Abstract: An apparatus and a method for conditioning air has a quantity of liquid desiccant. A first portion of a first airflow is received in a first contact volume such that it contacts a first portion of the liquid desiccant. A second contact volume is in parallel with the first contact volume and receives a second portion of the first airflow. At least a portion of a second airflow is brought into contact with a second portion of the liquid desiccant in a third contact volume. A first heat exchanger is associated with the first portion of the liquid desiccant and configured to transfer heat between the first portion of the liquid desiccant and a first medium. A second heat exchanger is associated with the second portion of the liquid desiccant and configured to transfer heat between the second portion of the liquid desiccant and a second medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for conditioning air has a quantity of liquid desiccant. A first portion of a first airflow is received in a first contact volume such that it contacts a first portion of the liquid desiccant. A second contact volume is in parallel with the first contact volume and receives a second portion of the first airflow. At least a portion of a second airflow is brought into contact with a second portion of the liquid desiccant in a third contact volume. A first heat exchanger is associated with the first portion of the liquid desiccant and configured to transfer heat between the first portion of the liquid desiccant and a first medium. A second heat exchanger is associated with the second portion of the liquid desiccant and configured to transfer heat between the second portion of the liquid desiccant and a second medium.

Abstract: A desiccant-based system and method for conditioning air includes a first unit remotely located from an area whose environment is to be controlled. Additional units are respectively located within areas where air conditioning is desired. Each of the additional units is connected to the first unit such that desiccant can be transferred between each of the additional units and the first unit. Cool, undiluted desiccant can be transferred from the first unit to at least one of the additional units so that ambient air at the location of the additional unit can be dehumidified and cooled. Each of the additional units are separately controllable, such that the respective environments surrounding the additional units can be maintained at different levels of humidity and temperature.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a dehumidifier, a regenerator, and a refrigeration system. The dehumidifier removes water from a first airflow using a liquid desiccant. The regenerator transfers water from the dilute desiccant into a second airflow. The refrigeration system can be selectively used to provide heat to the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. An external heat source can also be used to heat the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. The refrigeration system and the external heat source can each be used separately to heat the desiccant, or the desiccant can be heated by both heat sources simultaneously.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a dehumidifier, a regenerator, and a refrigeration system. The dehumidifier removes water from a first airflow using a liquid desiccant. The regenerator transfers water from the dilute desiccant into a second airflow. The refrigeration system can be selectively used to provide heat to the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. An external heat source can also be used to heat the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. The refrigeration system and the external heat source can each be used separately to heat the desiccant, or the desiccant can be heated by both heat sources simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for conditioning air has a quantity of liquid desiccant. A first portion of a first airflow is received in a first contact volume such that it contacts a first portion of the liquid desiccant. A second contact volume is in parallel with the first contact volume and receives a second portion of the first airflow. At least a portion of a second airflow is brought into contact with a second portion of the liquid desiccant in a third contact volume. A first heat exchanger is associated with the first portion of the liquid desiccant and configured to transfer heat between the first portion of the liquid desiccant and a first medium. A second heat exchanger is associated with the second portion of the liquid desiccant and configured to transfer heat between the second portion of the liquid desiccant and a second medium.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a dehumidifier, a regenerator, and a refrigeration system. The dehumidifier removes water from a first airflow using a liquid desiccant. The regenerator transfers water from the dilute desiccant into a second airflow. The refrigeration system can be selectively used to provide heat to the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. An external heat source can also be used to heat the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. The refrigeration system and the external heat source can each be used separately to heat the desiccant, or the desiccant can be heated by both heat sources simultaneously.

Abstract: An assembly for measuring both the level and specific gravity of a liquid in a container includes a first sensor arrangement for sensing the level of the liquid in the container, and a second sensor arrangement for sensing the specific gravity of the liquid. The first sensor arrangement measures and then independently outputs at least one signal relating to the liquid level in the container. The second sensor arrangement measures and then independently outputs at least one signal relating to the specific gravity of the liquid in the container, thereby providing an integrated device to measure both parameters of the liquid.

Abstract: A system and method for managing water content in a fluid include a collection chamber for collecting water from the fluid with a desiccant, and a regeneration chamber for collecting water from the desiccant and transferring it to a second fluid. An evaporator cools the desiccant entering the collection chamber, and a condenser heats the desiccant entering the regeneration chamber. Diluted desiccant from the collection chamber is exchanged with concentrated desiccant from the regeneration chamber in such a way as to efficiently control the transfer of both mass and heat between the chambers. In one embodiment, mass is not exchanged until one or both of the desiccant levels in the chambers exceeds a predetermined level. Heat is transferred between the two desiccant flows as they are transferred between the chambers. This increases efficiency and reduces the energy input required for the evaporator and the condenser.

