With Removing Of Moisture Patents (Class 62/93)
  • Publication number: 20070215317
    Abstract: A movable multi-functional air-conditioner equipped with wheels for high mobility is disclosed having a front chamber with an air inlet and an air outlet, an evaporator and a fan mounted in the front chamber, a rear chamber with an air inlet and an air outlet, a heater and a condenser mounted in the rear chamber, a front valve mounted in the air inlet of the front chamber, a rear valve mounted in the air inlet of the rear chamber, and an intermediate valve for controlling the air passage between the front chamber and the rear chamber so that the user to select hot mode, cold mode, dehumidifying mode, or simultaneous dehumidifying and drying mode by opening/closing the front valve, the rear valve, and the intermediate valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: King-Leung Wong, Tsung-Lieh Hsien, Shih-Shih Ku, Huann-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 7266953
    Abstract: A condensing assembly for urging condensation of a vapour into a liquid has a vertically stacked modular array of horizontal condensation units exposed to a heat transfer medium. Each condensation unit has a cooling chamber, a plurality of hollow legs and necks accessing the cooling chamber to define a fluid passageway. An open or enclosed space between vertically opposed condensation units is created by coupling the necks and legs of opposed condensation units. Introduced vapour travels along the fluid passageways and through the cooling chambers for condensation into liquid, which then travels along the fluid passageways to a storage tank. A cooling loop in each cooling chamber increases condensation. Vapour funnels in the condensation units along the fluid passageway reduce vapour to liquid contact therealong. An inlet header provides additional cooling to the vapour prior to entering the condensation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: TankSafe Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhard Schuetz, Wayne Bowd
  • Patent number: 7262959
    Abstract: An apparatus for housing a drawer-type storage unit including a storage unit that stores data and a case in which the storage unit is contained in a drawable manner includes a drawing-status determining unit that determines whether the case is drawn from the apparatus; and a fan controlling unit that controls a revolutions-per-minute of a fan provided in the apparatus based on a result of determination by the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tomoya Makino
  • Patent number: 7251945
    Abstract: A water production unit is provided that uses a desiccant wheel for extracting water from an air loop. A portion of the air loop is heated using exhaust from, for example, a vehicle to regenerate the desiccant wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Hamilton Sandstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Tongue
  • Patent number: 7251944
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a vapor-compression evaporation system includes a plurality of vessels in series each containing a feed having a nonvolatile component. A first set of the plurality of vessels includes vapor-compression evaporators and a second set of the plurality of vessels includes multi-effect evaporators. A mechanical compressor is coupled to the last vessel in the series of vapor-compression evaporators and is operable to receive a vapor therefrom. A turbine is coupled to, and operable to drive, the mechanical compressor. A pump is operable to deliver a cooling liquid to the mechanical compressor, and a tank is coupled to the mechanical compressor and is operable to separate liquid and vapor received from the mechanical compressor. A plurality of heat exchangers is coupled inside respective ones of the vessels, wherein the heat exchanger in the first vessel in the first set is operable to receive the vapor from the tank, and at least some of the vapor condenses therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, Highland Interests, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Gary P. Noyes
  • Publication number: 20070169367
    Abstract: An object is to provide a drying machine capable of effectively eliminating confinement of heat while a drying time of an object to be dried is reduced, and the drying machine includes a refrigerant circuit constituted by successively connecting a compressor, a radiator, a pressure reducing unit, an evaporator and the like in an annular form via a pipe; an air circulation path which allows an air sending unit to perform air circulation so as to send air from the radiator through the storage chamber to the evaporator and to again return the air to the radiator; and a heat exchange unit for performing heat exchange between an external heat medium and the air in the refrigerant circuit, the heat exchange being performed between a leeward side of the evaporator and a windward side of the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventor: Masaya Tadano
  • Publication number: 20070169366
