Split dehumidification system with secondary evaporator and condenser coils
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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 achieve effective dehumidification.
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, thereby enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional single evaporator and condenser system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the dehumidification efficiency and productivity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration system is segmented into two complete cycles: a primary cycle with a first evaporator and first condenser, and a secondary cycle with a second evaporator and second condenser. This segmentation allows the refrigerant to evaporate and condense twice per cycle, effectively doubling the heat transfer opportunities and increasing dehumidification capacity without requiring a larger compressor
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary evaporator and condenser are integrated within the overall system architecture as nested components. The secondary cycle operates in parallel with the primary cycle, with the secondary evaporator receiving refrigerant after the first metering device and the secondary condenser discharging to the second metering device, creating a nested dual-cycle configuration that maximizes space utilization and heat transfer efficiency
2Productivity
If additional power is added to increase dehumidification capacity, then the productivity increases, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant continuously cycles through evaporation and condensation in both the primary and secondary cycles, maximizing the utilization of the refrigerant's latent heat capacity. By causing the refrigerant to evaporate twice (in both evaporators) and condense twice (in both condensers) per complete cycle, the system extracts and releases heat more frequently, increasing dehumidification capacity without requiring additional compressor power
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits phase transitions of the refrigerant in both the primary and secondary cycles. The refrigerant evaporates in the first evaporator, passes through a first metering device, evaporates again in the second evaporator, then condenses in the second condenser and finally in the first condenser. This repeated phase transition process maximizes heat transfer efficiency and dehumidification capacity while maintaining the same compressor power input
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 increases dehumidification efficiency per kilowatt of power used, providing more effective drying potential in applications such as fire and flood restoration.
Implementation Method 1
The secondary evaporator receives a flow of refrigerant from a first metering device and evaporates the flow of refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
evaporates the flow of refrigerant and receives a first airflow, outputs a first cooled and dehumidified airflow
Implementation Method 3
The secondary condenser receives a flow of refrigerant from the secondary evaporator and condenses the flow of refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
condenses the flow of refrigerant and receives a second airflow, outputs a second heated and dehumidified 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
Data Source
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.