Liquid panel assembly
AssigneeNortek Air Solutions Canada, Inc.
InventorsPhilip Paul LePoudre, Kenneth Paul Coutu, Howard Brian Hemingson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid panel assembly configured to be used with an energy exchanger may include a support frame having one or more fluid circuits and at least one membrane secured to the support frame. Each of the fluid circuits may include an inlet channel connected to an outlet channel through one or more flow passages. A liquid is configured to flow through the fluid circuits and contact interior surfaces of the membrane(s). The fluid circuits are configured to at least partially offset liquid hydrostatic pressure with friction loss of the liquid flowing within the fluid circuits to minimize, eliminate, or otherwise reduce pressure within the liquid panel assembly.
Claims15
A liquid panel assembly for a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger, the liquid panel assembly comprising:
- a support frame including a plurality of liquid circuits each of which includes an inlet channel connected to an outlet channel through a plurality of flow passages, the inlet channel being disposed at an upper corner of the support frame, and the outlet channel being disposed at a lower corner of the support frame;
- and
- first and second semi-permeable membranes secured to first and second sides of the support frame, wherein:
- a liquid is configured to flow through the plurality of liquid circuits and contact interior surfaces of the first and second semi-permeable membranes;
- and
- a hydraulic diameter of the inlet channels and the outlet channels is selected based on one or more of a density, viscosity;
- and flow speed of the liquid to generate a friction pressure loss of the liquid that is in a range from greater than zero to approximately equal to a hydrostatic pressure gain of the liquid as the liquid flows through the plurality of liquid circuits.
The liquid panel assembly of claim 21, wherein the inlet and outlet channels are vertical and the plurality of flow passages are horizontal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.