Abstract: A system and method for controlling the temperature and humidity level of a controlled space. The system includes a total energy recovery wheel and a dehumidification wheel in conjunction with a cooler to control the temperature and humidity of air supplied to a controlled space. In a method of controlling temperature and humidity of a controlled space, supply air is cooled and dehumidified by passing it through a rotating total energy recovery wheel. The total energy recovery wheel is cooled and dehumidified by passing exhaust air through it. The supply air is further cooled and dehumidified by passing it through a cooler. The supply air is warmed and further dehumidified by passing it through a rotating dehumidification wheel. The dehumidification wheel is warmed and dehumidified by passing exhaust air through it. During the heating mode, the system functions as an extremely effective total energy recovery device by operating the two wheels in series.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the airflow through an air preconditioning module having a sensible and/or latent energy transfer matrix having a pre-established relationship between airflow and pressure drop. The air preconditioning module processes an inlet air stream so that it becomes a uniformly distributed (and preferably substantially laminar) outlet air stream leaving the energy transfer matrix of the preconditioning module. The pressure differential between the inlet air stream and the outlet air stream is determined and translated into an airflow value based on the pre-established relationship between airflow and pressure drop through the energy transfer matrix of the air preconditioning module.

Abstract: Desiccant-coated substrates, regeneratable rotary dehumidification wheels and other devices for gas (e.g., air) treatment using those substrates, and processes for making them are disclosed. The substrates may have coatings in thicknesses of from about 2 to about 10 mils containing particles of one or more adsorbent desiccants and an organic water-based binder. The desiccant particles retain a high fraction of their original adsorption capacity because the pores of the desiccant particles contain a pore-clearing agent prior to the binder setting and the pore-clearing agent leaves the pores during the manufacturing process to prevent the binder from blocking the pores. In preferred embodiments a mixture of different desiccants is used and a particle suspending agent keeps the particles well-mixed so that the desiccant particles in the coated substrate will be as well-mixed as possible. The suspending agent may also function as the pore-clearing agent.

Abstract: Desiccant-coated substrates, regeneratable rotary dehumidification wheels and other devices for gas (e.g., air) treatment using those substrates, and processes for making them are disclosed. The substrates may have coatings in thicknesses of from about 2 to about 10 mils containing particles of one or more adsorbent desiccants and an organic water-based binder. The desiccant particles retain a high fraction of their original adsorption capacity because the pores of the desiccant particles contain a pore-clearing agent prior to the binder setting and the pore-clearing agent leaves the pores during the manufacturing process to prevent the binder from blocking the pores. In preferred embodiments a mixture of different desiccants is used and a particle suspending agent keeps the particles well-mixed so that the desiccant particles in the coated substrate will be as well-mixed as possible. The suspending agent may also function as the pore-clearing agent.

Abstract: A desiccant composition having a moderate Langmuir Type 1 moisture adsorption isotherm with a separation factor of from 0.05 to 0.13 is disclosed. The composition contains silica gel, a modified 13.times. molecular sieve (modified by replacing at least 20% of the sodium cations with other metallic cations, e.g., potassium cations), and desirably a hydrophobic adsorbent (desirably a hydrophobic molecular sieve). The composition may be used as the desiccant in a rotary regeneratable dehumidification wheel, thereby significantly enhancing dehumidification performance and simultaneously removing a significant proportion of the airborne pollutants typically contained in indoor and outdoor air.