    Abstract: An object is to provide a drying machine capable of effectively eliminating confinement of heat while a drying time of an object to be dried is reduced, and the drying machine includes a refrigerant circuit constituted by successively connecting a compressor, a radiator, a pressure reducing unit, an evaporator and the like in an annular form via a pipe; an air circulation path which allows an air sending unit to perform air circulation to send air from the radiator through the storage chamber to the evaporator and to again return the air to the radiator; and a heat exchange unit for performing heat exchange between an external heat medium and a refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit in a range of a refrigerant outlet side of the evaporator to a refrigerant discharge side of the compressor, the heat exchange unit being constituted of an external heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the external heat medium and the refrigerant of an intermediate pressure section of a compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventor: Masaya Tadano
  • Publication number: 20070163279
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes a desiccant wheel, wherein the wheel's speed varies with airflow, the wheel is energized for at least a set period at startup, and/or a heat recovery system (e.g., an air-to-air heat exchanger) upstream of the wheel enhances the system's ability to dehumidify air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventor: Ronnie R. Moffitt
  • Patent number: 7213402
    Abstract: A refrigeration-based compressed-gas dryer comprises a group of heat exchangers (10), this group of heat-exchangers including a gas-to-gas heat exchanger (20), an evaporator (30), a condensate separator (50) and at least a refrigerating circuit (40), wherein in said gas-to-gas heat exchanger (20) there is provided a pre-cooling section (22), where heat is exchanged between a mixture of compressed gases to be dried entering said group of heat exchangers (10), and a heating section (24) for a mixture of dried gases exiting a condensate separator (50), wherein in said evaporator (30) there is provided a cooling section (32), where heat is exchanged between said mixture of compressed gases to be dried exiting the gas-to-gas heat exchanger (20), and an evaporating section (34) for a refrigerant medium, where said mixture of compressed gases is cooled down to a desired dew point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Domnick Hunter Hiross S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Bellemo
  • Patent number: 7201013
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioning apparatus with two adsorption elements (81, 82). The air conditioning apparatus repeatedly alternately performs a first operation in which air is dehumidified by the first adsorption element (81) simultaneously with regeneration of the second adsorption element (82) and a second operation in which air is dehumidified by the second adsorption element (82) simultaneously with regeneration of the first adsorption element (81). At the time of switching between these operations, only the flow path of air is changed, with the adsorption elements (81, 82) remaining stationary. The air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit performs a refrigeration cycle in which a regenerative heat exchanger (92) operates as a condenser and either one of first and second cooling heat exchangers (93, 94) operates as an evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7197885
    Abstract: In preferred aspects of the present invention, at least one rib is provided can be molded to an internal dividing wall in the interior of a water separator in an automotive HVAC unit. In more preferred aspects, a plurality of ribs is provided that are molded to or with the wall, and, the plurality of ribs form a pattern, in a way that allows them to ‘direct’ or to ‘channel’ water from an air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Climate Control Corp
    Inventors: Eugene M. Kozak, Steven B. Marshall
  • Patent number: 7188480
    Abstract: There is provided a system for pumping thermal energy. The system includes (a) a heater for heating a liquid, (b) a gas-liquid contactor for adding vapor from the liquid to a process gas to produce a vapor-containing gas, and (c) a membrane permeator for removing the vapor from the vapor-containing gas and for providing a resultant vapor. The system transfers a quantity of thermal energy from the heater to the resultant vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Amos Korin
  • Patent number: 7155318
    Abstract: In a method of operating an air conditioning unit to reduce moisture varying operations, psychrometric chart data is accessed. In addition, a constraint is set on the relationship between the temperature of air supplied by the air conditioning unit and the relative humidity of the air supplied based upon information contained in the psychrometric chart data. The air conditioning unit is controlled based upon the constraint to thereby reduce moisture varying operations of the air conditioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventors: Ratnesh K. Sharma, Cullen E. Bash, Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Patent number: 7134483
    Abstract: A heat exchanger having an air/air heat exchanger, an air/refrigerant heat exchanger coupled to the air/air heat exchanger by a connecting tube, and a phase change material. The air/refrigerant heat exchanger having a series of stacked plates, such that the phase change material is contained within a first gap between one of the stacked plates and another of the stacked plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Flair Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Barnwell
  • Patent number: 7121101
