Atmosphere And Sorbent Contacting Type Patents (Class 62/271)
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Patent number: 6575228Abstract: A ventilation and dehumidification system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space. The system is comprised of a desiccant wheel for dehumidifying incoming air by exchanging moisture from an inflow current of air with an outflow current of air. The desiccant wheel is both regenerated and defrosted by a regenerative heater which is placed to heat the outflow current of air before the outflow current passes through the desiccant wheel. The system includes blowers in order to motivate the inflow and outflow currents of air. The system may also include heat recovery means such as a heat transfer wheel or a motionless heat transfer core. The blowers can be arranged so as to create an air pressure differential between the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber so that any leakage of air between the two chambers will occur from the inflow chamber to the outflow chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2000Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Mississippi State Research and Technology CorporationInventors: Ron S. Ragland, Leisha J. Rotering, Russell A. Straate, Brad A. Terlson
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Patent number: 6557365Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning air for an enclosure is disclosed in which a supply air stream, preferably from the atmosphere is cooled by the cooling coil of a refrigerant cooling system to reduce the temperature and humidity thereof to first predetermined level. The thus cooled and dehumidified air is then passed through a segment of a rotating desiccant wheel under conditions which reduce moisture content and increase temperature to a second predetermined temperature range. The supply air is then delivered from the desiccant wheel to the enclosure. The desiccant wheel is regenerated by heating a separate regeneration air stream, also preferably from the atmosphere, using the condensing coil of the refrigerant system in order to increase the regeneration air stream temperature to a third predetermined temperature range. The thus heated regeneration air stream is then passed through another segment of the rotating desiccant wheel to regenerate the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Munters CorporationInventors: Paul A. Dinnage, Stephen C. Brickley
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Publication number: 20030074913Abstract: An air conditioner including an air supply passage for introducing outdoor air into a room, an air exhaust passage for exhausting indoor air, a rotary dehumidifier that is a rotary drum structure having an air passage formed of a material impregnated with an absorbent, the rotary dehumidifier being arranged such that one half thereof is disposed in the air supply passage for dehumidifying by absorption a supply air which is the introduced outdoor air and the other half thereof is disposed in the air exhaust passage for regenerating the adsorbent with use of exhaust air which is the exhausted indoor air as a heat source, a regenerative heater for heating the exhaust air before flowing into the rotary dehumidifier to a temperature required for regenerating the adsorbent of the rotary dehumidifier, a sensible heat exchanger for causing a sensible heat exchange between the supply air dehumidified at the rotary dehumidifier and the exhaust air before flowing into the regenerative heater and a refrigerating deviceType: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toshiyuki Ebara
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Patent number: 6546746Abstract: A dehumidifier system comprising: a dehumidifier into which moist air is introduced and contacted with a liquid desiccant solution associated with the dehumidifier to remove moisture therefrom; a regenerator having a liquid desiccant solution associated therewith and contacted with air which removes moisture therefrom, said liquid desiccant solution being in liquid communication with the liquid desiccant solution associated with the dehumidifier; a refrigeration system that comprises a plurality of heat exchangers, a refrigerant and a compressor, wherein the refrigerant passes through the heat exchangers, the heat exchangers including a first heat exchanger in thermal contact with the liquid desiccant solution associated with said dehumidifier, a second heat exchanger in thermal contact with the desiccant solution associated with said regenerator and a third heat exchanger that is not in contact with said desiccant solutions.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Drykor Ltd.Inventors: Mordechai Forkosh, Dan Forkosh, Tomy Forkosh
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Patent number: 6539731Abstract: A humid gas stream is dehumidified by bringing that stream into contact with the front surface of a hydrophilic capillary condenser layer that captures the water and moves it adjacent the rear surface of the capillary layer. An osmotic layer, such as a semi-permeable membrane, is disposed on the rear surface of the condenser layer, and an osmotic fluid having a low concentration of water therein, is disposed adjacent the osmotic layer. An osmotic driving force, resulting from the water concentration gradient across the osmotic layer, transports the condensed water from the condensing layer through the thickness of the osmotic layer and into an osmotic fluid. The osmotic layer also inhibits the osmotic fluid from flowing into the condenser layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventors: Arthus S. Kesten, Sunita Satyapal, James D. Freihaut, Carol M. Hawk
