Humidity control module, and humidity control device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional humidity control apparatuses using liquid absorbents face challenges in miniaturization due to temperature changes in the liquid absorbent during moisture exchange, leading to inefficiencies in dehumidification and humidification processes.
Innovation Solution
A humidity control module with a moisture permeable membrane partition and a heat transfer member that allows the liquid absorbent to exchange heat effectively, reducing temperature fluctuations by surrounding the heat transfer member with the liquid absorbent, thereby minimizing energy requirements and apparatus size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the liquid absorbent is cooled by the refrigerant in advance before moisture exchange, then the dehumidification efficiency is improved, but the apparatus size increases due to larger heat exchange areas required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the moisture exchange function and heat exchange function into a single integrated module. The liquid absorbent performs both moisture absorption from air and heat exchange with refrigerant simultaneously in the same spatial structure, eliminating the need for separate pre-cooling chambers and reducing overall apparatus volume while maintaining dehumidification efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange pipes are nested within the liquid absorbent storage structure. The refrigerant pipes are positioned inside the container holding the liquid absorbent, allowing the liquid absorbent to flow over and around the pipes. This nested arrangement enables heat exchange to occur within the existing moisture exchange volume, eliminating additional external heat exchange components and reducing apparatus size.
2Device complexity
If the liquid absorbent circulation system is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid absorbent circulation is driven by natural convection currents created by temperature differences between the refrigerant-cooled pipes and the surrounding environment. The system utilizes the density variations of the liquid absorbent caused by thermal gradients to maintain continuous circulation without requiring external pumps or complex control mechanisms, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates localized cooling zones around the refrigerant pipes where the liquid absorbent is cooled most effectively. The temperature control is optimized locally at the heat exchange interface rather than requiring uniform temperature distribution throughout the entire apparatus. This localized approach allows for simpler overall system design while maintaining precise temperature control where it is most critical for dehumidification performance.
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 solution reduces temperature changes in the liquid absorbent, enabling the miniaturization of humidity control modules while optimizing energy usage and efficiency in moisture absorption and release processes.
Implementation Method 1
a partition member (45) which separates an air passage (42) through which air flows, from an absorbent passage (41) through which liquid absorbent flows; a heat transfer member (46) forming a heat medium passage (43) through which a heat medium for heating or cooling flows
Implementation Method 2
moisture permeable membrane not allowing the liquid absorbent to permeate but allowing water vapor to permeate
Implementation Method 3
liquid absorbent such as a lithium chloride solution... the water vapor, which has permeated through the moisture permeable sheet 10, is absorbed by the liquid absorbent
Implementation Method 4
a heat transfer member (46) forming a heat medium passage (43) through which a heat medium for heating or cooling flows, and disposed in the absorbent passage (41) to allow the liquid absorbent flowing around the heat transfer member (46) to exchange heat with the heat medium
Implementation Method 5
the liquid absorbent flowing from the regeneration section is cooled in the evaporator 20... the liquid absorbent is cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the pipe 15
Implementation Method 6
the liquid absorbent, which has absorbed the water vapor in the air in the dehumidification section, is heated in the condenser 18... In the regeneration section, the liquid absorbent releases the water vapor to the air
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A humidity control module, in which liquid absorbent exchanges air and moisture, reduces a temperature change in the liquid absorbent. A humidity control module (40) includes a partition member (45) and a heat transfer member (46). The partition member (45) separates an air passage (42) from an absorbent passage (41). The partition member (45) is wholly or partially formed by a moisture permeable membrane (62). The liquid absorbent flowing through the absorbent passage (41) exchanges the moisture with the air flowing through the air passage (42) via the moisture permeable membrane (62). The heat transfer member (46) is provided in the absorbent passage (41) and surrounded by the liquid absorbent. A heat medium flowing through the heat transfer member (46) exchanges heat with the liquid absorbent flowing through the absorbent passage (41).