow, the third airflow comprising warmer and less humid air than the second airflow, the third airflow generated by transferring heat from the flow of refrigerant to the third airflow
Implementation Method 4
receive the fourth airflow and output a dehumidified airflow, the dehumidified airflow comprising warmer and less humid air than the fourth airflow, the dehumidified airflow generated by transferring heat from the flow of refrigerant to the fourth airflow
Implementation Method 5
The compressor receives a flow of low temperature, low pressure refrigerant vapor from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of high temperature, high pressure refrigerant vapor to the primary condenser
Implementation Method 6
causes part of the refrigerant to evaporate and condense twice in one refrigeration cycle
Implementation Method 7
causes part of the refrigerant to evaporate and condense twice in one refrigeration cycle
Data Source
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AI summary
A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, and a secondary condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser.