Indirect evaporative cooler using membrane-contained liquid desiccant for dehumidification and flocked surfaces to provide coolant flow

An apparatus for conditioning an inlet air stream, comprising:

• a first stage comprising a dehumidifier operable for cooling an air stream input to an inlet of the dehumidifier by absorption of water vapor from the input air stream;
• and
• a second stage comprising an indirect evaporative cooler in fluid communication with an outlet of the first stage to receive a cooled portion of the input air stream, wherein the indirect evaporative cooler is operable to sensibly cool the received and cooled portion of the input air stream to a temperature range less than the wet bulb temperature and greater than the dew point temperature of the input air stream;
• wherein a first portion of the sensibly cooled air stream is supplied to a cooled space, and
• wherein a second portion of the sensibly cooled air stream is directed to a wet side of the indirect evaporative cooler and receives heat from the received and cooled portion of the input air stream.

A method for conditioning a supply air stream, comprising:

• cooling an air stream by absorption of water vapor from the air stream to a first wet bulb temperature and first dewpoint temperature;
• after the cooling by absorption, using indirect evaporative cooling to sensibly cool the air stream to a second temperature;
• and
• supplying a first portion of the sensibly cooled air stream to a space, wherein a second portion of the sensibly cooled air stream is used to perform the indirect evaporative cooling of the air stream.