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Publication number: 20030037905Abstract: An air conditioning system utilizes heat transfer circulation of the change of two water phases where are liquid and water as primary and heat transfer of other air conditioning heat sources such as mechanical types or non-mechanical types as auxiliary mechanisms to perform composite heat transfer to thereby effectively reduce energy consumption required in heat transfer of the air conditioning systems and decrease thermal pollution resulting from the discharging of waste heat. A water circulation system within an air conditioning unit draws outdoor air into an air inlet passage. A discharge water pipe is located at one side of an indoor heat exchanger to use water in the water circulation system as a heat exchange medium. A large portion of air conditioning load is removed before the incoming air reaches the indoor heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2001Publication date: February 27, 2003Inventor: Kuo-Liang Weng
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Publication number: 20030029185Abstract: An air conditioning system with thermal storage that is suitable for using solar energy. A solar collector used energy from the sun to evaporate water from a desiccant fluid. The desiccant fluid is then flows into a mass transfer device, which removes moisture from an air stream. Calcium chloride is the preferred desiccant material and can serve as an energy-storage medium. Electric or fuel backup can be used with this system to regenerate the desiccant material. In some embodiments an indirect evaporative cooler is added to provide sensible cooling. A new desiccant cooling system that is specially designed to work with the properties of this desiccant and meet comfort requirements of conventional air conditioning.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2002Publication date: February 13, 2003Inventor: William Leslie Kopko
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Patent number: 6513339Abstract: An air conditioning system that can be driven by solar energy. A solar collector used energy from the sun to evaporate water from a desiccant fluid. The desiccant fluid is then flows into a mass transfer device which removes moisture from an air stream. Calcium chloride is the preferred desiccant material and can serve as an energy-storage medium. Electric or fuel backup can be used with this system to regenerate the desiccant material. In some embodiments an indirect evaporative cooler is added to provide sensible cooling. A new desiccant cooling system that is specially designed to work with the properties of this desiccant and meet comfort requirements of conventional air conditioning.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2000Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Work Smart Energy Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: William Leslie Kopko
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Publication number: 20030005718Abstract: An aircraft air conditioner uses a cooling device to cool air extracted from an engine before feeding it into a cabin. This extracted air is mixed with recirculation air that is returned to the cabin after flowing out from the cabin. The mixture of the recirculation air and the extracted air is fed into an air separating section. This air separating section has a selectively permeable membrane that separates the air flowing through an air flow path of the air conditioner into nitrogen-enriched gas and oxygen-concentrated air. The nitrogen-enriched gas is capable of being fed into a fuel peripheral region of the aircraft, and the oxygen-concentrated air is capable of being fed into the cabin.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: Shimadzu CorporationInventors: Hisashi Mitani, Hidefumi Saito
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Publication number: 20030005719Abstract: In an air conditioner, air extracted from engine is fed through a main air flow path into cabin after being cooled by a cooling device. This extracted air is fed into the cabin through an auxiliary air flow path. The air within the cabin flows out through an outflow air flow path. A plurality of adsorption sections are constituted by an adsorption agent that adsorbs molecules contained in the air and releases adsorbed molecules by being raised in temperature to more than the temperature thereof on adsorption. By control of an air flow changeover mechanism by a controller, each of the adsorption sections is changed over between a condition connected with the auxiliary air flow path and a condition connected with the outflow air flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: Shimadzu CorporationInventors: Hisashi Mitani, Hidefumi Saito
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Patent number: 6494053Abstract: An air conditioning and dehumidifier system (310) comprising: an air conditioner (312) comprising a cooling unit, a first inlet (316) to the cooling unit drawing air from a controlled area (314); a second inlet (338) to the cooling unit drawing fresh air firm outside the area (314); an outlet (324) to the area (314); a condenser (328) with an air inlet (330) into which relatively cool outside air is drawn; and a heated air outlet (334) from the condenser (328); a dehumidifying unit (342) utilizing liquid desiccant, comprising a drying unit (344) having a wet air inlet (346) and dry air outlet (348); a regenerator unit (350); a hot air inlet (352); a wet air outlet (354); and a heat pump that transfers heat from relatively cooler liquid desiccant to relatively warmer liquid desiccant; a conduit connecting the heated air outlet (334) of the air conditioner (312) to the hot air inlet (352) of the dehumidifying unit (342); and a conduit (349) connecting the dry air outlet (348) of the dehumidifying unit (342) toType: GrantFiled: September 14, 2001Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignee: Drykor, Ltd.Inventors: Mordechai Forkosh, Dan Forkosh, Tomy Forkosh
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Patent number: 6490874Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing moisture from within an electronics enclosure is provided. In particular, dehumidification is accomplished by removing air from the enclosure, cooling the air thereby causing condensation of water vapor from the air, then heating the dehumidified air and returning the heated and dehumidified air to the enclosure. A single heat pump provides cooling and heating functions, effectively recouping heat extracted from the air to be cooled, and transferring the extracted heat to the air prior to its return to the enclosure. In this manner, electronics within the enclosure may be operated at temperatures below the dew point of ambient air surrounding the enclosure, without requiring a thermally insulated enclosure. Devices are provided to collect and purge condensate from the system, either in a continuous or periodic manner. Embodiments employing conventional vapor compression cycle heat pumps and thermoelectric heat pumps are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Robert E. Simons
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Patent number: 6487872Abstract: A dehumidifier system (10) comprising: a dehumidifying chamber (12) into which moist air is introduced and from which less moist air is removed after dehumidification; a desiccant solution (28) situated in at least one reservoir (30); a first conduit (13) via which desiccant solution (28) is transferred from the at least one reservoir (30) to the dehumidifying chamber (12), said solution being returned to said at least one reservoir (30) after absorbing moisture from the moist air; a regenerator (32) which receives desiccant solution from said at least one reservoir and removes moisture from it; a second conduit via which desiccant is transferred from the at least one reservoir (30) to the regenerator (32), said solution being returned to said at least one reservoir after moisture is removed from it; and a heat pump (44) that transfers heat from the solution in the first conduit to the solution in the second conduit.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2000Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Drykor Ltd.Inventors: Mordechai Forkosh, Dan Forkosh, Tomy Forkosh
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Patent number: 6484525Abstract: A first channel (20) is formed by sequentially connecting a compressor (21), a vapor separator (55), a heat exchanger (30) and an expander (22). In the first channel (20), a room air is taken as a primary air and discharged to outdoors. A second channel (40) is formed by connecting a heat exchanger (30) to a second inlet duct (43) and a second outlet duct (44). In the second channel (40), an outside air is taken as a secondary air and supplied to a room. The vapor separator (55) is connected to a vacuum pump (36). The vapor separator (55) separates vapor from the compressed primary air to dehumidify the primary air to or below the absolute humidity of the outside air. The vapor separated by the vapor separator (55) is partly supplied to the secondary air in the second outlet duct (44). Then, the secondary air thus humidified is supplied to the room.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2001Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Chun-cheng Piao, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yuji Watanabe, Manabu Yoshimi, Kazuo Yonemoto
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Patent number: 6481222Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically regulating the environmental system of a motorized vehicle and other articles having storage compartments. As impinging air flow is directed through the cabin or compartment subject to environmental control it comes in contact with a desiccant filler contained within a desiccant wheel or canister. The desiccant material absorbs moisture out of the air stream. The resultant air stream, or the extracted moisture released into another air stream, may then be directed to the interior of the motorized vehicle or used in other parts of the system. The net effect is a decrease or increase in the relative humidity level of the air mass contained in the cabin or compartment of a motorized vehicle or refrigeration unit. As one portion or element of the desiccant filler becomes saturated, the other portion or element of the desiccant filler completes it's regeneration cycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2000Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Inventor: James G. T. Denniston
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Patent number: 6463750Abstract: The invention provides a system for the dehumidification of air in a space inside an enclosure, the system including at least one air/brine heat exchanger unit for heating cold fresh air introduced into the heat exchanger from the outside and for dehumidifying the air within the enclosure by vapor condensation; and a brine regenerator in brine communication with the air/brine heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2001Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Agam Energy Systems Ltd.Inventor: Gad Assaf
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Publication number: 20020139127Abstract: A humid gas stream is dehumidified by bringing that stream into contact with the front surface of a hydrophilic capillary condenser layer that captures the water and moves it adjacent the rear surface of the capillary layer. An osmotic layer, such as a semi-permeable membrane, is disposed on the rear surface of the condenser layer, and an osmotic fluid having a low concentration of water therein, is disposed adjacent the osmotic layer. An osmotic driving force, resulting from the water concentration gradient across the osmotic layer, transports the condensed water from the condensing layer through the thickness of the osmotic layer and into an osmotic fluid. The osmotic layer also inhibits the osmotic fluid from flowing into the condenser layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2001Publication date: October 3, 2002Inventors: Arthur S. Kesten, Sunita Satyapal, James D. Freihaut, Carol M. Hawk