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transforming water vapor into potable water by using a vapor compression refrigeration system which includes first and second cooling elements disposed in a closed loop air passage duct that provides a continuous air circulation pattern driven by a fan or similar device. Water is introduced into the circulating air and undergoes adiabatic cooling followed by two stage cooling, first at a temperature below the dew point and then at a lower temperature at or below freezing. Water is collected from the air in each step and the air is thereafter heated back up by the condensing element of the refrigeration system enabling it to absorb more water vapor at the point of introduction. The air is recirculated and processed as above to permit cyclical water recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas D. Merritt
  • Patent number: 7121102
    Abstract: A precooler/chiller/reheater (PCR) system comprising a precooler/reheater counterflow heat exchanger and a chiller counterflow heat exchanger separated by a moisture removal section. Refrigerant is flashed through a perforated distribution manifold along the plates of the chiller. Warm, moist air is precooled in the precooler/reheater heat exchanger. A manifold conveys the precooled air to the chiller heat exchanger. Chilled air exits the chiller at a low point in the system. Moisture condensed in the precooler and chiller drains into a sump that also acts to convey air into the moisture removal section. Water droplets are stripped from the airflow and drain downwards into the sump. The chilled and dried air is conveyed to the second side of the precooler/reheater heat exchanger and passes downward in counterflow to the direction of air entering the system on the first side of the heat exchanger, then exits the system ready for use as reheated, dried air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: API Heat Transfer, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Fijas, Timothy J. Galus
  • Patent number: 7114266
    Abstract: A housing assembly includes first and second sides and first and second panels spaced apart from each other by an interior of the housing and traversing the first and second sides. A first porous desiccant retention plate and a second porous desiccant retention plate are spaced from each other are secured within the housing so as to define a desiccant chamber therebetween for maintaining the desiccant medium. An opening is formed within one of said panels in a location corresponding to the location of the desiccant chamber, facilitating replacement of the desiccant medium within the desiccant chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Bel-Art Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Gomes, Paul Thom, David Landsberger
  • Patent number: 7104082
    Abstract: A space has air humidity and temperature to be regulated. An air handler has a temperature regulation element, a fan and a housing. An inflow manifold has an intake end and an outflow end and a plurality of stubs and a plurality of dampers. An outflow manifold has an intake end and an outflow end and a plurality of stubs and a plurality of dampers. A desiccant unit has a plurality of chambers and a desiccant wheel and a plurality of blowers and a heat source and a mixing chamber and a combustible gas supply with a gas burner and an adjustable gas valve to regulate the flow of combustible gas. A plurality of ducts couple the air handler and the manifolds and the desiccant unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Jose Moratalla
  • Patent number: 7096684
    Abstract: A humidity control device includes a first adsorption element (81) and a second adsorption element (82). A first filter (301) is provided under the first adsorption element (81), while a second filter (302) is provided under the second adsorption element (82). The humidity control device performs first operation and second operation alternately. Directions of air flowing through the respective filters (301, 302) are reversed between the first operation and the second operation. Reversal of the direction of the air flowing through each filter (301, 302) removes dust and the like from each filter (301, 302).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Yoshinori Narikawa, Satoshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 7086239
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a condenser for an air-based climate control system, having an inlet and an outlet for the air to be cooled, an inlet and an outlet for the cool air, a heat exchange unit for heat transfer between the air to be cooled and the cool air, a bypass that circumvents the cool-air side of the heat exchange unit at least within a certain area, and a hot-air inlet on the cool-air side by means of which hot air can be fed into the condenser. A particularly low humidity even in partial power operation with continued high flow-through capacity of the climate control system is achieved according to the invention in that the hot-air inlet is positioned in such a way that the hot air essentially flows in a partial area of the inlet on the cool-air side of the condenser and that the bypass inlet is positioned in the partial area downstream from the hot-air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Haas, Norbert Brutscher
  • Patent number: 7082781
