Air conditioning system for cooling warm moisture-laden air

In a method of conditioning a process stream of air in an air conditioning system wherein a process stream of air is dehumidified and cooled to provide a conditioned stream of air for introducing to a conditioned space, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an enthalpy wheel comprised of an adsorbent contained in a paper web, the enthalpy wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which said process air can flow, the enthalpy wheel capable of regeneration by passing an air stream therethrough having a temperature and humidity lower than said process air;
• (b) passing said process air through said enthalpy wheel to remove heat and moisture from the process air;
• (c) regenerating said enthalpy wheel by passing return air from the conditioned space therethrough to remove heat and moisture from the enthalpy wheel;
• (d) providing an adsorption wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which said process air can flow for adsorbing moisture therefrom, the wheel capable of adsorption of moisture from said process air and of regeneration on a continuous basis as the adsorption wheel rotates;
• (e) passing a first portion and a second portion of said process air exiting from said enthalpy wheel through said adsorption wheel to remove moisture from the process air, said first portion of said process air passing through said adsorption wheel after said regeneration, the first portion removing heat from said wheel prior to said second portion passing through said adsorption wheel;
• (f) introducing said first portion of said process air to a heat exchanger to remove heat from said first portion;
• (g) directing a second stream of air through said heat exchanger to remove heat therefrom to provide a second heated air stream;
• (h) regenerating said adsorption wheel by passing hot gases therethrough to remove moisture from said adsorption wheel;
• and
• (i) introducing said first portion of said process air after passing through said heat exchanger and said second portion of said process air after passing through adsorption wheel to an indirect evaporative cooler to provide a cooled stream of air having a controlled level of humidity.

A method of conditioning a stream of process air wherein the process air is dehumidified and cooled to provide a conditioned stream of air for introducing to a conditioned space, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an enthalpy wheel comprised of an adsorbent contained in a paper web, the enthalpy wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which said process air can flow, the enthalpy wheel capable of regeneration by passing an air stream therethrough having a temperature and humidity lower than said process air;
• (b) passing said process air through said enthalpy wheel to remove heat and moisture from the process air;
• (c) regenerating said enthalpy wheel by passing return air from the conditioned space therethrough to remove heat and moisture from the enthalpy wheel;
• (d) providing an adsorption wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which said process air can flow for adsorbing moisture therefrom, the wheel capable of adsorbing moisture from said process air and of regeneration on a continuous basis as the adsorption wheel rotates;
• (e) regenerating said adsorption wheel by passing hot gases therethrough to heat said adsorption wheel;
• (f) passing a first portion and a second portion of said process air exiting from said enthalpy wheel through said adsorption wheel to remove moisture from the process air, said first portion of said process air passing through said adsorption wheel after said regenerating thereby removing heat from said adsorption wheel prior to said second portion passing through said adsorption wheel;
• (g) introducing said first portion of said process air to a heat exchanger to remove heat from said first portion;
• (h) introducing said first portion and said second portion of said process air to an indirect evaporative cooler having a dry side and a wet side separated by a moisture-impervious wall wherein heat is extracted from said dry side through said wall to said wet side, the first portion and the second portion being introduced to the dry side to provide cooled air exiting said indirect evaporative cooler;
• and
• (i) directing air to said wet side of said indirect evaporative cooler, said air directed to said wet side being selected from at least one of outside air, air returned from the conditioned space, a portion of the air from the enthalpy wheel, and a portion of the cooled air exiting the dry side of the indirect evaporative cooler.

A method for treating a stream of air to produce cooled air to be introduced to a conditioned space, the method comprising:

• (a) providing an enthalpy wheel comprised of an adsorbent contained in a paper web, the enthalpy wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which said process air can flow, the enthalpy wheel capable of regeneration by passing an air stream therethrough having a temperature and humidity lower than said process air;
• (b) passing said process air through said enthalpy wheel to remove heat and moisture from the process air;
• (c) regenerating said enthalpy wheel by passing air from the conditioned space therethrough to remove heat and moisture from the enthalpy wheel;
• (d) providing a desiccant body;
• (e) passing a first portion and a second portion of process air exiting from said enthalpy wheel through said desiccant body to remove moisture therefrom to provide moisture depleted process air;
• (f) regenerating said body by passing hot gases through said body after passing said second portion through said body, said first portion removing heat from said body prior to said second stream passing through said body;
• (g) introducing said first portion of process air to a heat exchanger;
• (h) providing an indirect evaporative cooler having a dry side and a wet side separated by a moisture impervious wall wherein heat is extracted from said dry side through said wall to said wet side;
• (i) introducing said first portion after being cooled in said heat exchanger and said second portion of process air to the dry side of said indirect evaporative cooler to provide cooled air;
• and
• (j) diverting air to the wet side of said indirect evaporative cooler, said air directed to said wet side being selected from one of outside air, air returned from the conditioned space, a portion of the air from the enthalpy wheel, and a portion of the cooled air exiting the dry side of the indirect evaporative cooler.

A method for treating process air to produce cooled air, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an enthalpy wheel comprised of an adsorbent contained in a paper web, the enthalpy wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which said process air can flow, the enthalpy wheel capable of regeneration by passing an air stream therethrough having a temperature and humidity lower than said process air;
• (b) passing said process air though said enthalpy wheel to remove heat and moisture from the process air;
• (c) regenerating said enthalpy wheel by passing air from the conditioned space therethrough to remove heat and moisture from the enthalpy wheel;
• (d) providing a desiccant wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which said process air can flow for adsorbing moisture therefrom, the wheel capable of adsorbing moisture from said process air and capable of being regenerated on a continuous basis as the wheel rotates;
• (e) regenerating said desiccant wheel by passing hot gases therethrough to heat said desiccant wheel;
• (f) providing process air comprised of a first portion and a second portion;
• (g) passing said first portion of said process air through said desiccant wheel to remove moisture therefrom to provide a moisture depleted first portion;
• (h) bypassing said desiccant wheel with said second portion of said process air thereby reducing the pressure drop across said wheel;
• (i) providing an indirect evaporative cooler having a dry side and a wet side separated by a moisture impervious wall wherein heat is extracted from said dry side to said wet side;
• (j) introducing said moisture depleted first portion and said second portion to the dry side of said indirect evaporative cooler to provide cooled air exiting said indirect evaporative cooler.