Liquid desiccant air conditioner

A liquid desiccant air conditioner, comprising:

• a dehumidifier including a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through said desiccant absorber, said desiccant absorber being constructed and arranged for receiving concentrated liquid desiccant and dispensing dilute liquid desiccant,
• a boiler for boiling dilute liquid desiccant from said absorber at or greater than atmospheric pressure to evaporate moisture to reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant;
• a first heat exchanger operable to transfer heat from the concentrated liquid desiccant to the dilute liquid desiccant directed to said first heat exchanger from said desiccant absorber to raise the temperature of the dilute liquid desiccant to a first temperature;
• a first condenser fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam generated by boiling liquid desiccant in said boiler, said first condenser further fluidly communicating with said first heat exchanger to receive partially heated dilute liquid desiccant from said first heat exchanger at said first temperature, said first condenser being operable to sensibly heat the dilute liquid desiccant therein to a second temperature by recovering the latent heat of condensation as steam delivered from said boiler is condensed;
• a second heat exchanger fluidly communicating with said first condenser, said boiler and said first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger operable to transfer heat from concentrated liquid desiccant directed to said second heat exchanger from said boiler to the dilute liquid desiccant directed to said second heat exchanger from said first condenser at said second temperature to raise the temperature of the dilute liquid desiccant to a third temperature, said dilute liquid desiccant at the third temperature being directed to said boiler and said concentrated liquid desiccant being directed to said first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger being disposed with respect to said boiler to recover waste heat from said boiler;
• and
• a pump for pumping concentrated liquid desiccant into said absorber;
• a second condenser;
• an evaporator through which a refrigerant is passed to effect cooling of dehumidified ambient air from said desiccant absorber passing through said evaporator;
• a refrigerant absorber fluidly communicating with said evaporator to receive vaporized refrigerant from said evaporator, said refrigerant absorber containing an absorbent for absorbing the vaporized refrigerant;
• a regenerator for separating refrigerant from the absorbent, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said second condenser to supply separated refrigerant to said second condenser, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said refrigerant absorber to receive a solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber and return absorbent from said regenerator to said refrigerant absorber, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam from said boiler as a heat input;
• and
• a pump for pumping the solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber to said regenerator.

A liquid desiccant air conditioner, comprising:

• a dehumidifier including a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through said desiccant absorber, said desiccant absorber constructed and arranged for receiving concentrated liquid desiccant and dispensing dilute liquid desiccant;
• a boiler for boiling partially preheated dilute liquid desiccant to evaporate moisture to reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant;
• a first condenser fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam generated by boiling liquid desiccant in said boiler, said first condenser further fluidly communicating with said absorber to receive dilute liquid desiccant from said absorber, said first condenser being operable to sensibly heat the dilute liquid desiccant therein by recovering the latent heat of condensation as steam delivered from said boiler is condensed, to preheat said dilute liquid desiccant prior to delivery to said boiler;
• a heat exchanger fluidly communicating with said first condenser, said boiler and said desiccant absorber, said heat exchanger being operable to transfer heat from concentrated liquid desiccant received from said boiler to the preheated dilute liquid desiccant directed to said heat exchanger from said first condenser to further preheat the dilute liquid desiccant prior to delivery to said boiler, said heat exchanger including at least one tube assembly including an inner tube concentrically disposed within an outer tube to define an annulus therebetween, said at least one tube assembly being coiled around said boiler to recover waste heat from said boiler,
• a second condenser;
• an evaporator through which a refrigerant is passed to effect cooling of dehumidified ambient air from said desiccant absorber passing through said evaporator;
• an expansion valve disposed between said second condenser and said evaporator;
• a refrigerant absorber fluidly communicating with said evaporator to receive vaporized refrigerant from said evaporator, said refrigerant absorber containing an absorbent for absorbing the vaporized refrigerant;
• a regenerator for separating refrigerant from the absorbent, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said second condenser to supply separated refrigerant to said second condenser, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said refrigerant absorber to receive a solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber and return absorbent from said regenerator to said refrigerant absorber, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam from said boiler as a heat input;
• and
• a pump for pumping the solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber to said regenerator.

A liquid desiccant air conditioner, comprising:

