# US 10,502,438 B2 · Latent and sensible cooling membrane heat pump

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- Number: US 10,502,438 B2
- Document ID: US10502438B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/573,577
- Filed: 2016-05-13
- Published: 2018-06-28
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-13
- Assignees: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
- Applicants: The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
- Inventors: Jon P. Owejan; Nathan C. DeMario
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502438B2

## CPC

- F24F 3/147: with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air
- B01D 53/26: Drying gases or vapours
- B01D 53/268: {by diffusion}
- B01D 61/366: {Apparatus therefor}
- B01D 69/1071: {Woven, non-woven or net mesh}
- B01D 71/36: Polytetrafluoroethylene
- B01D 71/48: Polyesters
- B01D 71/5222: {Polyetherketone, polyetheretherketone, or polyaryletherketone}
- B01D 71/54: Polyureas; Polyurethanes
- B01D 71/68: Polysulfones; Polyethersulfones
- B01D 71/82: characterised by the presence of specified groups, e.g. introduced by chemical after-treatment
- B32B 3/26: characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids {(foam layer B32B5/18; layer of synthetic resin characterised by fillers that create voids or cavities B32B27/205); characterised by an apertured layer}
- B32B 3/266: {characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12}
- B32B 3/28: characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet {, i.e. the layer having its entire thickness deformed out of the plane}, e.g. corrugated, crumpled (B32B29/08 takes precedence)
- B32B 5/02: characterised by structural features of a {fibrous or filamentary} layer {(layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02)}
- B32B 5/024: {Woven fabric}
- B32B 5/026: {Knitted fabric}
- B32B 5/16: characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder {or granules (layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02)}
- B32B 7/02: Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 15/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 15/18: comprising iron or steel {(B32B15/011, B32B15/012 and B32B15/013 take precedence)}
- B32B 15/20: comprising aluminium or copper {(B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence)}
- B32B 23/10: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
- B32B 23/12: next to a particulate layer
- B32B 27/12: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
- B32B 27/14: next to a particulate layer
- B32B 27/285: {comprising polyethers}
- B32B 27/286: {comprising polysulphones; polysulfides}
- B32B 27/308: {comprising acrylic (co)polymers}
- B32B 27/322: {comprising halogenated polyolefins, e.g. PTFE}
- B32B 27/36: comprising polyesters
- F24F 3/14: by humidification; by dehumidification
- F24F 5/0035: {using evaporation}
- F25B 39/02: Evaporators
- B01D 2053/222: {with plates}
- B01D 2257/80: Water
- B01D 2258/06: Polluted air
- B01D 2325/42: Ion-exchange membranes
- B32B 2250/40: Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
- B32B 2255/10: on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
- B32B 2255/26: Polymeric coating
- B32B 2262/0253: Polyolefin fibres
- B32B 2262/0261: Polyamide fibres
- B32B 2262/14: Mixture of at least two fibres made of different materials
- B32B 2264/0257: Polyolefin particles, e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene homopolymers or ethylene-propylene copolymers
- B32B 2264/12: Mixture of at least two particles made of different materials
- B32B 2307/724: Permeability to gases, adsorption
- B32B 2307/7242: Non-permeable
- B32B 2307/726: Permeability to liquids, absorption
- B32B 2307/7265: Non-permeable
- B32B 2307/728: Hydrophilic
- F24F 2003/1435: {comprising semi-permeable membrane}
- F25B 19/00: Machines, plants or systems, using evaporation of a refrigerant but without recovery of the vapour
- 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)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A membrane-based assembly and process for cooling and/or de-vaporizing a gas. The assembly and process can provide sensible cooling and/or dehumidification of air, and can be contained within a single, integrated apparatus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vapor-removing and cooling system comprising:
a) a plurality of vapor-removing and cooling assemblies disposed in a stacked arrangement and wherein:
said vapor-removing assemblies comprise a flow volume region having a first surface and a second surface, the flow volume region adapted to receive a first working fluid flow under partial vacuum; a first selectively water vapor permeable membrane having a first side in mass transfer relationship with the first surface of the flow volume region and having a second side configured for contact with a water vapor-containing gas to permit transfer of at least a portion of the water vapor from the water vapor-containing gas through the first selectively water vapor permeable membrane and into the first working fluid flow; and
said cooling assemblies having a mass transfer relationship between a second working fluid flow and an evaporable liquid to provide formation of an evaporant from the evaporable liquid and permit transfer of at least a portion of the evaporant from the liquid into the second working fluid flow, wherein the mass transfer relationship between the second working fluid flow and the evaporable liquid comprises a barrier for maintaining the second working fluid flow above a first surface of the evaporable liquid to permit formation of an evaporant from the evaporable liquid and transfer of at least a portion of the evaporant into the second working fluid flow;
b) interiorly-defined channels providing separate flow paths for the vapor-containing gas, the evaporable liquid, and the first and second working fluids, the interiorly-defined channels in fluid communication with the plurality of vapor-removing and cooling assemblies;
c) one or more inlets in fluid communication with the interiorly-defined channels; and
d) one or more outlets in fluid communication with the interiorly-defined channels.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the mass transfer relationship between the second working fluid flow and the evaporable liquid comprises: a second selectively permeable membrane, the second selectively permeable membrane having a first side in mass transfer relationship with a second surface of the at least one flow volume region, and having a second side configured for contact with an evaporable liquid to permit formation of an evaporant from the evaporable liquid and permit transfer of at least a portion of the evaporant through the second selectively permeable membrane and into the second working fluid flow.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the barrier comprises a porous substrate, a selectively permeable membrane, a hydrophobic material, or a void.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the mass transfer relationship between the second working fluid flow and the evaporable liquid comprises at least one surface of the at least one flow volume region operatively in contact with at least one surface of the evaporable liquid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vapor-removing and cooling assemblies are integrally formed components of a single, compact unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second working fluid flows are physically separated.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 wherein the vapor-removing and cooling assemblies are separately controlled and can be operated independently of one another.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising an expirator for maintaining the apparatus under partial vacuum, wherein said expirator is selected from the group comprising a membrane-based expirator and a vacuum pump system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the expirator comprises:
at least one third selectively permeable membrane having a first side in mass transfer relationship with a third working fluid and;
is operatively configured with a fluid displacement system component, wherein said fluid displacement system component creates conditions sufficient to permit water vapor to transfer from the third working fluid through the third selectively permeable membrane to a second side of the third membrane, and said fluid displacement system component is selected from the group comprising a vapor pump, a fan, a blower, a desiccant wheel and combinations thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one first, second and third selectively permeable membranes are selected from the group comprising a microporous PTFE membrane, a perfluorosulfonate ionomer membrane, a PTFE/PAO/PU membrane, a PTFE/PAO/PU laminate, a polyester/polyether membrane, a polyester/polyether laminate, a derivatized cellophane membrane, a chemical protective laminate, flashspun high-density polyethylene fiber paper, flashspun high-density polyethylene fiber paper impregnated with a vapor permeable polymer, polyethersulfone, sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone), and combinations thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein the expirator is a membrane-based expirator and is thermally activated using thermal energy from a waste heat source.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein the expirator is a membrane-based expirator operatively configured with a desiccant wheel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the interior-defined channels comprise thin gaps formed between flat plates.