US 5,327,739 A · Desiccant adsorption air conditioner for automobiles

Abstract

A desiccant air conditioning system (10) is provided for a passenger compartment (28) of a vehicle. Ambient air, to be eventually conditioned, passes through desiccant material maintained in a desiccant chamber (14) where it loses a portion of its moisture content while its temperature rises because of the release of the heat of vapor condensation. Subsequently, this hot, dry air is passed through a heat exchanger (20) where it is cooled down to a temperature close to the ambient. This very dry, cool air is then humidified by a humidifier (24), becoming cool, moist air, that is introduced into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Exhaust air (30) from the passenger compartment is further humidified by a humidifier (32), so as to cool it. This cooled, humidified air is then passed through the heat exchanger (20) to cool the hot, dry incoming air. The air conditioning system may also be used in a heating mode by simply deactivating the heat exchanger (20) and the two humidifiers (24 and 32) and using the exhaust air from the passenger compartment as the source of the air (42) incoming into the desiccant chamber. The desiccant material can be regenerated by means (40), such as by passing current therethrough, to drive off absorbed water.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A desiccant adsorption air conditioning system for conditioning the air of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a desiccant chamber containing a quantity of desiccant material for absorbing water;
(b) means for introducing air into said desiccant chamber to produce air having reduced humidity;
(c) means for passing said air having said reduction humidity from said desiccant chamber to a stationary, cross-flow heat exchanger to thereby cool said air;
(d) means for passing said cooled air to a first humidifier provided with water to increase the humidity of said cooled air to a controllable level, said first humidifier including an ultrasonic element to vaporize said water;
(e) means for passing said cooled air having increased humidity into said passenger compartment;
(f) means for exhausting air from said passenger compartment to a second humidifier provided with water to increase the humidity of said exhausted air to saturation, said second humidifier including an ultrasonic element to vaporize said water;
(g) means for passing said exhausted air having increased humidity to said heat exchanger to aid in cooling said air having reduced humidity;
and
(h) means for reconditioning said desiccant material to desorb any absorbed water, said means separate from said exhausted air exiting from said passenger compartment.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Desiccant adsorption air conditioner for automobiles

Life of this patent

Desiccant adsorption air conditioner for automobiles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18