Electrochemical liquid desiccant regeneration system

A system, comprising:

• a dehumidification unit configured to dilute a liquid desiccant from a first concentration to a second concentration;
• a first electrodialytic battery unit, comprising:
• a first reservoir coupled to the dehumidification unit to receive the liquid desiccant having the second concentration and comprising an output, wherein the liquid desiccant having the second concentration in the first reservoir is increased in concentration to a third concentration or decreased in concentration to a fourth concentration during an operation mode;
• a second reservoir coupled to the dehumidification unit to receive the liquid desiccant having the second concentration and comprising an output, wherein concentration of the liquid desiccant having the second concentration in the second reservoir is changed in the opposite manner as the liquid desiccant in the first reservoir during the operation mode;
• a first redox-active electrolyte chamber comprising at least one first electrode and a first solution of a redox-active electrolyte material and configured to have a reversible redox reaction with the first redox-active electrolyte material to drive at least one ion into, or accept at least one ion from, the liquid desiccant having the second concentration in the first water reservoir;
• a second redox-active electrolyte chamber comprising at least one second electrode and a second solution of a redox-active electrolyte material and configured to have a reversible redox reaction with the second redox-active electrolyte material to accept at least one ion from, or drive at least one ion into, the liquid desiccant having the second concentration in the second water reservoir;
• a first type of membrane disposed between the first and second reservoirs;
• and
• a second type of membrane, different from the first type, disposed between the first redox-active electrolyte chamber and the first reservoir and disposed between the second redox-active electrolyte chamber and the second reservoir;
• a switching unit comprising a first switch coupled to the output of the first reservoir and a second switch coupled to the output of the second reservoir;
• and
• a transport system coupled to the switching unit and the dehumidification unit and configured to transport the liquid desiccant having the third concentration from the first or second reservoir to the dehumidification unit.

A method, comprising:

• using a liquid desiccant in a dehumidification process to remove water from a material and dilute the liquid desiccant from a first concentration to a second concentration;
• providing an electrodialysis apparatus, comprising:
• a first reservoir comprising an input and an output, wherein concentration of a liquid desiccant is increased to a threshold concentration during an operation mode;
• a second reservoir comprising an input and an output, wherein concentration of a liquid desiccant decreases during the operation mode;
• a first redox-active electrolyte chamber comprising at least one first electrode and a first solution of a redox-active electrolyte material and configured to have a reversible redox reaction with the first redox-active electrolyte material to drive at least one ion into the liquid desiccant in the first reservoir;
• a second redox-active electrolyte chamber comprising at least one second electrode and a second solution of a redox-active electrolyte material and configured to have a reversible redox reaction with the second redox-active electrolyte material to accept at least one ion from the liquid desiccant in the second reservoir;
• a first type of membrane disposed between the first and second reservoirs;
• and
• a second type of membrane, different from the first type, disposed between the first redox-active electrolyte chamber and the first reservoir and disposed between the second redox-active electrolyte chamber and the second reservoir;
• transporting the diluted liquid desiccant into the first and second reservoirs;
• operating the electrodialysis apparatus to generate a first output comprising a liquid desiccant having the threshold concentration and to generate a second output comprising a majority of water;
• and
• transporting the first output to the dehumidification process.