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioning apparatus which is provided with two adsorption elements (81, 82). The air conditioning apparatus repeats in alternation an operation in which the second adsorption element (82) is regenerated and, at the same time, air is dehumidified by the first adsorption element (81), and an operation in which the first adsorption element (81) is regenerated and, at same time, air is dehumidified by the second adsorption element (82). Additionally, the air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit performs a refrigeration cycle in which a regenerative heat exchanger (92) operates as a condenser and a first cooling heat exchanger (93) or a second cooling heat exchanger (94) operates as an evaporator. For example, air, which has robbed heat of adsorption in the first adsorption element (81), is further heated by the regenerative heat exchanger (92) and is introduced into the second adsorption element (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kikuchi, Tomohiro Yabu, Akira Kamino
  • Patent number: 7055334
    Abstract: An indoor air-conditioning unit 10 which can effectively deactivate allergens includes an intake grill 11 for drawing in indoor air. Indoor heat exchangers 13, 14, and 15 exchange heat between air drawn in from the intake grill 11 and a refrigerant to thereby cool or heat the air. A diffuser 16 returns the air which has been heat-exchanged with the indoor heat exchangers 13, 14, 15, back into the room. A cross-flow fan 17 blows air which has been drawn in from the inlet and heat exchanged from the diffuser 16 into the room. An allergen deactivation filter 18 is arranged in an internal space 5 through which the air flows and supports an allergen deactivation enzyme. An enzyme activation device maintains the internal space S in an atmosphere for activating the allergen deactivation enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tanaka, Katsuhiro Hashitsume, Seiji Ando, Yuji Nakajima, Susumu Kojima, Kenichi Miyazawa, Hiroshi Kanbara, Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7051540
    Abstract: Wick-Containing apparatus capable of separating fluids and methods of separating fluids using wicks are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Ward E. TeGrotenhuis, Victoria S. Stenkamp
  • Patent number: 7043934
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a water making device that collects the moisture contained in the atmosphere and condenses it into high purity water. In one embodiment, moist air entering the water making/water cooling system flows across an air filter, then a precooler heat exchanger (where the air stream is cooled to or close to its dew point) and then a water extraction heat exchanger, where the air stream is cooled further and water is extracted. The water that leaves water extraction heat exchanger is collected in a water collection device and passes from there through a primary water filter into a water storage tank. The air stream then passes across a reheat heat exchanger and exhausted to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
    Inventors: Reinhard K. Radermacher, Hisham Fawzi
  • Patent number: 7043930
    Abstract: A method for removing humidity from air comprising the steps of providing an air conditioning system comprising a continuous circuit through which a refrigerant flows from a compressor, through a condenser, through a heat exchanger, through an evaporator, and returning to the compressor, providing a bypass valve through which a portion of the refrigerant flows around the heat exchanger, providing a bypass circuit through which a portion of the refrigerant flows from a point upstream of the condenser to mix with the refrigerant at a point downstream of the condenser, providing a discharge gas valve for controlling the portion of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass circuit, measuring an outdoor temperature and a relative humidity, determining a cooling stage and operating the bypass valve and the discharge gas valve to remove a portion of the humidity from the air based upon the outdoor temperature, the relative humidity, and the cooling stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Ruddy C. Bussjager
  • Patent number: 7000409
    Abstract: A process for recovering potable water from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. In this process the exhaust gases are cooled causing water to condense out, and the water formed is passed through particulate filters, activated carbon filters and ion exchange resin filters. In this process, the water is treated to reduce the levels of nitrates, sulfates, acidic and other organic components therein (for example, by passing it through a flow through capacitor) before the water is passed through the ion exchange resins. The apparatus for practicing this process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventor: Marit Jagtoyen Mazzetti
  • Patent number: 7000410
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are extracting water from the ambient air comprising drawing air through an particle ionizer grid, evaporator plates of a refrigerant system the system and recirculating the ionized air and mixing said ionized air with ambient air and recycling said mixed air through said ionizer and evaporator plates to extract moisture from the air. The system utilizes sensors to constantly sense and predictively respond to multiple parameters, monitored at multiple points in the system to predictively and efficiently adjust the system operation to continually maximize the extraction of water regardless of ambient temperature and humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ecotek International, Inc.