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Publication number: 20020134087Abstract: A gas-flow heat exchanger comprising a set of parallel, spaced, heat-conductive areas providing between them a stack of pockets each containing parallel baffles (24) which define a platen of passageways (26) guiding the gas-flow path through the pocket between inlet and outlet openings (22, 23). The openings being arranged in four parallel lines at the sides of the stack, two of the lines respectively containing the inlet and outlet openings (22, 23) associated with the gas flow paths of alternative pockets. The remaining two lines respectively containing the inlet and outlet openings associated with the remaining pockets. Each pocket containing a removable frame (21) formed with the openings provided at the ends of the gas flow path through it and supporting within the frame the parallel baffles (24) which divide the gas-flow path into the platen of passageways (26). All of the passageways (26) provide a substantially equal dwell time to gas passing therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2002Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventor: John Francis Urch
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Patent number: 6453684Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for extracting liquid water from moist air using minimal energy input. The method comprises compressing moist air under conditions that foster the condensation of liquid water. The air can be decompressed under conditions that do not foster the vaporization of the condensate. The decompressed, dried air can be exchanged for a fresh charge of moist air and the process repeated. The liquid condensate can be removed for use. The apparatus can comprise a compression chamber having a variable internal volume. An intake port allows moist air into the compression chamber. An exhaust port allows dried air out of the compression chamber. A condensation device fosters condensation at the desired conditions. A condensate removal port allows liquid water to be removed.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Barry L. Spletzer, Diane Schafer Callow, Lisa C. Marron, Jonathan R. Salton
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Publication number: 20020129614Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heat and humidity exchange between two air streams, one of which being hot and humid, wherein a first of said air streams is fed from the interior of a building to the ambient air and a second of said air streams is fed from said ambient air to the interior of said building, whereby said first air stream is cooled and thereafter transferred through a heat exchanger (21), whereupon it is transferred to a heater (22) and thereafter transferred through a dehumidifier (23) before being exhausted to the ambient air, whereas said second air stream is transferred through said dehumidifier (23) and thereafter through said heat exchanger (21), whereupon it is cooled in a cooling device before being transferred into the interior to said building. According to the invention said second air stream, before being fed to said dehumidifier, is caused to exchange heat and humidity with said first air stream before the latter is fed into said heat exchanger (21).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Inventors: Paul A. Dinnage, Wolfgang Krause, Dietmar Muller
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Publication number: 20020116934Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning air for an enclosure is disclosed in which a supply air stream, preferably from the atmosphere is cooled by the cooling coil of a refrigerant cooling system to reduce the temperature and humidity thereof to first predetermined level. The thus cooled and dehumidified air is then passed through a segment of a rotating desiccant wheel under conditions which reduce moisture content and increase temperature to a second predetermined temperature range. The supply air is then delivered from the desiccant wheel to the enclosure. The desiccant wheel is regenerated by heating a separate regeneration air stream, also preferably from the atmosphere, using the condensing coil of the refrigerant system in order to increase the regeneration air stream temperature to a third predetermined temperature range. The thus heated regeneration air stream is then passed through another segment of the rotating desiccant wheel to regenerate the wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2001Publication date: August 29, 2002Inventors: Paul A. Dinnage, Stephen C. Brickley
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Publication number: 20020116935Abstract: A dehumidifier system comprising:Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2002Publication date: August 29, 2002Applicant: DRYKOR LTD.Inventors: Mordechai Forkosh, Dan Forkosh, Tomy Forkosh
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Patent number: 6434963Abstract: An air cooler has a casing containing two air flow paths through one of which cooled fresh air is supplied to a house, while the other receives stale air from the house. An efficient heat exchanger pre-cools the fresh air with the heat extracted from the stale air, Further cooling is achieved by evaporative cooling of water from two honeycomb structures respectively spanning the two air flow paths. A pump circulates cooled water to the upper end of one of the structures from the lower end of the other structure which receives, at its upper end, the water which has percolated down through the upper structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Inventor: John Francis Urch
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Patent number: 6415859Abstract: A dehumidified/humidified air supply apparatus includes two sets of air passages including heating units disposed at an upstream side thereof, a dehumidifying/humidifying unit having two portions disposed at a downstream side thereof and a blower. When dehumidified air is supplied by the dehumidifying/humidifying unit of the first air passage, the dehumidifying/humidifying unit is dehumidified by air which is heated by the heating unit of the second air passage. When humidified air is supplied by the heating unit of the first air passage and the dehumidifying/humidifying unit, the dehumidifying/humidifying unit is humidified by air of the second air passage. The dehumidifying/humidifying unit is moved between the first air passage and the second air passage by a driving unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2000Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Keiichiro Kametani, Shigehito Ota
