Methods and apparatus for rejecting moisture from a desiccant solution

An apparatus for rejecting moisture from a desiccant solution and regenerating the desiccant solution for re-use, the apparatus comprising:

• a desiccant recirculation system comprising an inlet for receiving a stream of desiccant solution containing moisture to be rejected, and an outlet for delivering a stream of regenerated desiccant solution;
• an evaporator;
• and
• a desiccant concentration control system which is connected to the recirculation system intermediate the inlet and outlet of the recirculation system and comprises a desiccant diluter part that is configured and arranged to receive at least a portion of the stream of desiccant solution containing moisture to be rejected and to dilute the same and supply a diluted stream of desiccant to the evaporator, and a desiccant concentrator part that is configured and arranged to increase the concentration of the desiccant solution in the recirculation system intermediate the desiccant concentration control system and the outlet, thereby to regenerate the desiccant solution that is supplied to the outlet,
• wherein the evaporator is arranged to receive the diluted stream and to evaporate moisture therefrom,
• wherein the desiccant concentration control system integrates the desiccant diluter part and the desiccant concentrator part to produce a combined diluter-concentrator device,
• wherein the desiccant diluter part comprises a first diluter portion arranged to receive and dilute the at least a portion of the stream of desiccant solution containing moisture to be rejected, and a second diluter portion,
• wherein the desiccant concentrator part comprises a first concentrator portion arranged to receive and concentrate at least a portion of the diluted desiccant stream from the evaporator, thereby to regenerate the desiccant solution, and a second concentrator portion,
• wherein the desiccant concentrator control system further comprises an auxiliary fluid circulation system arranged to circulate an auxiliary fluid between the second diluter portion and the second concentrator portion, and
• wherein the combined diluter-concentrator device is adapted to transport water and/or desiccant ions between the first diluter and the second concentrator portions and between the second dilutor portion and the first concentrator portion.