Dual expansion energy recovery (DEER) air cycle system with mid pressure water separation

A method of conditioning water vapor bearing air for supply as conditioned air and cooling a liquid load, comprising the steps of:

• providing an air cycle subsystem comprising a first heat exchanger, a reheater downstream of said first heat exchanger, a first turbine that condenses substantially all of said water vapor and is downstream of said reheater, a second heat exchanger downstream of said first turbine, a second turbine downstream of said second heat exchanger, and a third heat exchanger downstream of said second turbine;
• extracting condensed water vapor from said water vapor bearing air, said step of extracting occurring in a water extractor intermediate said first turbine and second heat exchanger;
• and
• placing a liquid cycle subsystem in heat exchange relationship with said air cycle subsystem, said heat exchange relationship occurring at said second and third heat exchangers,
• whereby said second turbine can convert thermal energy from said liquid cycle subsystem into useful work.

A liquid-to-air cycle system for conditioning water vapor bearing air, comprising:

• an air cycle subsystem comprising a reheater that can reheat a dehumidified air, a first turbine downstream of said reheater, a first liquid-to-air heat exchanger downstream of said first turbine, a water extractor intermediate said first turbine and first liquid-to-air heat exchanger, and a second turbine downstream of said reheater and first liquid-to-air heat exchanger;
• and
• a liquid cycle subsystem in heat exchange relationship with said first liquid-to-air heat exchanger,
• whereby said first liquid-to-air heat exchanger can absorb thermal energy from said liquid cycle subsystem and provide a recovered thermal energy for use by said second turbine.

A method of conditioning water vapor bearing air for supply as conditioned air and cooling a liquid load, comprising the steps of:

• providing an air cycle subsystem comprising a first heat exchanger, a reheater downstream of said first heat exchanger, a first turbine that condenses substantially all of said water vapor and is downstream of said reheater, a second heat exchanger downstream of said first turbine, a second turbine downstream of said second heat exchanger, and a third heat exchanger downstream of said second turbine;
• heating an outlet air from said second turbine, the step of heating occurring in said third heat exchanger;
• and
• placing a liquid cycle subsystem in heat exchange relationship with said air cycle subsystem, said heat exchange relationship occurring at said second and third heat exchangers,
• whereby said second turbine can convert thermal energy from said liquid cycle subsystem into useful work.

A liquid-to-air cycle system for conditioning water vapor bearing air, comprising:

• an air cycle subsystem comprising a reheater that can reheat a dehumidified air, a first turbine downstream of said reheater, a first liquid-to-air heat exchanger downstream of said first turbine, a second turbine downstream of said reheater and first liquid-to-air heat exchanger, and a second liquid-to-air heat exchanger downstream of said second turbine;
• and
• a liquid cycle subsystem in heat exchange relationship with said first liquid-to-air heat exchanger,
• whereby said first liquid-to-air heat exchanger can absorb thermal energy from said liquid cycle subsystem and provide a recovered thermal energy for use by said second turbine.