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Patent number: 6415617Abstract: A strategy for controlling an air side economizer of an HVAC system uses a model of the airflow through the system to estimate the load in two modes when minimum and maximum amounts of outdoor air are being introduced into the building. Transitions between minimum outdoor air and maximum outdoor air usage occur based on those estimated loads, which in a preferred embodiment are cooling loads. The second embodiment of this economizer control strategy uses the model and a one-dimensional optimization routine to determine the fraction of outdoor air that minimizes the load on the HVAC system.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: John E. Seem
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Publication number: 20020078702Abstract: When the first pressure reducing device 161 is fixed to the accumulator tank 140 and the internal heat exchanger 150 is housed in the accumulator tank 140, the accumulator, the first pressure reducing device 161 and the internal heat exchanger 150 are integrated into one body. Due to the foregoing, it is possible to eliminate parts for piping to connect the first pressure reducing device 161 with the internal heat exchanger 150. The mass of the vibration system of the first pressure reducing device 161 including the accumulator tank 140 and the internal heat exchanger 150 is increased. Therefore, even if the valve body 413 in the first pressure reducing device is vibrated, it becomes difficult for other portions to vibrate. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce noise (vibration) generated when refrigerant is decompressed by the first pressure reducing device 161.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Kazuya Makizono, Toshio Hirata, Yasutaka Kuroda, Yoshiyuki Yamauchi
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Publication number: 20020050145Abstract: Enthalpy wheels are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2001Publication date: May 2, 2002Inventor: Ryan Dunham
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Patent number: 6370900Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact dehumidifying air-conditioning apparatus, and a dehumidifying air-conditioning apparatus and a dehumidifying air-conditioning system with reduced power consumed for delivering a heating medium or a chilling medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2001Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventor: Kensaku Maeda
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Patent number: 6360550Abstract: An air conditioning (A/C) system and method of controlling same is provided for a vehicle. The A/C system includes an evaporator, a desiccant dryer located downstream of the evaporator, and a compressor fluidly connected to the air evaporator. The A/C system also includes a plurality of sensors to provide inputs relating to temperature of the evaporator and relative humidity of an occupant compartment of the vehicle. The A/C system further includes an electronic control unit electrically connected to the sensors to receive the inputs therefrom and electrically connected to the desiccant dryer and the compressor to turn the desiccant dryer and the compressor On and Off to control the temperature and relative humidity of air to the occupant compartment.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2001Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrew J. Klapp, Shane A. Harte, Thomas P. Gielda, Yong Huang
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Patent number: 6357255Abstract: A regenerator for use in an ammonia absorption refrigerator comprises a heater for heating an ammonia aqueous solution and a rectifying column for enriching ammonia in an ammonia solution-vapor mixture obtained in and introduced from the heater, wherein the heater comprises a heater body having a heating chamber, a burner of lean pre-mixture combustion type disposed in a lower portion of the heating chamber, and a heat transfer tube bundle provided in a meandering arrangement above the burner within the heating chamber, the heat transfer tube bundle having an inlet and an outlet which are respectively connected to lower portions of the rectifying column via transfer pipes.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2000Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignees: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd., Hitachi Zosen CorporationInventors: Hisashi Onishi, Yukio Hiranaka, Noboru Tsubakihara, Katsuo Iwata, Tetsuro Furukawa, Masaharu Furutera, Mitsunobu Matsuda, Suguru Fujita, Takeshi Yano
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Patent number: 6341498Abstract: A cooling system in which an electronic component is cooled by using one or more containers of liquid and sorbent that transfer heat from the component to the fluid in the well bore. According to the present invention, a sorption cooling system is provided for use in a well, Such as down hole tool which is in a drill string through which a drilling fluid flows, or in a down hole tool, which is on a wire line. This cooling system comprises a housing adapted to be disposed in a wellbore, the sorption cooler comprising a water supply adjacent to a sensor or electronics to be cooled; a Dewar flask lined with phase change material surrounding the electronics/sensor and liquid supply; a vapor passage for transferring vapor from the water supply; and a sorbent in thermal contact with the housing for receiving and adsorbing the water vapor from the vapor passage and transferring the heat from the sorbed water vapor through the housing to the drilling fluid or well bore.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2001Date of Patent: January 29, 2002Assignee: Baker Hughes, Inc.Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
