# US 10,371,466 B2 · Method of preserving heat exchange surface and method of cooling moist air

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- Number: US 10,371,466 B2
- Document ID: US10371466B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/029,496
- Filed: 2013-10-15
- Published: 2016-09-22
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-15
- Assignees: Natomics Co., Ltd
- Applicants: Natomics Co., Ltd
- Inventors: Hidetoshi Ohkubo; Mitsuo Seki; Sho Matsushita
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371466B2

## CPC

- F28F 19/002: {by using inserts or attachments}
- F25B 47/003: {for preventing corrosion}
- F25B 47/006: {for preventing frost}
- F25D 21/04: Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
- F28F 13/04: by preventing the formation of continuous films of condensate on heat-exchange surfaces, e.g. by promoting droplet formation {(F28F13/18 takes precedence)}
- F28F 13/187: {especially adapted for evaporator surfaces or condenser surfaces, e.g. with nucleation sites}
- F28F 17/00: Removing ice or water from heat-exchange apparatus
- F28F 19/006: {Preventing deposits of ice}
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)

## Abstract

A method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface suppresses the formation of dew and frost on a heat exchange surface by preparing a carrier which has a heat conduction ratio higher than that of the moist air if the air temperature in a temperature boundary layer, is below the dew-point when the air temperature in the temperature boundary layer is above 0° C., or below the freezing-point when the air temperature in the temperature boundary layer is below 0° C., the carrier being arranged within the temperature boundary layer and on the heat exchange surface, which is in contact with moist air and is used for cooling; and removing moisture from the air by condensing or sublimating water vapor in the moist air on the surface of the carrier by arranging the carrier opposite of the heat exchange surface and within the temperature boundary layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of maintaining a heat exchange surface which is in contact with moist air and is used for cooling, by suppressing the formation of dew and frost on the heat exchange surface, comprising:
arranging a carrier facing a heat exchange surface, within a temperature boundary layer which is determined in accordance with temperature and flow of moist air on the heat exchange surface, the carrier having a heat conduction ratio higher than that of the moist air in cases where the air temperature in the temperature boundary layer is either (i) below the dew-point and above 0° C., or (ii) below 0° C., and
flowing the moist air along the heat exchange surface and the carrier, thereby removing moisture by condensing or sublimating water vapor in the moist air on a surface of the carrier, and
replacing the carrier when dehumidifying performance of the carrier is deteriorated.