• a dehumidifier including a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through said desiccant absorber, said desiccant absorber constructed and arranged for receiving concentrated liquid desiccant and dispensing dilute liquid desiccant;
• a boiler for boiling partially preheated dilute liquid desiccant to evaporate moisture to reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant;
• a first condenser fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam generated by boiling liquid desiccant in said boiler, said first condenser further fluidly communicating with said absorber to receive dilute liquid desiccant from said absorber, said first condenser being operable to sensibly heat the dilute liquid desiccant therein by recovering the latent heat of condensation as steam delivered from said boiler is condensed, to preheat said dilute liquid desiccant prior to delivery to said boiler;
• a heat exchanger fluidly communicating with said first condenser, said boiler and said desiccant absorber, said heat exchanger comprising at least one tube assembly including an inner tube fabricated from Teflon concentrically within an outer tube fabricated from silicone rubber to define an annulus therebetween, said heat exchanger being operable to transfer heat from concentrated liquid desiccant received from said boiler to the preheated dilute liquid desiccant directed to said heat exchanger from said first condenser to further preheat the dilute liquid desiccant prior to delivery to said boiler, said heat exchanger being disposed with respect to said boiler to recover waste heat from said boiler;
• a second condenser;
• an evaporator through which a refrigerant is passed to effect cooling of dehumidified ambient air from said desiccant absorber passing through said evaporator;
• an expansion valve disposed between said second condenser and said evaporator;
• a refrigerant absorber fluidly communicating with said evaporator to receive vaporized refrigerant from said evaporator, said refrigerant absorber containing an absorbent for absorbing the vaporized refrigerant;
• a regenerator for separating refrigerant from the absorbent, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said second condenser to supply separated refrigerant to said second condenser, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said refrigerant absorber to receive a solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber and return absorbent from said regenerator to said refrigerant absorber, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam from said boiler as a heat input;
• and
• a pump for pumping the solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber to said regenerator.

A liquid desiccant air conditioner, comprising:

• a dehumidifier including a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through said desiccant absorber, said desiccant absorber constructed and arranged for receiving concentrated liquid desiccant and dispensing dilute liquid desiccant, said liquid desiccant comprising an aqueous solution including a mixture of at least two selected from a group including aqueous LiCl, LiBr and CaCl2;
• a boiler for boiling partially preheated dilute liquid desiccant to evaporate moisture to reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant;
• a first condenser fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam generated by boiling liquid desiccant in said boiler, said first condenser further fluidly communicating with said absorber to receive dilute liquid desiccant from said absorber, said first condenser being operable to sensibly heat the dilute liquid desiccant therein by recovering the latent heat of condensation as steam delivered from said boiler is condensed, to preheat said dilute liquid desiccant prior to delivery to said boiler;
• a second condenser;
• an evaporator through which a refrigerant is passed to effect cooling of dehumidified ambient air from said desiccant absorber passing through said evaporator;
• a refrigerant absorber fluidly communicating with said evaporator to receive vaporized refrigerant from said evaporator, said refrigerant absorber containing an absorbent for absorbing the vaporized refrigerant;
• a regenerator for separating refrigerant from the absorbent, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said second condenser to supply separated refrigerant to said second condenser, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said refrigerant absorber to receive a solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber and return absorbent from said regenerator to said refrigerant absorber, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam from said boiler as a heat input;
• and
• a pump for pumping the solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber to said regenerator.

A liquid desiccant air conditioner, comprising in combination:

• a dehumidifier operative to receive air;
• a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through said desiccant absorber, said desiccant absorber constructed and arranged for receiving concentrated liquid desiccant and dispensing dilute liquid desiccant;
• an indirect evaporative cooler for receiving and cooling ambient air prior to the air entering the dehumidifier;
• a boiler for boiling partially preheated dilute liquid desiccant to evaporate moisture to reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant;
• a first condenser fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam generated by boiling liquid desiccant in said boiler, said first condenser further fluidly communicating with said absorber to receive dilute liquid desiccant from said absorber, said first condenser being operable to sensibly heat the dilute liquid desiccant therein by recovering the latent heat of condensation as steam delivered from said boiler is condensed, to preheat said dilute liquid desiccant prior to delivery to said boiler;
• a second condenser;
• an evaporator through which a refrigerant is passed to effect cooling of dehumidified ambient air from said desiccant absorber passing through said evaporator;
• an expansion valve disposed between said second condenser and said evaporator;
• a refrigerant absorber fluidly communicating with said evaporator to receive vaporized refrigerant from said evaporator, said refrigerant absorber containing an absorbent for absorbing the vaporized refrigerant;
• a regenerator for separating refrigerant from the absorbent, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said second condenser to supply separated refrigerant to said second condenser, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said refrigerant absorber to receive a solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber and return absorbent from said regenerator to said refrigerant absorber, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam from said boiler as a heat input;
• and
• a pump for pumping the solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber to said regenerator.

A liquid desiccant air conditioner, comprising in combination:

• a dehumidifier operative to receive air;
• a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through said desiccant absorber, said desiccant absorber constructed and arranged for receiving concentrated liquid desiccant and dispensing dilute liquid desiccant;
• a boiler for boiling partially preheated dilute liquid desiccant to evaporate moisture to reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant;
• a first condenser fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam generated by boiling liquid desiccant in said boiler, said first condenser further fluidly communicating with said absorber to receive dilute liquid desiccant from said absorber, said first condenser being operable to sensibly heat the dilute liquid desiccant therein by recovering the latent heat of condensation as steam delivered from said boiler is condensed, to preheat said dilute liquid desiccant prior to delivery to said boiler;
• a second condenser;
• an evaporator through which a refrigerant is passed to effect cooling of dehumidified ambient air from said desiccant absorber passing through said evaporator;
• a refrigerant absorber fluidly communicating with said evaporator to receive vaporized refrigerant from said evaporator, said refrigerant absorber containing an absorbent for absorbing the vaporized refrigerant;
• a regenerator for separating refrigerant from the absorbent, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said second condenser to supply separated refrigerant to said second condenser, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said refrigerant absorber to receive a solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber and return absorbent from said regenerator to said refrigerant absorber, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam from said boiler as heat input;
• a pump for pumping the solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber to said regenerator;
• and
• a direct evaporative cooler for further cooling the air cooled by said evaporator.