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Patent number: 6334316Abstract: A compact and energy efficient air conditioning system is operated with a desiccant material having a high differential adsorption capacity even at lower regeneration temperatures than those in the conventional system. The desiccant assisted air conditioning system comprises a process air path (A) for flowing process air to adsorb moisture from the process air by a desiccant member, and a regeneration air path (B) for flowing regeneration air heated by a heat source to desorb moisture from the desiccant member (103). The desiccant member is arranged so that the process air or the regeneration air flows alternatingly through the desiccant member. The desiccant member is arranged so that the process air or the regeneration air flows alternatingly through the desiccant member.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Kensaku Maeda, Yoshiro Fukasaku, Hideo Inaba, Toshiaki Oouchi, Rosuke Nishida
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Patent number: 6324860Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a dehumidifying air-conditioning system which increases the entire energy efficiency thereof to have a low operating cost, consume reduced electric energy in daytime, and radiate minimum heat into the atmosphere in thermal storage operation at night.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2000Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Kensaku Maeda, Hideo Inaba
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Patent number: 6318106Abstract: A dehumidifying air-conditioning apparatus has a compact arrangement including an integral combination of a heat pump as a heat source drivable by a thermal energy from an external source and a desiccant air-conditioning unit, and can achieve a high energy efficiency. The dehumidifying air-conditioning apparatus through which processing air and regenerating air flows alternately through a first desiccant 103 has an adsorption heat pump having first and second heat exchanger assemblies 10A, 10B of closed structure each having desiccant heat exchangers 1A, 1B with a second desiccant for adsorbing or desorbing a refrigerant and refrigerant heat exchangers 3A, 3B for evaporating or condensing the refrigerant. The refrigerant heat exchangers of the first and second heat exchanger assemblies communicate with each other via a path through a restriction 7.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2000Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventor: Kensaku Maeda
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Patent number: 6311511Abstract: The quantity of heat for cooling processing air as a low temperature heat source for regenerating a desiccant to be dehumidified, by a sensible heat exchanger before reaching a low temperature heat source heat exchanger is suppressed for thereby maintaining a heat load on the low temperature heat source beat exchanger and making it possible to handle an air-conditioning load with a small sensible heat factor, A dehumidifying air-conditioning system has a path (A) for processing air to be cooled by a low temperature heat source (115) of a heat pump (200) after moisture is adsorbed therefrom by a desiccant (103), a path (B) for regenerating air which, after being heated by a high temperature heat source (120) of the heat pump, passes through the desiccant that has adsorbed moisture to regenerate the desiccant, and a path (C) for cooling air for cooling the processing air by exchanging heat with the processing air from which moisture is adsorbed by the desiccant, the arrangement being such that the processing aiType: GrantFiled: April 21, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventor: Kensaku Maeda
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Patent number: 6308525Abstract: A dehumidification apparatus which retains a high dehumidification ability is disclosed. The dehumidification apparatus comprises a container having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, and has an upper plate covering the container; a fan driven by a motor, which introduces air into the container from the air inlet and discharges air from the container through the air outlet so that air flow passing through the container is formed; and a holder for holding deliquescent dehumidification agent. The holder is contained in the container, which holder has at least one downwardly tapered compartment in which the deliquescent dehumidification agent is held. The deliquescent dehumidification agent held in the compartment contacts the air flow via through holes through which water and air can pass but the deliquescent dehumidification agent cannot pass, which through holes are formed in outer boundary of the compartment.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2000Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: Kankyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidetoshi Ike, Yasushi Ishikawa, Kazunari Kakuta
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Publication number: 20010032714Abstract: The ventilating system includes evaporative cooling of the exhaust air before it enters a heat exchanger to cool incoming fresh outside air. A suction fan pulls exhaust air through the heat exchanger and, in combination with a flow restrictor, reduces the pressure on the exhaust air and augments the evaporative cooling. The use of a pusher fan to force outside air through the heat exchanger ensures that any leakage in the heat-exchanger results in outside air entering exhaust air and minimizing the chances of contamination by leaking exhaust air into the incoming fresh air. The heat exchanger is made economically by heat-forming cavities in relatively thick thermo-plastic sheets, interleaving them with other thermoplastic sheets having separate gas flow conduit structures, and securing the sheets together. Preferably, the heat-exchanger is an opposed-flow heat-exchanger giving improved heat-transfer efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2001Publication date: October 25, 2001Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
