Moisture eliminator for air washer

An air conditioning system for maintaining a conditioned zone at predetermined temperature and humidity levels comprising in combination

• (a) an air washer comprising a water spray section, means for supplying water to said water spray section and for collecting excess spray water, and a moisture eliminator adjacent to said water spray section having a maximum effective face area through which a stream of air to be treated by the air washer passes,
• (b) first damper means for admitting to said air washer for treatment controlled quantities of outside air and air returned from said conditioned zone,
• (c) second damper means and associated control devices for diverting a portion of the air returned from said conditioned zone through bypass conduit means separate from the air washer and for varying the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time and
• (d) means for changing the effective face area of said moisture eliminator in response to changes in the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time.

A method for treating a stream of air moving through an air washer which comprises

• (a) varying the flow rate of the air moving through the air washer in response to a demand for conditioned air that is to be supplied to a work space or conditioned zone,
• (b) injecting into the stream of air moving through the air washer a sufficient amount of water in the form of a spray to produce an air stream that is substantially saturated with water vapor,
• (c) passing the substantially saturated air stream through a moisture eliminator having a maximum effective face area through which the air stream moves and
• (d) changing the effective face area of the moisture eliminator in response to changes in the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer
• wherein the effective face area of said moisture eliminator is reduced when the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer falls to a predetermined level and is increased when the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer rises to a predetermined level and wherein the flow rate of the air moving through the air washer is varied by directing a controlled portion of the air stream through bypass conduit means separate from said air washer.

A method for treating a stream of air moving through an air washer that is provided with a variable capacity fan which comprises

• (a) varying the flow rate of the air moving through the air washer by adjusting the capacity of said fan in response to a demand for conditioned air that is to be supplied to a work space or conditioned zone,
• (b) injecting into the stream of air a sufficient amount of water in the form of a spray to produce an air stream that is substantially saturated with water vapor,
• (c) passing the substantially saturated air stream through a moisture eliminator having a maximum effective face area through which the air stream moves and
• (d) changing the effective face area of the moisture eliminator in response to changes in the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer wherein the effective face area of said moisture eliminator is reduced when the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer falls to a predetermined level and is increased when the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer rises to a predetermined level.

An air conditioning system for maintaining a conditioned zone at predetermined temperature and humidity levels comprising in combination

• (a) a chamber having an entrance end provided with separate modulated damper means for admitting return air from the conditioned zone and outside air into the chamber and an exit end for delivering conditioned air to a supply air duct which supplies conditioned air to the conditioned zone,
• (b) spray means positioned within the chamber intermediate the entrance and exit ends for spraying sufficient quantities of water into air moving through the chamber to deliver conditioned air to the supply air duct that is substantially saturated with water vapor and is adjusted to a predetermined temperature,
• (c) a moisture eliminator positioned within the chamber intermediate the spray means and said exit end for removing droplets of water entrained in the conditioned air, said moisture eliminator having a maximum effective face area through which said conditioned air passes,
• (d) means for moving variable volumes of air per unit of time through the chamber,
• (e) sensing means for monitoring the dew point of the conditioned air delivered to the supply air duct and control means associated therewith for modulating the damper means which admit said return air from the conditioned zone and outside air into the chamber,
• (f) means for sensing the temperature of the air in the conditioned zone and control means associated therewith for regulating the volume of air moving through the chamber per unit of time and
• (g) means for changing the effective face area of the moisture eliminator in response to changes in the volume of air moving through the chamber per unit of time.

A method for conditioning the air being directed to a conditioned zone that is being maintained at predetermined temperature and humidity levels comprising the steps of

• (a) establishing a controlled flow of air through an air conditioning system that includes an air washer with a water spray section and a moisture eliminator having a maximum effective face area through which conditioned air passes,
• (b) treating the air with a controlled spray of water as it moves through the air washer to produce conditioned air that is substantially saturated with water vapor,
• (c) monitoring the dew point of the conditioned air being directed to the conditioned zone,
• (d) regulating the flow of air returned to the air washer from the conditioned zone and outside air admitted into the air conditioned system in response to the dew point of the conditioned air being directed to the conditioned zone,
• (e) determining the demand for conditioned air by sensing the temperature of the air in the conditioned zone,
• (f) varying the flow rate of air moving through the air washer in response to a change in demand for conditioned air in the conditioned zone,
• (g) changing the effective face area of the moisture eliminator in response to variations in the flow rate of air moving through said air washer and moisture eliminator to maintain the air velocity of the air moving through the moisture eliminator within a predetermined range.