Rotor for an air conditioning system with a plurality of sorbent sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems using separate rotors for dehumidification and carbon-compound abatement are large and complex, and excess moisture in the process air reduces the efficiency of carbon-compound removal due to condensation on sorbent adsorption sites.
Innovation Solution
A single rotor with hydrophilic and hydrophobic sorbent sections arranged in series, where moisture is removed by a hydrophilic desiccant before passing through a hydrophobic carbon-abatement sorbent, combined with a regeneration process using separate air streams for each sorbent to maintain efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate rotors are used for dehumidification and carbon-compound abatement, then each sorbent can be optimized for its specific function, but the system becomes large and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sorbent sections (hydrophilic desiccant and hydrophobic carbon-abatement sorbent) into a single rotor assembly. The rotor includes a first section with hydrophilic sorbent for dehumidification and a second section with hydrophobic sorbent for carbon-compound abatement, both rotating together in the same housing. This merging reduces system complexity while maintaining the optimized performance of each sorbent type for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The single rotor is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it provides both dehumidification and carbon-compound abatement in one device. The rotor sections are configured to handle different sorbent types with different hydrophobicity levels, making the single rotor universal for multiple air conditioning functions that previously required separate devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If moisture is present in the process air, then the air conditioning system can handle humid air, but moisture condensation reduces carbon-compound removal efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor is designed so that the hydrophilic desiccant section acts first on the process air, removing moisture before the air reaches the hydrophobic carbon-abatement sorbent section. This preliminary dehumidification action prevents moisture condensation on the carbon-abatement sorbent, thereby maintaining optimal carbon-compound removal efficiency even when handling humid air.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the rotor have different local properties - the first section has hydrophilic sorbent optimized for moisture absorption, while the second section has hydrophobic sorbent optimized for carbon-compound adsorption. This local quality differentiation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally, with the hydrophilic section protecting the hydrophobic section from moisture interference.
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
Reduces system complexity and footprint while enhancing carbon-compound removal efficiency by preventing moisture condensation and maintaining optimal sorbent performance.
Implementation Method 1
the hydrophilic section has a hydrophilic sorbent and a hydrophilic process segment through which the process air stream is directed
Implementation Method 2
the hydrophobic section has a hydrophobic sorbent and a hydrophobic process segment through which the process air stream is directed
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system includes a rotor that may include a hydrophilic section and a hydrophobic section, and process air of a process air stream may flow though the hydrophilic process segment in series with the hydrophobic process segment. The rotor may include an inner core and an outer annulus. The outer annulus is arranged radially outward of the inner core and may be rotatable independently from the inner core. The hydrophilic section may be one of the inner core and the outer annulus, and the hydrophobic section may be the other one of the inner core and the outer annulus.