Abstract: An improved desiccant air conditioning system includes at least one heat exchanging desiccant bed having desiccant material surfaces defining air passageways through the desiccant bed. The desiccant material surfaces adsorb moisture from building air during an adsorption phase and desorb moisture into exhaust air during a desorption phase. The heat exchanging desiccant bed is formed with refrigerant circulating channels or tubes in heat exchange relationship with the desiccant material surfaces. A heat pump system is also provided including an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and metering device operatively coupled by a refrigerant circulating line for evaporation of refrigerant and transfer of heat to the refrigerant from air in the evaporator air passageways during a coincident adsorption/evaporation phase and for condensation of refrigerant and transfer of heat from the refrigerant to air in the condenser air passageways during a coincident desportion/condensation phase.

Abstract: A desiccant air conditioning system incorporates a desiccant material structure in the form of a heat exchanging desiccant bed. The heat exchanging desiccant bed is formed by granular desiccant material defining air passageways and liquid circulating channels for circulating heat transfer liquid in heat exchange relationship with the desiccant bed. The desiccant bed may include at least one stack of substantially parallel spaced-apart thermally conducting fins or plates with the granular desiccant material intimately bonded to the surfaces of the plates. The plates are provided by tube sheets or tube fins which include the tubes or channels for circulating heat transfer fluid. The method of air conditioning contemplates drawing building air to be conditioned through an adsorb air passageway; preconditioning the air by initially moisturizing or humidifying the air to substantially 100% relative humidity and adding heat to the moisture-laden air extracted from the air exiting from the desiccant bed.

Abstract: An improved desiccant air conditioning system includes at least one heat exchanging desiccant bed having desiccant material surfaces defining air passageways through the desiccant bed. The desiccant material surfaces adsorb moisture from building air during an adsorption phase and desorb moisture into exhaust air during a desorption phase. The heat exchanging desiccant bed is formed with refrigerant circulating channels or tubes in heat exchange relationship with the desiccant material surfaces. A heat pump system is also provided including an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and metering device operatively coupled by a refrigerant circulating line for evaporation of refrigerant and transfer of heat to the refrigerant from air in the evaporator air passageways during a coincident adsorption/evaporation phase and for condensation of refrigerant and transfer of heat from the refrigerant to air in the condenser air passageways during a coincident desorption/condensation phase.

Abstract: A dehumidifier package for use in a residence in the form of a box having front and rear walls spaced apart and having silica gel particles bonded to the interior surfaces. End walls connect the front and rear walls so as to form an air flow channel through the box for permitting air to flow over the silica gel. In one embodiment the top and bottom of the box are open and air flows through the box through the natural draft created as the air becomes lighter and rises. In another embodiment air is forceably drawn through the box by means of a powered fan pulling air from the bottom and exhausting the air near the top. A regeneration chamber may be provided in which the bottom of the box can be positioned to communicate with a plenum chamber in the regeneration box, the plenum chamber communicating with an opening through which hot air may be directed.

Abstract: A solar heating system operating on a phase-change cycle and suitable for operation in buildings. A solar heating panel is positioned to receive solar energy, and fluid passages within the panel are connected in a sealed closed fluid system. The closed fluid system is charged with a fluid medium which is vaporized by solar heating occurring in the solar panel. The heated vaporized fluid flows through energy extraction devices which do work while utilizing energy extracted from the vapor. The vaporized fluid flows to a condensor in heat exchange relation with a heat storage medium, such as a tank of water. The heat of vaporization given out by the condensing vapor is supplied to the heat storage medium, and heat can then be withdrawn from storage for space heating or for other purposes. The solar heating panel can be a composite structure fabricated from rolled sheet metal, which provides a substantial reduction in unit cost of the heating panel.