### Claim 2

A method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface which is in contact with the moist air and is used for cooling, by suppressing the formation of dew and frost constituting a thermal resistant layer on a heat exchange surface, comprising:
arranging a carrier facing a heat exchange surface, within a temperature boundary layer which is determined in accordance with temperature and flow of moist air on the heat exchange surface, the carrier having a heat conduction ratio higher than that of the moist air in cases where the air temperature in the temperature boundary layer is either (i) below the dew-point and above 0° C., or (ii) below 0° C., and
flowing the moist air along the heat exchange surface and the carrier, thereby removing moisture by condensing or sublimating water vapor in the moist air on a surface of the carrier.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 1,
wherein the surface of the carrier on which the water vapor is condensed or sublimated faces away from the heat exchange surface,
wherein the carrier is configured such that condensed liquid flows down along the surface of the carrier facing away from the heat exchange surface, and
wherein the temperature of the moist air within the temperature boundary layer is above 0° C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 1,
wherein the surface of the carrier on which the water vapor is condensed or sublimated faces away from the heat exchange surface, wherein a temperature on the surface of the carrier facing away from the heat exchange surface is below the dew point of the moist air,
wherein the temperature of the moist air within the temperature boundary layer is between 0° C. and −40° C., and
wherein the surface of the carrier facing away from the heat exchange surface undergoes condensation, super cooling, and loss of super-cooling.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 2,
wherein the surface of the carrier on which the water vapor is condensed or sublimated faces away from the heat exchange surface,
wherein a temperature on the surface of the carrier facing away from the heat exchange surface is below the dew point of the moist air, and
wherein the temperature of the moist air within the temperature boundary layer is below −40° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 2,
wherein the surface of the carrier on which the water vapor is condensed or sublimated faces away from the heat exchange surface,
wherein a temperature on the surface of the carrier facing away from the heat exchange surface is above the dew point of the moist air and below 0° C., and
wherein the temperature of the moist air within the temperature boundary layer is below 0° C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of maintaining a heat exchange surface according to claim 1,
wherein the carrier is a planar structure with a regular or irregular cross section having non-opening portions and openings arranged in an alternate manner, each of the non-opening portions including a predetermined width, and
wherein the carrier is disposed away from the heat exchange surface by a predetermined distance.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 2,
wherein the carrier is a planar structure with a regular or irregular cross section and having openings of a predetermined width arranged in an alternate manner, and
wherein the carrier is disposed away from the heat exchange surface by a predetermined distance.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of maintaining a heat exchange surface according to claim 7, wherein the carrier is a mesh-form including openings with predetermined widths and wires with predetermined widths and thicknesses.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 8, wherein the carrier is a mesh-form including openings with predetermined widths and wires with predetermined widths and thicknesses.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of maintaining a heat exchange surface according to claim 7, wherein the width of the carrier is between 100 μm and 2000 μm, the width of the openings is between 100 μm and 1000 μm, and the depth of the carrier from the surface of the carrier on a temperature boundary layer side thereof to a heat exchange surface side thereof is greater than 100 μm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 8, wherein the width of the carrier is between 100 μm and 2000 μm, the width of the openings is between 100 μm and 1000 μm, and the depth of the carrier from the surface of the carrier on a temperature boundary layer side thereof to a heat exchange surface side thereof is greater than 100 μm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of maintaining a heat exchange surface according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is a three-dimensional structure with voids, the carrier being constituted by fibers with predetermined lengths and a regular or irregular cross section being superimposed in a non-woven manner.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 2, wherein the carrier is a three-dimensional structure with voids, the carrier being constituted by fibers with predetermined lengths and a regular or irregular cross section being superimposed in a non-woven manner.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of maintaining a heat exchange surface according to claim 13,
wherein the three-dimensional carriers are thickened in such a way that a portion of the carrier is disposed in a main air flow outside the temperature boundary layer, and
wherein said method further includes a step of promoting heat transfer of the heat exchange surface by guiding the air flow inside openings of the carrier within the temperature boundary layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 14,
wherein the three-dimensional carriers are thickened in such a way that a portion of the carrier is disposed in a main air flow outside the temperature boundary layer, and
wherein said method further includes a step of promoting heat transfer of the heat exchange surface by guiding the air flow inside openings of the carrier within the temperature boundary layer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 7)

The method of maintaining a heat exchange surface according to claim 7, further comprising a step of carrying out a water repellent treatment on the surface of the carrier to vary the surface condition of the carrier so as to improve the dehumidification performance by the sublimation, or the condensation of the water vapor on the surface of the carrier and so as not to block the openings under the liquid condition.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 8, further comprising a step of carrying out a water repellent treatment on the surface of the carrier to vary the surface condition of the carrier so as to improve the dehumidification performance by the sublimation, or the condensation of the water vapor on the surface of the carrier and so as not to block the openings under the liquid condition.

### Claim 19 (depends on 7)

The method of maintaining a heat exchange surface according to claim 7, wherein the surface of the carrier is set to possess adsorption performance to vary the surface condition of the carrier so as to improve the dehumidification performance by the sublimation, or the condensation of the water vapor on the surface of the carrier.

### Claim 20 (depends on 8)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 8, wherein the surface of the carrier is set to possess adsorption performance to vary the surface condition of the carrier so as to improve the dehumidification performance by the sublimation, or the condensation of the water vapor on the surface of the carrier.

### Claim 21 (depends on 7)

The method of maintaining a heat exchange surface according to claim 7, wherein the carrier includes fibers which are made of a water absorptivity resin to enhance the water absorptivity, water retentivity, and capillary water absorptivity of the carrier to improve the dehumidification performance by the sublimation, or the condensation of the water vapor on the surface of the carrier.

### Claim 22 (depends on 8)

The method of cooling moist air through a heat exchange surface according to claim 8, wherein the carrier includes fibers which are made of a water absorptivity resin to enhance the water absorptivity, water retentivity, and capillary water absorptivity of the carrier to improve the dehumidification performance by the sublimation, or the condensation of the water vapor on the surface of the carrier.