Humidity control unit and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air conditioning systems are poorly adapted to handle varying humidity loads independently of temperature loads, leading to inefficient dehumidification and potential mold growth, and existing desiccant cooling systems have air flow capacity limitations and high regeneration temperatures, requiring additional units or energy for increased airflow.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning and dehumidification system utilizing multiple air plenums with a desiccant wheel and a liquid vapor refrigeration circuit, allowing for increased airflow capacity without additional desiccant wheels, and incorporating a third plenum for selective cooling of ambient air to vary airflow and humidity control without further desiccant treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional air conditioning systems are used to handle moisture load, then cooling capacity is sized to accommodate latent and sensible conditions at peak temperature, but dehumidification cannot occur when cooling is not needed and humidity control is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates humidity control and temperature control into independent functions: the desiccant wheel handles dehumidification while the evaporator coil handles cooling, allowing each to operate independently based on actual environmental conditions rather than being coupled as in traditional systems
Solution Approach 2:
The desiccant wheel acts as an intermediary component that removes moisture from air through adsorption without requiring cooling, enabling independent humidity control before the air enters the evaporator coil for temperature adjustment
2Adaptability or versatility
If desiccant cooling systems are used to provide close and independent control of humidity and temperature, then humidity and temperature control is improved, but installation cost is higher than traditional systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the desiccant wheel dehumidification process with a standard evaporator coil cooling system into a single integrated unit, combining two separate functions (dehumidification and cooling) that can be manufactured and installed as one compact appliance rather than requiring separate equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated unit performs multiple functions (dehumidification, cooling, and air circulation) within a single system that can replace both traditional air conditioners and dedicated dehumidifiers, providing universal applicability for various humidity and temperature control needs
3Reliability
If high regeneration temperatures are used to regenerate the desiccant, then desiccant regeneration is adequate, but dual refrigerant circuits are needed to pump up temperature above 140°F
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the evaporator coil's cooling function to self-generate the hot refrigerant gas needed for desiccant regeneration, where the same refrigeration cycle that provides cooling also produces the high-temperature refrigerant vapor required to drive moisture off the desiccant material during regeneration
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 efficiently treats outside air to meet airflow and humidity needs with reduced energy consumption and costs, enabling more effective control of temperature and humidity without the need for multiple units or excessive dehumidification, while maintaining economic manufacturing and operation.
Implementation Method 1
a desiccant wheel to cool and dehumidify an ambient air stream
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator cooling coil to cool the ambient air stream
Implementation Method 3
a condensing coil to heat another ambient air stream for passing through the desiccant wheel to regenerate the desiccant
Data Source
AI summary
In a method and apparatus for conditioning air for an enclosure, a first ambient airstream is cooled by a cooling coil of a refrigerant cooling system to reduce temperature and humidity, passed through a segment of a rotating desiccant wheel to reduce moisture content and increase temperature, and then supplied to the enclosure. The desiccant wheel is regenerated by a second ambient airstream heated with a condenser coil of the refrigerant system and then passed through a regeneration segment of the desiccant wheel. A bypass plenum allows a third ambient airstream to be selectively heated and cooled independent of the evaporator coil and desiccant wheel in the first plenum. Heated air bypassed from the second ambient airstream or an independent heater can perform the selective heating in the bypass plenum. The airstream in the bypass plenum is then supplied with the air treated in the first plenum to the enclosure.