Enthalpy pump
OwnerDavid A. Thompsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An enthalpy pump (10) for altering the humidity level of an air stream (12, 14). The enthalpy pump comprises a container having a transfer portion (38) disposed in a first air stream (12), with a liquid desiccant contained in the transfer portion (38). The transer portion (38) is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to the liquid desiccant to thereby retain the liquid desiccant within the container while permitting exposure of the liquid desiccant to the first air steam. The transfer portion (38) is also adapted to move the liquid desiccant into and out of the first air stream whereby the latent and/or sensible energy of the first air stream can be altered.
Claims37
An enthalpy pump for altering the humidity level of an air stream, the pump comprising:
- a container having a transfer portion adapted to hold a liquid desiccant, wherein the container comprises a conduit forming a circulation loop that will extend through a first air stream and through a second air stream,
- the transfer portion being permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid desiccant so as to retain the liquid desiccant within the container while permitting exposure of the liquid desiccant to the air streams, wherein the transfer portion includes a first portion to be located in the first air stream and a second portion to be located in the second air stream,
- the transfer portion further being adapted to move liquid desiccant into and out of at least one of the air streams whereby humidity in at least one of the air streams can be altered.
An enthalpy pump for altering the humidity level of an air stream, the pump comprising:
- a container having a transfer portion to be disposed in a first air stream, and adapted to hold a liquid desiccant;
- the transfer portion being permeable to water vapor and impermeable to the liquid desiccant so as to retain liquid desiccant within the container while permitting exposure of the liquid desiccant to the first air stream;
- and
- the transfer portion further being adapted to move the liquid desiccant into and out of the first air stream,
- and a support for moving the container in and out of the first air stream whereby humidity in the first air stream can be altered.
An enthalpy pump for altering the humidity level of an air stream, the pump comprising:
- a container having a transfer portion to be disposed in a first air stream, and holding a liquid desiccant;
- the transfer portion being permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid desiccant so as to retain the liquid desiccant within the container while permitting exposure of the liquid desiccant to the first air stream;
- and
- said transfer portion further being adapted to move liquid desiccant into and out of the fist air stream, wherein the container comprises a reservoir for storing a liquid desiccant and the transfer portion comprises a conduit adapted to extend into the first air stream whereby humidity in the first air stream can be altered.
An enthalpy pump for altering the humidity level of an air stream, the pump comprising:
- a container having a transfer portion to be disposed in a first air stream, and holding a liquid desiccant;
- the transfer portion being permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid desiccant so as to retain the liquid desiccant within the container while permitting exposure of the liquid desiccant to the first air stream, wherein the transfer portion has openings sized between approximately 3 angstroms and 500 angstroms;
- and
- said transfer portion further being adapted to move the liquid desiccant into and out of the first air stream whereby humidity in the first air stream can be altered.
An enthalpy pump for altering the humidity level of an air stream, the pump comprising:
- a container having a transfer portion to be disposed in a first air stream, and holding a liquid desiccant;
- the transfer portion being permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid desiccant so as to retain the liquid desiccant within the container while permitting exposure of the liquid desiccant to the first air stream, wherein the transfer portion of the conduit is made from one of PTFE, HDPE, PBA, PEN, and sintered plastics;
- and
- the transfer portion further being adapted to move the liquid desiccant into and out of the first air stream whereby humidity in the first air stream can be altered.
The enthalpy pump according to claim 36, further comprising means to alter the temperature of the first air stream.
An enthalpy pump for altering the humidity level of an air stream, the pump comprising:
- a container having a transfer portion to be disposed in a first air stream, and holding a liquid desiccant;
- the transfer portion being permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid desiccant so as to retain the liquid desiccant within the container while permitting exposure of the liquid desiccant to the first air stream, wherein the transfer portion is a panel with a peripheral edge;
- and
- the transfer portion further being adapted to move the liquid desiccant into and out of the first air stream whereby humidity in the first air stream can be altered.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.