# US 11,029,045 B2 · Heat-pump driven desiccant regeneration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,045 B2 - Document ID: US11029045B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/353,335 - Filed: 2019-03-14 - Published: 2019-09-19 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-16 - Assignees: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC - Applicants: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC - Inventors: Jason David Woods; Eric Kozubal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029045B2 ## CPC - F24F 3/1417: {with liquid hygroscopic desiccants} - B01D 53/18: Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor (B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32) - B01D 53/263: {by absorption} - F24F 2003/1458: {using regenerators} - F24F 2203/021: Compression cycle - Y02B 30/52: Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency - 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) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Disclosed herein are systems and processes to thermally regenerate and re-concentrate a liquid desiccant (absorbent) with an electrically driven heat pump. The regeneration and re-concentration may be performed in a cost and energy efficient manner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: removing a moisture from a first air stream using a desiccant to absorb the moisture; operating a heat pump comprising a refrigerant stream circulating through an evaporator, a compressor, a valve, and a condenser; routing the desiccant that is diluted with the moisture through the condenser to heat the desiccant and evaporate the moisture; collecting the evaporated moisture using a second air stream also routed through the condenser; and depositing the evaporated moisture in the evaporator by routing the second air stream through the evaporator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling the first air stream using evaporative cooling. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the evaporated moisture collected in the evaporator is used to provide the evaporative cooling. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the second air stream is routed through an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger prior to entering the condenser, and the refrigerant is routed through the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger after exiting the condenser. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second air stream is routed through an air-to-air heat exchanger after exiting the condenser but prior to entering the evaporator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the second air stream is routed through the air-to-air heat exchanger prior to entering the condenser. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the second air stream is routed through the air-to-air heat exchanger after exiting the evaporator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: splitting the refrigerant stream exiting the compressor into a first refrigerant stream and a second refrigerant stream using a three-way valve; routing the first refrigerant stream through the condenser; routing the second refrigerant stream and the first air stream through a first air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger; combining the first refrigerant stream and the second refrigerant stream into a unified refrigerant stream; routing the unified refrigerant stream through a second air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger; and routing the second air stream through the second air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger prior to entering the condenser. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first air stream is heated by the first air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the refrigerant stream bypasses the condenser, the refrigerant stream is used to heat a secondary fluid in a refrigerant-to-secondary fluid heat exchanger, and the secondary fluid is routed through the condenser. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the secondary fluid is water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the refrigerant is routed through an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger after exiting the refrigerant-to-secondary fluid heat exchanger, and the second air stream passes through the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger prior to entering the condenser. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of the heat pump occurs when a majority of the desiccant is diluted with the moisture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the desiccant and the moisture in a tank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the tank contains a device configured to measure the volume of the desiccant and the moisture in the tank. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the heat pump is operated when the volume of the desiccant and the moisture in the tank reaches a pre-determined level. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heat pump is operated until a majority of the desiccant is not diluted with the moisture.