Abstract: A system and method for managing water content in a fluid includes a collection chamber for collecting water from the fluid with a desiccant, and a regeneration chamber for collecting water from the desiccant and transferring it to a second fluid. An evaporator cools the desiccant entering the collection chamber, and a second evaporator cools the second fluid to extract the water. The evaporators use a refrigerant, the flow of which is controlled by a flow control valve. When the temperature in the second evaporator drops below a set point, the refrigerant flow to the second evaporator is stopped, and the refrigerant flow to the first evaporator is increased. This increases the water collection in the collection chamber, and causes a rise in the temperature in the second evaporator. The valve is then opened to increase the cooling in the second evaporator.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system for conditioning air by removing heat and moisture from the air and transferring it to the environment, comprising: a dehumidifier (14) that produces dehumidified air and utilizes a liquid desiccant for drying; at least one non-desiccant fluid at a temperature lower than the temperature of the liquid desiccant; and at least one heat exchanger (20) in which the liquid desiccant is cooled by the at least one fluid.

Abstract: A system and method for managing water content in a fluid include a collection chamber for collecting water from the fluid with a desiccant, and a regeneration chamber for collecting water from the desiccant and transferring it to a second fluid. An evaporator cools the desiccant entering the collection chamber, and a condenser heats the desiccant entering the regeneration chamber. Diluted desiccant from the collection chamber is exchanged with concentrated desiccant from the regeneration chamber in such a way as to efficiently control the transfer of both mass and heat between the chambers. In one embodiment, mass is not exchanged until one or both of the desiccant levels in the chambers exceeds a predetermined level. Heat is transferred between the two desiccant flows as they are transferred between the chambers. This increases efficiency and reduces the energy input required for the evaporator and the condenser.

Abstract: An assembly for measuring both the level and specific gravity of a liquid in a container includes a first sensor arrangement for sensing the level of the liquid in the container, and a second sensor arrangement for sensing the specific gravity of the liquid. The first sensor arrangement measures and then independently outputs at least one signal relating to the liquid level in the container. The second sensor arrangement measures and then independently outputs at least one signal relating to the specific gravity of the liquid in the container, thereby providing an integrated device to measure both parameters of the liquid.

Abstract: A system and method for managing water content in a fluid includes a collection chamber for collecting water from the fluid with a desiccant, and a regeneration chamber for collecting water from the desiccant. An evaporator is used to cool the collection chamber, and a compressor is used to compress refrigerant flowing through the evaporator. An engine powers the compressor, and also provides waste heat to the regeneration chamber to increase the amount of water expelled from the desiccant. Water from the desiccant is evaporated in air flowing through the regeneration chamber. Air leaving the regeneration chamber is cooled to extract the water for drinking or other uses.

Abstract: A system and method for managing water content in a fluid includes a collection chamber for collecting water from the fluid with a desiccant, and a regeneration chamber for collecting water from the desiccant and transferring it to a second fluid. An evaporator cools the desiccant entering the collection chamber, and a second evaporator cools the second fluid to extract the water. The evaporators use a refrigerant, the flow of which is controlled by a flow control valve. When the temperature in the second evaporator drops below a set point, the refrigerant flow to the second evaporator is stopped, and the refrigerant flow to the first evaporator is increased. This increases the water collection in the collection chamber, and causes a rise in the temperature in the second evaporator. The valve is then opened to increase the cooling in the second evaporator.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning air comprising: a quantity of liquid desiccant (28); a dehumidifier section (12) in which air to be conditioned is brought into contact with a first portion of the liquid desiccant; a regenerator section (32) in which outside air is brought into contact with a second portion of the liquid desiccant; and a refrigeration system (45) having a first heat exchanger (46) associated with the first portion of liquid desiccant and a second heat exchanger (36) associated with the second portion of liquid desiccant and a third heat exchanger (136) that does not contact the liquid desiccant.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system for conditioning air by removing heat and moisture from the air and transferring it to the environment, comprising: a dehumidifier (14) that produces dehumidified air and utilizes a liquid desiccant for drying; at least one non-desiccant fluid at a temperature lower than the temperature of the liquid desiccant; and at least one heat exchanger (20) in which the liquid desiccant is cooled by the at least one fluid.

Abstract: A dehumidification method comprising: providing a liquid desiccant (20) at a first location (18); removing moisture from the liquid desiccant at the first location to a first source of air (22, 24); providing liquid desiccant (20′) at a second location (18′), said liquid desiccant at said second location (18′) being in fluid communication with the liquid desiccant at the first location (18); absorbing moisture by the liquid desiccant at the second location from a second source of air (22′, 24′); and transferring moisture from the first location (18) to the second location (18′) substantially only by diffusion and gravity.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning air comprising: a quantity of liquid desiccant (28); a dehumidifier section (12) in which air to be conditioned is brought into contact with a first portion of the liquid desiccant; a regenerator section (32) in which outside air is brought into contact with a second portion of the liquid desiccant; and a refrigeration system (45) having a first heat exchanger (46) associated with the first portion of liquid desiccant and a second heat exchanger (36) associated with the second portion of liquid desiccant and a third heat exchanger (136) that does not contact the liquid desiccant.

Abstract: 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.