US 4,536,198 A · Moisture control device

Abstract

A moisture control device for drying air, having an enclosed housing including an inlet and at least one restricted outlet. Contained within the housing, in between and on opposite sides of the inlet and outlet, are first and second desiccant columns, each containing a desiccant material. An inlet plenum is located between the inlet and the desiccant columns, and the discharge plenum is located between the restricted outlet and the desiccant columns, with the inlet and discharge plenums communicating through the desiccant columns. A valve damper is pivotally supported within the inlet plenum having one end extending across the inlet to alternately direct air into the housing by a blower into one of the desiccant columns. Pivotal exhaust doors are actuated by the damper to direct dry air into the opposite desiccant column, regenerating that column, before exhausting the air out of the housing. An intermittently operable time controlled motor pivots the damper before the desiccant approaches saturation and before the desiccant loses its heat of absorption. A heater is located within each desiccant column for raising the temperature of the dry air as it enters the column so that regeneration time equals absorption time. At least one heat collecting baffle assembly is interposed between each heater and the discharge plenum to prevent radiation of heat thereto.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method of drying air for use with a dehumidifier or dehydrator, comprising the following steps:

(a) forcing ambient air at a low static pressure through an inlet into a housing;
(b) means directing said ambient air into one of a pair of opposed desiccant columns, contained within said housing;
(c) intermittently directing said ambient air into the other of said desiccant columns before said desiccant column approaches saturation and before said desiccant column loses the heat of adsorption contained therein;
(d) passing said ambient air both over the surfaces of a plurality of spaced laterally staggered baffles containing a desiccant, within said columns, and through said spaced baffles, drying said ambient air;
(e) creating a back pressure in a discharge plenum of said housing by directing dry air into said discharge plenum and a large portion thereof out through at least one restricted outlet;
(f) directing a portion of said dry air received in said discharge plenum into said other desiccant column;
(g) directing said portion of dry air both over the surfaces of said spaced desiccant baffles, within said other desiccant columns, and through said spaced baffles, within said other desiccant column, regenerating the desiccant in said baffles;
and
(h) directing the air received from said opposed desiccant column of said housing.

6 more elements

A method of drying air utilizing an apparatus having two desiccant beds, each desiccant bed having a minimal pressure drop and insulated from the other desiccant bed, the method comprising:

(a) circulating ambient air to be dried through a first desiccant bed in said apparatus, wherein the desiccant is substantially at ambient temperature and drying the air;
(b) circulating a first predetermined volume of the dried air from said first desiccant bed out of said apparatus;
(c) recirculating a second predetermined volume of the dried air from said first desiccant bed through a heat collecting filter to a heater, and heating the dried air;
(d) circulating the dry heated air to a second desiccant bed having moisture absorbed therein, thereby heating said second desiccant bed and removing the moisture therefrom;
(e) circulating the air from said second desiccant bed outside to a controlled space;
(f) discontinuing the heating of said recirculated dried air while continuing to recirculate the dried air through said second desiccant bed, thereby cooling said second desiccant bed to substantially ambient temperature;
(g) recirculating the ambient air to be dried through said second desiccant bed before said first desiccant bed approaches saturation, and drying the ambient air;
(h) circulating said first predetermined column of the dried air from said second desiccant bed out of said apparatus;
(i) recirculating said second predetermined volume of the dried air through a heat collecting filter to a heater, thereby heating the dried air;
(j) recirculating said second predetermined volume of the dried heated air through said first desiccant bed, heating said first desiccant bed and removing moisture therefrom;
and
(k) intermittently repeating the cycle through said first and second desiccant beds before the desiccant beds approach saturation.

9 more elements

A moisture control device comprising:

an enclosed housing including an inlet and at least one outlet;
opposed first and second desiccant columns on each side of said inlet and outlet;
a discharge plenum located between said outlet and said opposed desiccant columns;
said inlet and discharge plenum communicating through said desiccant columns;
a valve damper means supported within said housing having a portion directing air received from said inlet into one of said desiccant columns in a first position and into the other opposed desiccant column in a second position;
damper actuating means intermittently positioning said valve damper means between said first and second positions to alternately and intermittently direct air into one of said first and second desiccant columns;
blower means providing pressurized air through said inlet;
heater means, positioned within each of said desiccant columns in the air path therein, adapted for heating the dehydrated air passing through said column, rendering said dry air more hydroscopic for rapid regeneration of said desiccant columns;
at least one heat collecting baffle assembly of heat collecting material positioned within each column between said heater means and said discharge plenum preventing radiation of said heat to said dry air in said discharge plenum;
said desiccant columns each comprising baffles of desiccant material creating a low pressure drop through said desiccant column;
valve means in said housing for alternately directing air received from said discharge plenum through said other opposed desiccant column, out of said housing;
said valve damper means and damper actuating means alternately and intermittently directing said air into one of said desiccant columns, into said discharge plenum, and a large portion of said air out of said outlet;
said outlet a restricted opening creating a back pressure in said discharge plenum and directing a portion of the air received in said discharge plenum into said other opposed desiccant column;
and
said valve means directing said portion of air received from said opposed desiccant column out of said housing.

12 more elements

A moisture control device comprising:

an enclosed housing including an inlet and at least one outlet;
opposed first and second desiccant columns on each side of said inlet and outlet;
a discharge plenum located between said outlet and said opposed desiccant columns;
said inlet and discharge plenum communicating through said desiccant columns;
a valve damper means supported within said housing having a portion directing air received from said inlet into one of said desiccant columns in a first position and into the other opposed desiccant column in a second position;
damper actuating means intermittently positioning said valve damper means between said first and second positions to alternately and intermittently direct air into one of said first and second desiccant columns, said damper actuating means includes a cam timer motor positioning said valve damper between said first and second positions in relatively short intervals of approximately 2.5 minutes;
blower means providing pressurized air through said inlet;
heater means, positioned within each of said desiccant columns in the air path therein, adapted for heating the dehydrated air passing through said column, rendering said dry air more hydroscopic for rapid regeneration of said desiccant columns;
said desiccant columns each comprising baffles of desiccant material creating a low pressure drop through said desiccant column;
valve means in said housing for alternately directing air received from said discharge plenum through said other opposed desiccant column, out of said housing;
said valve damper means and damper actuating means alternately and intermittently directing said air into one of said desiccant columns, into said discharge plenum, and a large portion of said air out of said outlet;
said outlet having a restricted opening creating a back pressure in said discharge plenum and directing a portion of the air received in said discharge plenum into said other opposed desiccant column;
and
said valve means directing said portion of air received from said opposed desiccant column out of said housing.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Moisture control device

Life of this patent

Moisture control device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23