Water cooled dehumidification system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dehumidifiers are inefficient in reducing humidity levels, particularly in applications like fire and flood restoration, and require additional power to increase dehumidification capacity.

Innovation Solution

A dehumidification system with a secondary evaporator and condenser that causes part of the refrigerant to evaporate and condense twice in one refrigeration cycle, increasing compressor capacity without adding power, and includes a water-cooled heat exchanger to lower refrigerant temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional single evaporator and condenser system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the dehumidification capacity and efficiency are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedehumidification capacityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into primary and secondary evaporators and condensers, with each component handling specific portions of the refrigeration cycle. The secondary evaporator processes refrigerant after the primary evaporator, and the secondary condenser further condenses refrigerant after the primary condenser, creating a segmented multi-stage dehumidification system that increases capacity without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary evaporator and condenser are integrated into the existing refrigeration loop as nested components. The secondary evaporator receives refrigerant from the primary evaporator outlet, and the secondary condenser receives refrigerant from the primary condenser outlet, creating a nested configuration where additional components are embedded within the existing system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If additional power is supplied to the compressor to increase dehumidification capacity, then the dehumidification capacity increases, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedehumidification capacityVSAvoidcompressor power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the thermodynamic parameters of the refrigerant by implementing multi-stage evaporation and condensation. The secondary evaporator further lowers the refrigerant temperature and pressure after the primary evaporator, while the secondary condenser continues the condensation process at different parameters, thereby increasing dehumidification capacity through parameter optimization rather than increased power input

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes multiple phase transitions of the refrigerant through the secondary evaporator and condenser. The refrigerant undergoes evaporation in the primary evaporator, then further evaporation in the secondary evaporator, followed by condensation in the primary condenser and additional condensation in the secondary condenser, maximizing the utilization of latent heat during phase changes to enhance dehumidification without requiring additional compressor power

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Productivity

If the refrigerant temperature is not sufficiently lowered, then the system is simpler, but the dehumidification efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedehumidification efficiencyVSAvoidrefrigerant temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The secondary evaporator performs preliminary cooling of the refrigerant after it leaves the primary evaporator, preparing the refrigerant at optimal temperature and pressure conditions before it enters the compression stage. This preliminary action ensures the refrigerant is sufficiently cold to maximize dehumidification efficiency in the subsequent cycles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigeration cycle maintains continuous useful action through the secondary condenser, which continues the condensation process after the primary condenser. This continuous action ensures the refrigerant is consistently maintained at the necessary temperature levels throughout the cycle, preventing temperature rise that would reduce dehumidification efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 enhances dehumidification efficiency by providing more dehumidification per kilowatt of power used, improving drying potential in applications such as fire and flood restoration.

Implementation Method 1

the first airflow generated by transferring heat from the inlet airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the inlet airflow passes through the secondary evaporator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

the second airflow generated by transferring heat from the first airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the first airflow passes through the primary evaporator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

the dehumidified airflow generated by transferring heat from the flow of refrigerant to the dehumidified airflow as the second airflow passes through the secondary condenser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

transfer heat from the flow of refrigerant to a flow of fluid as the condenser receives the flow of refrigerant and the flow of fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 5

This configuration causes part of the refrigerant within the system to evaporate and condense twice in one refrigeration cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 6

This configuration causes part of the refrigerant within the system to evaporate and condense twice in one refrigeration cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP4056909A1Water cooled dehumidification system
Publication Date: 2022.09.14 THERMA STOR LLC
  • EP4056909A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4056909A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4056909A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dehumidification system (100; 200; 300; 1500; 1600) includes a compressor (360; 660; 1516; 1612), a primary evaporator (310; 610; 910; 1010; 1508; 1604), a primary condenser (330; 630; 1510; 1606), a secondary evaporator (340; 640; 1040; 1140; 1512; 1608), a secondary condenser (320, 514, 620, 1020, 1120, 1514, 1610), and a water pump (1536; 1648). The secondary evaporator (340; 640; 1040; 1140; 1512; 1608) receives an inlet airflow (101; 601; 901; 1526; 1628) and outputs a first airflow (345; 645; 1532; 1634) to the primary evaporator (310; 610; 910; 1010; 1508; 1604). The primary evaporator (310; 610; 910; 1010; 1508; 1604) receives the first airflow (345; 645; 1532; 1634) and outputs a second airflow (315; 615; 1530; 1632) to the secondary condenser (320, 514, 620, 1020, 1120, 1514, 1610). The secondary condenser (320, 514, 620, 1020, 1120, 1514, 1610) receives the second airflow (315; 615; 1530; 1632) and outputs a dehumidified airflow (106; 325; 625; 1528; 1630). The compressor (360; 660; 1516; 1612) receives a flow of refrigerant (305; 605; 905; 1005; 1524; 1626) from the primary evaporator (310; 610; 910; 1010; 1508; 1604) and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser (330; 630; 1510; 1606). The primary condenser (330; 630; 1510; 1606) receives the flow of refrigerant (305; 605; 905; 1005; 1524; 1626) and outputs the flow of refrigerant (305; 605; 905; 1005; 1524; 1626) at a lower temperature through heat transfer with a flow of fluid. The flow of fluid is directed, by the water pump (1536; 1648), to a heat exchanger (1504, 1654) or an external source (1506, 1652), where heat is rejected from the flow of fluid.