# US 10,480,801 B2 · Variable desiccant control energy exchange system and method

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- Number: US 10,480,801 B2
- Document ID: US10480801B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/185,155
- Filed: 2016-06-17
- Published: 2016-10-13
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-13
- Assignees: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
- Applicants: Nortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
- Inventors: Manfred Gerber; Philip Paul LePoudre; Maury Brad Wawryk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480801B2

## CPC

- F24F 5/0014: {using absorption or desorption}
- F24F 3/06: characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units
- F24F 3/1417: {with liquid hygroscopic desiccants}
- F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
- F24F 11/63: Electronic processing
- F24F 11/83: by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
- F24F 11/84: using valves
- F24F 2003/1435: {comprising semi-permeable membrane}
- F24F 2003/1458: {using regenerators}
- F24F 2110/10: Temperature
- F24F 2110/20: Humidity
- Y02B 30/56: Heat recovery units
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for providing conditioned air to at least one enclosed structure. The system may include at least one conditioning module configured to provide conditioned air to the at least one enclosed structure. The conditioning module(s) may include a conditioning energy exchanger. The conditioning module(s) is configured to circulate desiccant through a desiccant circuit to condition air passing through the conditioning energy exchanger. The conditioning module(s) may be configured to receive at least one of concentrated desiccant or diluted desiccant in order to vary temperature or concentration of the desiccant circulating through the desiccant circuit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for providing conditioned air to a plurality of separate and distinct zones, the system comprising:
a plurality of conditioning modules, wherein each of the plurality of conditioning modules comprises:
a conditioning energy exchanger;
a desiccant mixing chamber;
a warm tap line connected to the desiccant mixing chamber; and
a cool tap line connected to the desiccant mixing chamber,
wherein the desiccant mixing chamber is configured to receive one or both of concentrated desiccant from the warm tap line and diluted desiccant from the cool tap line, and
wherein each of the plurality of conditioning modules is configured to:
circulate desiccant through a desiccant circuit to condition air,
receive one or both of the concentrated desiccant and the diluted desiccant in order to vary one or both of temperature and concentration of the desiccant circulating through the desiccant circuit, and
provide conditioned air to a respective one of the plurality of separate and distinct zones.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conditioning modules are configured to independently control temperature and humidity of the plurality of separate and distinct zones.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of conditioning modules is within or proximate to a respective one of the plurality of separate and distinct zones.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a desiccant connection conduit connecting one of the plurality of conditioning modules in or proximate to a first one of the plurality of separate and distinct zones and to a second one of the plurality of conditioning modules in or proximate to a second one of the plurality of separate and distinct zones.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein all of the plurality of separate and distinct zones are within a single building.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of separate and distinct zones are within separate and distinct buildings.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a central regeneration module coupled to each of the plurality of conditioning modules.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the conditioning energy exchanger comprises a conditioning liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) configured to exchange sensible and latent energy between the desiccant and an air stream.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the conditioning module includes:
the warm tap line connecting a heat exchanger of the conditioning module to a warm loop configured to circulate the concentrated desiccant therethrough; and
the cool tap line connecting the heat exchanger to a cool loop configured to circulate the diluted desiccant therethrough.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a control sub-system configured to control variation of the temperature and concentration of the desiccant.

### Claim 11

A method of providing conditioned air to a plurality of separate and distinct zones, the method comprising:
operatively connecting each of a plurality of conditioning modules to a respective one of the plurality of separate and distinct zones, wherein each of the plurality of conditioning modules comprises a conditioning energy exchanger, and a desiccant mixing chamber that is configured to receive one or both of a concentrated desiccant from a warm tap line connected to the desiccant mixing chamber or a diluted desiccant from a cool tap line connected to the desiccant mixing chamber;
circulating desiccant through a desiccant circuit to condition air with the plurality of conditioning modules;
receiving, with the plurality of conditioning modules, one or both of the concentrated desiccant and the diluted desiccant in order to vary one or both of temperature and concentration of the desiccant circulating through the desiccant circuit; and
using each of the plurality of conditioning modules to provide conditioned air to a respective one of a plurality of separate and distinct zones.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the using comprises independently controlling temperature and humidity of the plurality of separate and distinct zones with the plurality of conditioning modules.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the operatively connecting comprises providing each of the plurality of conditioning modules within or proximate to a respective one of the plurality of separate and distinct zones.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
connecting a desiccant connection conduit to a first one of the plurality of conditioning modules in or proximate to a first one of the plurality of separate and distinct zones; and
connecting the desiccant connection conduit to a second one of the plurality of conditioning modules in or proximate to a second one of the plurality of separate and distinct zones.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein all of the plurality of separate and distinct zones are within a single building.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of separate and distinct zones are within separate and distinct buildings.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling a central regeneration module to each of the plurality of conditioning modules.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling variation of the temperature and concentration of the desiccant with a control sub-system.