Vapor-selective nanostructured membrane heat exchangers for cooling and dehumidification

An air conditioning system, comprising:

• a vapor-selective membrane adapted to have a partial vapor pressure difference across the membrane to thereby drive water vapor flux through the membrane, wherein the membrane is a selective membrane configured to allow passage of water vapor and block passage of air (O2/N2) through the membrane;
• a vacuum compressor adapted to provide dehumidification and vapor compression, and cooling coils incorporated into the vapor-selective membrane to thereby allow simultaneous cooling and dehumidification,
• wherein the vapor-selective membrane includes an active layer and a support layer, and
• wherein the support layer includes a graphene foam layer.

An air conditioning system, comprising:

• a first membrane module, including
• an inlet and an outlet,
• at least one vapor-selective membrane, and
• a first plurality of cooling coils coupled to the at least one vapor selective membrane of the first membrane module,
• wherein the first membrane module defines a first vacuum zone;
• a second membrane module, including
• an inlet and an outlet,
• at least one vapor-selective membrane, and
• a second plurality of heating coils coupled to the at least one vapor selective membrane of the second membrane module,
• wherein the second membrane module defines a second vacuum zone;
• an air inlet adapted to introduce outdoor air into the inlet of the first membrane module;
• a primary vacuum pump adapted to initially reduce pressure in the first and the second vacuum zones to a predetermined pressure or below;
• and
• an outlet coupled to the outlet of the second module and adapted to output air to the outdoor air,
• wherein the pressure in the first vacuum zone is modulated based on water vapor partial pressure in air passing through the inlet of the first membrane module and the pressure in the second vacuum zone is modulated based on water vapor partial pressure in air passing through the inlet of the second membrane module, whereby the pressure in the second vacuum zone is maintained at a higher pressure than the pressure in the first vacuum zone,
• wherein the at least one vapor-selective membrane of the first and the second membrane modules includes an active layer and a support layer, and
• wherein the support layer includes a graphene foam layer.