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US 11,629,867 B2Granted
High efficiency dehumidification system and method
AssigneeScot M. Duncan
InventorScot M. Duncan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This document describes a high efficiency dehumidification system (HEDS) and method of operating the same. The HEDS systems and physical implementations can include a variety of equipment, such as fans, filtration systems, fluid-conveying coils, piping or tubing, heat transfer coils, vents, louvers, dampers, valves, fluid chillers, fluid heaters, or the like. Any of the implementations described herein can also include controls and logic, responsive to one or more sensors or other input devices, for controlling the equipment for each implementation described herein.
Claims20
A high efficiency dehumidification system for an air handling unit (AHU), the system comprising:
- a cooling coil including an inlet to receive chilled liquid at a first temperature from a cooling plant to cool and dehumidify air that passes over the cooling coil, and including an outlet to output spent chilled liquid at a second temperature, the second temperature being greater than the first temperature due to heat exchange from the air to the chilled liquid;
- a first fluid conduit including an input connected with the outlet of the cooling coil, the first fluid conduit further including an output junction comprising first and second outputs;
- a cooling recovery coil including an inlet connected with the first output of the output junction of the first fluid conduit to receive at least a portion of the spent chilled liquid at about the second temperature, and including an outlet to return the spent chilled liquid from the cooling recovery coil to the cooling plant, a remaining portion of the spent chilled liquid bypassing the cooling recovery coil via the second output of the output junction of the first fluid conduit and returning to the cooling plant;
- a second fluid conduit including at least one input connected with each of the first and second outputs of the output junction, the second fluid conduit further including an outlet to return the spent chilled liquid to the cooling plant;
- and
- a control mechanism on the second fluid conduit to control a flow rate of the spent chilled liquid that bypasses the cooling recovery coil to the cooling plant, based on at least a dewpoint temperature of the air, wherein the control mechanism provides a failsafe operation by at least increasing the amount of the remaining portion of the spent chilled liquid bypassing the cooling recovery coil when there is an increase in a flow rate of the at least the portion of the spent chilled liquid passing from the cooling coil to the cooling recovery coil, wherein the control mechanism increases the amount of the remaining portion of the spent chilled liquid bypassing the cooling recovery coil by at least opening the control mechanism, and wherein the at least the portion of the spent chilled liquid is circulated through the cooling recovery coil when the control mechanism is fully open.
3 more elements
A method of operating a high efficiency dehumidification system for an air handling unit (AHU), the high efficiency dehumidification system including a failsafe operation, the method comprising:
- receiving, via an inlet of a cooling coil, chilled liquid at a first temperature from a cooling plant to cool and dehumidify air that passes over the cooling coil,
- transmitting, via an outlet of the cooling coil through a first fluid conduit, spent chilled liquid at a second temperature, the second temperature being greater than the first temperature due to heat exchange from the air to the chilled liquid, wherein the first fluid conduit includes an input connected with the outlet of the cooling coil, and wherein the first fluid conduit further includes an output junction comprising first and second outputs;
- receiving, via an inlet of a cooling recovery coil that is connected with the first output of the output junction of the first fluid conduit, at least a portion of the spent chilled liquid at about the second temperature,
- returning, via an outlet of the cooling recovery coil, the spent chilled liquid from the cooling recovery coil to the cooling plant, a remaining portion of the spent chilled liquid bypassing the cooling recovery coil via the second output of the output junction of the first fluid conduit and returning to the cooling plant;
- and
- controlling, via a control mechanism connected with a second fluid conduit, a flow rate of the spent chilled liquid that bypasses the cooling recovery coil to the cooling plant, based at least in part on a dewpoint temperature of the air, wherein the controlling provides the failsafe operation by at least:
- increasing the amount of the remaining portion of the spent chilled liquid bypassing the cooling recovery coil when there is an increase in a flow rate of the at least the portion of the spent chilled liquid passing from the cooling coil to the cooling recovery coil, wherein the increasing the amount of the remaining portion of the spent chilled liquid bypassing the cooling recovery coil comprises opening the control mechanism, wherein the at least the portion of the spent chilled liquid is circulated through the cooling recovery coil when the control mechanism is fully open;
- wherein the second fluid conduit comprises at least one input connected with each of the first and second outputs of the output junction, the second fluid conduit including an outlet to return the spent chilled liquid to the cooling plant.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.