US 2023/0173433 A1Published application

Dryer using electrochemical regenerated liquid desiccant

AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated

InventorsMichael Benedict, Eugene S. Beh, Aaron Meles

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Abstract

A dryer system includes an electrodialytic regenerator that comprises a first channel that dilutes a first stream of liquid desiccant and a second channel that concentrates a second stream of the liquid desiccant. An air-liquid interface is in fluid communication with the second stream of the liquid desiccant and an input air stream and exposes the second stream of the liquid desiccant to the input air stream. The absorption of the water from the input air stream creates a dehumidified air stream. The system includes a heat transfer element in thermal communication with the air-liquid interface. The heat transfer element carries latent heat generated from the absorption of the water from the input air stream. The system includes a drying chamber coupled to receive the dehumidified air stream and the heat.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A dryer system comprising:

an electrodialytic regenerator comprising:
a first channel that dilutes a first stream of liquid desiccant and a second channel that concentrates a second stream of the liquid desiccant, the first and second channels separated by a central ionic exchange membrane;
a redox shuttle loop with first and second redox streams separated from the first and second channels by respective first and second outer ionic exchange membranes of a different type than the central ionic exchange membrane;
and
first and second electrodes that are operable to apply a voltage across the electrodialytic regenerator and cause the dilution of the first stream and the concentration of the second stream;
an air-liquid interface in fluid communication with the second stream of the liquid desiccant and an input air stream, the air-liquid interface exposing the second stream of the liquid desiccant to the input air stream, absorption of water from the input air stream by the second stream creating a dehumidified air stream;
a heat transfer element in thermal communication with the air-liquid interface, the heat transfer element carrying latent heat generated from the absorption of the water from the input air stream;
and
a drying chamber coupled to receive the dehumidified air stream and the heat.

6 more elements

A method, comprising:

applying an external voltage between first and second electrodes of an electrodialytic regenerator comprising first and second channels separated by a central ionic exchange membrane, the first and second electrodes being separated from the first and second channels by respective first and second outer ionic exchange membranes of a different type than the central ionic exchange membrane;
flowing one or more solutions comprising one or more redox-active electrolyte materials over the first and second electrodes, wherein the redox-active electrolyte materials reduce when in contact with the one of the first and second electrodes and oxidize when in contact with another of the first and second electrodes;
in response to reduction and oxidation of the redox-active electrolyte materials, transporting ions across the first outer, second outer, and central ionic exchange membranes to move a salt of a liquid desiccant from the first channel to the second channel, the second channel producing a concentrated stream of the liquid desiccant;
contacting the concentrated stream with an input air stream in an air contactor, the concentrated stream absorbing of water from the input air stream to form a dehumidified air stream, the absorbing of water generating latent heat;
carrying the latent heat from the air contactor to a drying chamber;
and
inputting the dehumidified air stream into the drying chamber.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.