Abstract: A three-way heat exchanger operable to transfer heat between a heat transfer fluid, a liquid desiccant, and air. The three-way heat exchanger includes an airflow inlet, an airflow outlet, and panel assemblies arranged with airflow gaps defined between adjacent panel assemblies to allow the air to flow between the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet in an airflow direction. Each panel assembly includes a frame defining a heat transfer fluid channel for channeling a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the panel assembly and a membrane positioned on the frame and defining a desiccant channel for a flow of the liquid desiccant. The frame has a leading edge proximate the airflow inlet and a trailing edge proximate the airflow outlet. The leading edges of the frames of the panel assemblies each include a leading edge aerodynamic feature.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes panel assemblies arranged with airflow gaps defined between adjacent panel assemblies to allow air to flow in an airflow direction. Each panel assembly includes a frame including two header sections and a middle section, a membrane positioned on the frame, and two airflow restrictor members positioned at each header section of the frame. For each header section, a first airflow restrictor member is on a first face of the frame and a second airflow restrictor member is on a second face of the frame. For each pair of adjacent panel assemblies, the middle sections are spaced apart to define the airflow gap, and the first airflow restrictor members of a first panel assembly engage the second airflow restrictor members of a second panel assembly to form two airflow restrictors at opposite ends of the airflow gap relative to a direction other than the airflow direction.

Abstract: A three-way heat exchanger operable to transfer heat between a heat transfer fluid, a liquid desiccant, and air. The three-way heat exchanger includes an airflow inlet, an airflow outlet, and panel assemblies arranged with airflow gaps defined between adjacent panel assemblies to allow the air to flow between the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet in an airflow direction. Each panel assembly includes a frame defining a heat transfer fluid channel for channeling a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the panel assembly and a membrane positioned on the frame and defining a desiccant channel for a flow of the liquid desiccant. The frame has a leading edge proximate the airflow inlet and a trailing edge proximate the airflow outlet. The leading edges of the frames of the panel assemblies each include a leading edge aerodynamic feature.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes panel assemblies arranged with airflow gaps defined between adjacent panel assemblies to allow air to flow in an airflow direction. Each panel assembly includes a frame including two header sections and a middle section, a membrane positioned on the frame, and two airflow restrictor members positioned at each header section of the frame. For each header section, a first airflow restrictor member is on a first face of the frame and a second airflow restrictor member is on a second face of the frame. For each pair of adjacent panel assemblies, the middle sections are spaced apart to define the airflow gap, and the first airflow restrictor members of a first panel assembly engage the second airflow restrictor members of a second panel assembly to form two airflow restrictors at opposite ends of the airflow gap relative to a direction other than the airflow direction.

Abstract: A three-way heat exchanger includes panel assemblies arranged in series. Each panel assembly includes a frame defining a heat transfer fluid channel and a vapor-permeable membrane positioned on the frame to define a desiccant channel separated from the heat transfer fluid channel. The three-way heat exchanger also includes clamping assemblies for exerting a clamping force on the panel assemblies. Each clamping assembly includes a tie rod extending through the frames of the panel assemblies and including opposite ends, retainers connected to the opposite ends of the tie rod, and a resilient element positioned between one of the retainers and one of the panel assemblies at one of the ends of the tie rod. The resilient element is deformable to accommodate size variations of the panel assemblies.