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US 4,984,434 AGranted
Hybrid vapor-compression/liquid desiccant air conditioner
OwnerJohn L. Peterson, John R. Howellinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid air conditioning system which simultaneously dehumidifies and cools air using standard vapor-compression equipment and aqueous solutions of liquid desiccant. By using a circulating liquid desiccant and an adiabatic humidifier, a more efficient refrigerant cycle is utilized. Moreover, conditioned air can be delivered at the same temperature and absolute humidity as conventional vapor-compression systems but without overworking the compressor.
Claims9
A hybrid air conditioning system, comprising:
- a refrigerant;
- a liquid desiccant;
- an evaporator and a condenser, each having a heat and mass exchanger including tubes for receiving said refrigerant and fins attached to said tubes for receiving
- gravitationally delivered films of said liquid desiccant;
- means for circulating said desiccant and said refrigerant between and within said evaporator and condenser;
- and
- means for withdrawing cool dry air from said evaporator and warm moist air from said condenser.
4 more elements
A hybrid air conditioning system, comprising:
- a refrigerant;
- a liquid desiccant;
- an evaporator and a condenser, each having a heat and mass exchanger including tubes for receiving said refrigerant and fins attached to said tubes for receiving gravitationally delivered films of said liquid desiccant;
- means for circulating said desiccant and said refrigerant between and within said evaporator and said condenser;
- means for withdrawing cool dry air from said evaporator and warm moist air from said condenser;
- and
- means for adding moisture to said cool dry air withdrawn from said evaporator.
4 more elements
A method for converting warm moist air into cool dry air, comprising steps of:
- circulating refrigerant and diluted liquid desiccant from an evaporator to a condenser and refrigerant and concentrated liquid desiccant from said condenser to said evaporator;
- transferring heat from said desiccant before entering said evaporator to said desiccant before entering said condenser;
- transferring heat and mass from warm moist air entering said evaporator to produce cool dry air expelled from said evaporator;
- transferring heat and mass from said condenser to air entering said condenser to produce warm moist air expelled from said condenser;
- and selectively humidifying said cool dry air expelled from said evaporator.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.