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Patent number: 6301915Abstract: A dehumidification apparatus of the type using a deliquescent agent, with which the leakage of deliquesced liquid out of the apparatus is securely prevented is disclosed. In the dehumidification apparatus, an air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the upper plate of the container. At least one closing member which can close the air inlet and the air outlet is arranged above the air inlet and the air outlet.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Kankyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidetoshi Ike, Yasushi Ishikawa, Kazunari Kakuta
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Patent number: 6301907Abstract: An air cooling system including a first desiccant dryer, a second desiccant dryer connected in series in a flow path with the first desiccant dryer and a first air cooling unit connected in series in the flow path with the second desiccant dryer.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignees: Parameter Generation & Co., International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Gerald E. McCollin, William Ross Hile
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Publication number: 20010015072Abstract: The invention provides a system for the dehumidification of air in a space inside an enclosure, the system including at least one air/brine heat exchanger unit for heating cold fresh air introduced into the heat exchanger from the outside and for dehumidifying the air within the enclosure by vapor condensation; and a brine regenerator in brine communication with the air/brine beat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2001Publication date: August 23, 2001Inventor: Gad Assaf
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Publication number: 20010013226Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid desiccant air conditioner including an absorption air conditioner and a liquid desiccant dehumidifier. The dehumidifier includes a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier and passing through the desiccant absorber. A boiler is provided for boiling partially preheated dilute liquid desiccant to evaporate moisture to reconstitute the liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant. In a preferred embodiment, a first heat exchanger fluidly communicates with the desiccant absorber and a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is operable to transfer heat from the concentrated liquid desiccant to the dilute liquid desiccant directed to the first heat exchanger from the desiccant absorber to raise the temperature of the dilute liquid desiccant to a first temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2001Publication date: August 16, 2001Inventors: Shailesh V. Potnis, Kevin Gurley, Phillip T. McKittrick, Robert Baumann, Srikant Ram Rao, Robert L. Laurent
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Patent number: 6266975Abstract: The invention provides a heat pump/engine system having a water/brine flash evaporator in fluid communication with a first air/brine heat exchanger, a brine condenser in fluid communication with a second air/brine heat exchanger, and a vapor compressor/turbine connected on a fluid conduit leading from the flash evaporator to the brine condenser. Heat/pump methods are also provided herein.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Agam Energy Systems Ltd.Inventor: Gad Assaf
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Patent number: 6250095Abstract: A low-humidity working apparatus comprising a housing (8) forming a working chamber (9), a dehumidifying apparatus (18), and air supply means. The metal housing (8) forming the working chamber (9) is provided with a laterally elongated operating hole (30), a plurality of strip flexible sealing members are arranged adjacent to each other and suspended in this operating hole (30), and a laterally elongated window hole (31) is disposed in the vicinity of and above the operating hole (30) and closed by a light-transmitting window plate. The dehumidifying apparatus (18) circulates the air in the working chamber (9) by sucking the air therefrom, cooling the sucked air by an evaporator (48) of a compression refrigerating machine (41), dehumidifying the cooled air by a dehumidifying rotor (61) carrying a dehumidifying agent, and returning the low-humidity air from the dehumidifying rotor (61) to the working chamber (9).Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2000Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Keiichiro Kametani, Shigehito Ota
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Patent number: 6247323Abstract: This invention provides an air conditioning system with a superior dehumidifying and sensible heat processing capability as well as energy saving, by enhancing the heating ability for the regeneration air, as well as enabling to increase the cooling performance (sensible heat processing performance) for the process air, and comprises a desiccant 103 for adsorbing moisture from process air; and a heat pump 200, including a compressor 260, that operates by using process air as a low-temperature heat source 240 and regeneration air as a high-temperature heat source 220 so as to supply heat to regeneration air for regenerating the desiccant; wherein a high-temperature heat source heat exchanger for exchanging heat with pre-desiccant regeneration air and refrigerant comprises a plurality of sections 220A, 220B, 220C, 220D divided along an air flow direction, and regeneration air passes the sections in an opposite order to that of refrigerant so that refrigerant, once condensed in the heat pump, is further cooled.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1999Date of Patent: June 19, 2001Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventor: Kensaku Maeda
