Vapor compression dehumidifier

A dehumidification apparatus, comprising:

• an air inlet configured to receive an inlet airflow from within a structure;
• a supply fan positioned adjacent to the air inlet, the supply fan operable to draw the inlet airflow into the air inlet such that the inlet airflow is separated into a process airflow and a bypass airflow;
• an evaporator unit operable to:
• receive a flow of refrigerant from an expansion device;
• cool the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the process airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the process airflow passes through the evaporator unit;
• a condenser unit operable to:
• receive the flow of refrigerant from a compressor unit;
• reheat the process airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the process airflow as the process airflow passes through a first portion of the condenser unit;
• and
• heat the bypass airflow by facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the bypass airflow as the bypass airflow passes through a second portion of the condenser unit;
• a process airflow outlet operable to discharge the process airflow into the structure;
• and
• a bypass airflow outlet operable to discharge the bypass airflow into the structure;
• wherein:
• the compressor unit is positioned between the condenser unit and the process airflow outlet such that the process airflow passes over the compressor unit after exiting the first portion of the condenser unit;
• and
• the bypass airflow exiting the second portion of the condenser unit is routed adjacent the process airflow exiting the first portion of the condenser unit such that heat is transferred from the bypass airflow to the process airflow through a wall separating the bypass airflow from the process airflow.

A dehumidification method, comprising:

• receiving, at an air inlet, an inlet airflow from within a structure, the inlet airflow being separated into a process airflow and a bypass airflow;
• cooling the process airflow as it passes through an evaporator unit, the evaporator unit facilitating heat transfer from the process airflow to a flow of refrigerant as the process airflow passes through the evaporator unit;
• reheating the process airflow as it passes through a first portion of a condenser unit, the first portion condenser unit facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the process airflow as the process airflow passes through the first portion of the condenser unit;
• heating the bypass airflow as it passes through a second portion of the condenser unit;
• the second portion of the condenser unit facilitating heat transfer from the flow of refrigerant to the bypass airflow as the bypass airflow passes through a the second portion of the condenser unit;
• exhausting the process airflow into the structure via a process airflow outlet;
• and
• exhausting the bypass airflow into the structure via a bypass airflow outlet.