Dynamic desiccation cooling system for ships

A method for controlling the humidity of air supplied to cooling coils through a dynamic desiccation system comprising:

• providing a rotatable desiccant wheel divided into halves;
• circulating a supply air stream through one half of said desiccant wheel to remove moisture from said supply air stream;
• regenerating said desiccant wheel by circulating a heated exhaust air stream through the other half of said desiccant wheel;
• providing a rotatable thermal rotor divided into halves;
• circulating said supply air stream through one half of said rotatable thermal rotor whereby heat is transferred from said supply air stream to said exhaust air stream thereby reheating said exhaust air stream;
• circulating said supply air stream to a plurality of cooling coil units whereby said cooling units are supplied low humidity supply air;
• providing a heat exchanger wherein waste heat is transferred to said exhaust air stream for regenerating said desiccant wheel;
• passing said exhaust air stream through said heat exchanger wherein heat is transferred to said exhaust air stream after being reheated by said thermal rotor;
• discharging said exhaust air stream overboard after passing through and thereby regenerating said desiccant wheel;
• providing an evaporative cooler to cool said exhaust air stream before reheating said exhaust air stream by passing through said thermal rotor;
• and
• providing mixing means wherein a portion of said supply air stream, prior to circulating to said plurality of cooling-coil units, is mixed with said exhaust air stream prior to passing through said evaporative cooler.

A method for controlling the humidity of air supplied to cooling coils through a dynamic desiccation system comprising:

• passing supply air through a desiccant wheel thereby drying and heating said supply air;
• passing said dry supply air through a rotatable thermal wheel, thereby transferring heat from said dry supply air to an exhaust air stream;
• mixing a portion of said dry supply air with said exhaust air stream;
• circulating said dry supply air to a plurality of cooling coil units;
• passing said exhaust air stream through an evaporative cooler to cool said exhaust air stream;
• preheating said exhaust air by passing said exhaust air through said rotatable thermal wheel;
• heating said preheated exhaust air to a desiccant regeneration temperature by passing said preheated exhaust air through a heat exchanger, wherein said heat exchanger heats said exhaust air by transferring heat from engine waste heat to said exhaust air;
• regenerating said desiccant wheel by passing said heated exhaust air through said desiccant wheel;
• discharging said exhaust air outdoors.

A method for providing supply air at a humidity level below that of ambient air to cooling-coil units on a gas-turbine-powered ship comprising:

• providing means for circulating outside supply air, providing desiccant means for drying said supply air;
• providing means for transferring heat from said dry supply air to an exhaust-air mixture;
• passing said dry supply air through a plurality of cooling-coils units;
• exhausting air from conditioned compartments;
• circulating said exhaust-air mixture through an evaporative cooler;
• heat exchange means for transferring waste heat from a gas-turbine-engine to said exhaust-air mixture;
• drying said desiccant means wherein said desiccant means is regenerated;
• and
• means for expelling said exhaust-air mixture;
• said exhaust-air is being mixed with a portion of said dry supply air before said exhaust-air mixture is circulated through said evaporative cooler.

An apparatus for providing supply air at a predetermined temperature and absolute humidity to a plurality of cooling-coil units on a gas-turbine powered ship, comprising:

• an intake fan for drawing a supply air stream from outdoor air;
• a filter;
• a rotatable desiccant wheel partitioned to receive said supply air on one side and an exhaust-air mixture on the other side, wherein said supply side of said desiccant wheel adsorbs moisture from said supply air stream;
• a thermal rotor partitioned to receive said supply air on one side and said exhaust-air mixture on the other side, wherein said supply air stream is cooled by transferring heat from said supply side to said exhaust side;
• means for delivering said supply air stream to a plurality of said cooling-coil units;
• means for exhausting air from areas that contain said cooling-coil units;
• an evaporative cooler for indirect cooling of said exhaust-air mixture;
• means for conveying said exhaust-air mixture through said exhaust side of said thermal rotor, wherein said exhaust-air mixture is reheated;
• a heat exchanger, wherein a portion of the waste heat in said gas-turbine exhaust air mixture;
• means for conveying said heated exhaust-air mixture through said exhaust side of said desiccant wheel, wherein said desiccant is regenerated;
• means for expelling said exhaust-air mixture to the outdoors;
• and
• means for mixing said exhaust air from said compartments with a portion of said treated supply air prior to conveying said exhaust-air mixture to said evaporative cooler.