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Patent number: 6237354Abstract: An air conditioning system moisture control method and apparatus has a housing having a heat exchanger therein for removing heat and moisture from the air. The housing has a main air inlet thereinto and a main air outlet therefrom. Moisture is added to the inlet air and some of the moisture laden air is then directed from the housing through a secondary air outlet. A secondary air inlet draws outside air into the housing between the main air inlet and the heat exchanger. The moisture laden inlet air is then cooled and has moisture removed by passage through the heat exchanger. Additional moisture is then removed in the air conditioning outlet using a desiccant material, or the like, so that dew point of the air entering the heat exchanger housing is increased to improve moisture removal in the air conditioning system.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Inventor: Charles J. Cromer
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Patent number: 6230503Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for extracting liquid water from moist air using minimal energy input. The method comprises compressing moist air under conditions that foster the condensation of liquid water (ideally isothermal to a humidity of 1.0, then adiabatic thereafter). The air can be decompressed under conditions that do not foster the vaporization of the condensate. The decompressed, dried air can be exchanged for a fresh charge of moist air and the process repeated. The liquid condensate can be removed for use. The apparatus can comprise a compression chamber having a variable internal volume. An intake port allows moist air into the compression chamber. An exhaust port allows dried air out of the compression chamber. A condensation device fosters condensation at the desired conditions. A condensate removal port allows liquid water to be removed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1999Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: Barry L. Spletzer
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Patent number: 6216483Abstract: A liquid desiccant air conditioner includes an absorption air conditioner and a liquid desiccant dehumidifier. The dehumidifier includes a liquid desiccant absorber for absorbing moisture contained in ambient air entering the dehumidifier, a boiler for boiling dilute liquid desiccant from the absorber to evaporate moisture and reconstitute the dilute liquid desiccant into concentrated liquid desiccant. A first heat exchanger receives dilute liquid desiccant from the absorber and is operative to heat the dilute liquid desiccant prior to passage to a condenser that receives steam from the boiler and sensibly heats the dilute liquid desiccant therein without direct contact with air, thereby eliminating desiccant carryover from the condenser. A second heat exchanger is operable to transfer heat from concentrated liquid desiccant received from the boiler to preheated dilute liquid desiccant received from the condenser prior to entry into the boiler.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1998Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Fedders CorporationInventors: Shailesh V. Potnis, Kevin Gurley, Phillip T. McKittrick, Robert Baumann, Srikant Ram Rao, Robert L. Laurent, Jr.
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Patent number: 6205797Abstract: This invention provides an air conditioning system and operation method, having superior dehumidification ability and flexibly adaptable for processing a variety of conditioning loads, and also energy conserving. The invention comprises: a desiccant 103 for adsorbing moisture from process air; and a heat pump 200, including a compressor 260, that operates by using process air as a low-temperature heat source 240 and regeneration air as a high-temperature heat source 220 so as to supply heat to regeneration air for regenerating the desiccant. Processes of heat transfer in a sensible heat exchanger are made adjustable, for exchanging heat between post-desiccant process air that has not flowed into the low temperature heat source heat exchanger and pre-desiccant regeneration air that has not yet regenerated the desiccant.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1999Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventor: Kensaku Maeda
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Patent number: 6205805Abstract: A motor vehicle dehumidifier, including a dehumidifying drying agent, that can provide a required dehumidifying capacity with a reduced overall quantity of drying agent compared to conventional drying agent-based dehumidifiers. In the present invention, a heat exchanger is disposed on an upstream side of a drying agent unit, and heat is exchanged in the heat exchanger between inside air to be dehumidified and low-temperature outside air used to cool the inside air. The air cooled by the heat exchanger flows into the drying agent unit and is dehumidified. Because the air has an increased relative humidity as a result of being cooled, the amount of water adsorbed from it per unit of drying agent is increased, as the water adsorption characteristic of the drying agent is greatly influenced by the relative humidity of the air passing over it, and is markedly improved by an increase in the relative humidity of that air.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1999Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Koji Takahashi, Yuichi Shirota, Koichi Ban
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Patent number: RE37464Abstract: A dehumidifier unit for pre-conditioning air delivered to a multiplicity of separate refrigeration air conditioner units and especially ductless systems where the compressor-condenser unit is separate from the fan-coil unit, and assisted by heat pipe transfer of heat from air dehumidified through a desiccant wheel and by heat of compression from the condenser of one compressor-condenser unit, and with a heater to maintain the temperature of regeneration air through the wheel, one dehumidifier unit pre-conditioning air for a multiplicity of refrigeration air conditioners or fan-coil units.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 1996Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Inventor: Milton Meckler