A liquid desiccant air conditioner, comprising, in combination:

• a dehumidifier including a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through said desiccant absorber, said desiccant absorber constructed and arranged for receiving concentrated liquid desiccant and dispensing dilute liquid desiccant;
• a boiler for boiling partially preheated dilute liquid desiccant to evaporate moisture to reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant;
• a first condenser fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam generated by boiling liquid desiccant in said boiler, said first condenser further fluidly communicating with said absorber to receive dilute liquid desiccant from said absorber, said first condenser being operable to sensibly heat the dilute liquid desiccant therein by recovering the latent heat of condensation as steam delivered from said boiler is condensed, to preheat said dilute liquid desiccant prior to delivery to said boiler;
• a second condenser;
• an evaporator through which a refrigerant is passed to effect cooling of dehumidified ambient air from said desiccant absorber passing through said evaporator;
• an indirect evaporative cooler for cooling dehumidified air from said desiccant absorber prior to passing the dehumidified air through said evaporator;
• an expansion valve disposed between said second condenser and said evaporator;
• a refrigerant absorber fluidly communicating with said evaporator to receive vaporized refrigerant from said evaporator, said refrigerant absorber containing an absorbent for absorbing the vaporized refrigerant;
• a regenerator for separating refrigerant from the absorbent, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said second condenser to supply separated refrigerant to said second condenser, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said refrigerant absorber to receive a solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber and return absorbent from said regenerator to said refrigerant absorber, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam from said boiler as a heat input;
• and
• a pump for pumping the solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber to said regenerator.

A liquid desiccant air conditioner, comprising, in combination,

• a dehumidifier including a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through said desiccant absorber, said desiccant absorber being constructed and arranged for receiving concentrated liquid desiccant and dispensing dilute liquid desiccant;
• a boiler for boiling dilute liquid desiccant from said absorber to evaporate moisture and reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant;
• a first condenser fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam generated by boiling liquid desiccant in said boiler, said first condenser further fluidly communicating with said absorber to receive dilute liquid desiccant from said absorber, said first condenser being operable to recover latent heat of condensation from said steam so as to sensibly heat said dilute liquid desiccant prior to entry into said boiler without significant direct exposure of said dilute liquid desiccant to air;
• a second condenser;
• an evaporator through which a refrigerant is passed to effect cooling of dehumidified ambient air from said desiccant absorber passing through said evaporator;
• a refrigerant absorber fluidly communicating with said evaporator to receive vaporized refrigerant from said evaporator, said refrigerant absorber containing an absorbent for absorbing the vaporized refrigerant;
• a regenerator for separating refrigerant from the absorbent, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said second condenser and being operative at atmospheric pressure to supply separated refrigerant to said second condenser, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said refrigerant absorber to receive a solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber at atmospheric pressure and return absorbent from said regenerator to said refrigerant absorber, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive steam from said boiler as a heat input;
• and
• a pump for pumping the solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber to said regenerator.

A liquid desiccant air conditioner, comprising in combination,

• a dehumidifier including a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through said desiccant absorber, said desiccant absorber being operative to receive concentrated liquid desiccant and dispense dilute liquid desiccant;
• a boiler for boiling dilute liquid desiccant at or above atmospheric pressure to evaporate moisture and thereby reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant;
• a first condenser fluidly communicating with said boiler and said desiccant absorber so as to receive steam generated by boiling liquid desiccant in said boiler and receive dilute liquid desiccant from said desiccant absorber, said first condenser being operative to sensibly heat the dilute liquid desiccant thereby by recovering the latent heat of condensation as steam delivered from said boiler is condensed,
• a second condenser;
• an evaporator through which a refrigerant is passed to effect cooling of dehumidified ambient air from said desiccant absorber passing through said evaporator and create vaporized refrigerant;
• a refrigerant absorber fluidly communicating with said evaporator to receive vaporized refrigerant from said evaporator, said refrigerant absorber containing an absorbent for absorbing the vaporized refrigerant;
• a regenerator communicating with refrigerant absorber for separating refrigerant from said absorbent, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler and said second condenser so as to receive steam from said boiler and supply separated refrigerant to said second condenser, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said refrigerant absorber to receive a solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber and return absorbent from said regenerator to said refrigerant absorber, said regenerator fluidly communicating with said boiler to receive heat input from said boiler;
• and
• a pump for pumping the solution of absorbent and refrigerant from said refrigerant absorber to said regenerator.