Recuperative Dehumidification Cycle to Prevent Air Over-Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vapor compression cycle dehumidification systems face inefficiencies in moisture removal and cooling capacity, as they require significant cooling of air, which can lead to over-cooling and reduced dehumidification performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a vapor compression cycle with internal recuperation using a liquid refrigerant to transport heat between two portions of a recuperator, where cold air exiting the evaporator pre-cools incoming air and is reheated, reducing the evaporator's cooling load and allowing for greater control over dehumidification capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If air is cooled by the evaporator to remove moisture, then dehumidification is achieved, but the air is over-cooled and cooling capacity is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling process is segmented into two distinct stages: first, the evaporator cools the air to the dew point for moisture condensation; second, a separate reheat coil warms the air back to the desired temperature. This segmentation allows independent control of dehumidification and temperature, preventing over-cooling while maintaining moisture removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers the cooling effect by using the reheat coil to warm the over-cooled air back to the target temperature. Instead of discarding the excess cooling, the system actively manages it through staged heating, thereby recovering the useful dehumidification effect while correcting the temperature overshoot.
2Quantity of substance
If the evaporator cools air to remove moisture, then dehumidification performance is improved, but energy consumption increases due to reheating requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates control mechanisms that monitor temperature and humidity levels to regulate the operation of both the evaporator and reheat coil. This feedback control optimizes energy consumption by activating the reheat coil only when necessary and adjusting its output based on real-time conditions, thereby minimizing wasted energy while maintaining dehumidification performance.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If recuperation is implemented to pre-cool air, then evaporator cooling load is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recuperation system performs preliminary cooling of the incoming air before it reaches the evaporator. By pre-cooling the air in advance, the evaporator's cooling load is reduced, allowing it to focus on moisture removal rather than handling the full temperature reduction requirement. This preliminary action improves overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The recuperation coils are integrated into the existing air handling system, merging the pre-cooling function with the dehumidification process. This consolidation allows the system to achieve multiple objectives (pre-cooling and dehumidification) through a unified approach, reducing the need for separate independent systems.
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 approach enhances dehumidification performance and efficiency by reducing the cooling load on the evaporator, allowing for more effective moisture removal without over-cooling, and provides proportional control over the sensible heat ratio, making dehumidification more efficient and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
recuperation using a refrigerant flow within the system to transport heat between two portions of a recuperator
Implementation Method 2
recuperation is achieved by cooling air to a lower temperature, reducing the evaporating temperature, and optionally incorporating reheat
Implementation Method 3
moisture is removed by cooling air 22 to be dehumidified below its dew point, causing moisture to condense out of the air
Implementation Method 4
air in an interior space is cooled, while heat is rejected outside the space
Data Source
AI summary
Recuperation systems and methods are applied to vapor compression cycles in dehumidification, such as in air conditioning. In some embodiments, a method for dehumidification includes introducing a refrigerant from a heating unit to a cooling unit along a first path; introducing the refrigerant from the cooling unit to the heating unit along a second path different from the first path; introducing the refrigerant from the heating unit to the cooling unit along a third path different from the first path; and contacting the cooling unit and the heating unit with a first gas stream.