    Inventor: John Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 6978635
    Abstract: An adsorption element (81, 82) is formed by an alternating lamination of flat plate members (83) and corrugated plate members (84). Each flat plate member (83) is a given rectangle of L1/L2=2. In the adsorption element (81, 82), humidity adjusting side passageways (85) are opened on side surfaces of the adsorption element (81, 82) which are located on the longer-side side of the flat plate members (83). Additionally, cooling side passageways (86) are opened on side surfaces of the adsorption element (81, 82) which are located on the shorter-side side of the flat plate members (83).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Guannan Xi, Akira Kamino
  • Patent number: 6966197
    Abstract: When a dehumidifying and heating operation is set in an air conditioner, refrigerant is circulated from a compressor to the compressor through a first exterior heat exchanger, a decompression device, an interior heat exchanger, an another decompression device, an inner heat exchanger and a second exterior heat exchanger, in this order. Further, by controlling a throttle opening degree of the another decompression device, a refrigerant temperature in the interior heat exchanger can be set higher than that in the second exterior heat exchanger. Thus, even when the interior heat exchanger is controlled to a temperature to be not frosted, heat can be absorbed from outside air in the second exterior heat exchanger. Accordingly, when an outside air temperature is low, by setting the dehumidifying and heating operation, air to be blown into a compartment can be dehumidified while sufficiently increasing heating capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Itoh, Motohiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6957543
    Abstract: An air cycle water producing machine utilizes a combination of cooling turbine, heat exchanger and fresh air cycling to increase water output while minimizing the amount of energy required to operate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventor: Igor Reznik
  • Patent number: 6945065
    Abstract: Cooling/heating system of air conditioner including a duct having a first passage for drawing external air, and a second passage for drawing room air, the second passage having a part crossed with the first passage, a regenerative heat exchanger having first and second flow passages in the crossed part of the first and second passages for indirect heat exchange between the external air and the room air, a case connected to the first and second passages of the duct having first and second outlets for drawing/discharging external and room air, first and second fans for drawing in the external air and the room air into the case through the first and second passages, and discharging the external air and the room air through the first and second outlets, and first and second heat exchangers for heat exchange with the external air and the room air discharge through the first and second outlets, thereby preventing contamination and dried room air and reducing heat loss to permit cooling/heating even with small amoun
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Hee Lee, Yoon Jei Hwang, Chan Ho Song
  • Patent number: 6941763
    Abstract: This heat pump and dehumidifying apparatus have small energy-consumed per moisture-removed ratios. Their components include a pressurizer for raising refrigerant pressure; a condenser for condensing refrigerant, thereby heating a high-temperature heat source fluid; an evaporator for evaporating refrigerant to cool a low-temperature heat source fluid; and a heat exchanger in a refrigerant path connecting the condenser and the evaporator for evaporating and condensing refrigerant under an intermediate pressure between the condensor pressure and the evaporator pressure. The low-temperature heat source fluid is successively cooled by the heat exchanger, cooled by the evaporator, and heated by the heat exchanger. This fluid can be precooled by the heat exchanger before cooling in the evaporator, and heat removed during precooling can be returned to the fluid after cooling by the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Maeda, Hideo Inaba, Shunro Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 6935131
    Abstract: An indoor facility provided with a liquid refrigerant dehumidifier coil connected with the main refrigeration coils in a secondary refrigerant loop and a compressor waste heat coil coupled with the primary refrigerant loop and heating a desiccant wheel for removing further humidity from the process air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Tom Backman
  • Patent number: 6931881
    Abstract: A portable, monoblock air conditioner including an evaporator positioned over a condenser, the condenser including heat transfer fins, and a partition positioned between the evaporator and the condenser, the partition formed with openings arranged for condensate to flow from the evaporator over the heat transfer fins of the condenser, wherein there are more than one of the openings over each heat transfer fin. Adjacent rows of openings over the heat transfer fins may be staggered with respect to each other. The heat transfer fins may have a hydrophilic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Amcor International Ltd.
    Inventor: Avner Movshovitz
  • Patent number: 6928831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combined cooling plant/heat pump for use in motor vehicles for the cooling, heating and dehumidification of the vehicle interior. A refrigerant circuit is thermally coupled to the ventilation system over an internal heat exchanger having two functional units. The functional units are switchable as the condenser/gas cooler of the heat pump (in heating operation) and as the evaporator of the cooling plant (in cooling operation). In a combined dehumidification-reheating operation, one of these functional units is operable as an evaporator and the other as condenser/gas cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Heyl
  • Patent number: 6912859
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing make-up water for a chilled water system. A first water tower for cooling water is provided. Condensate water from a condensate water source is extracted. Make-up water for the first water tower is provided using the condensate water. The apparatus comprises a first water tower for generating cooling water; an air compressor to produce compressed air; a condensate water source to extract condensate water from the compressed air; and a water flow control system for providing water from the condensate water source to the first water tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Klein
  • Patent number: 6910339
    Abstract: A system for extracting including a cooled condenser apparatus in contact with the volume of pressurized air being dehumidified, the condensed water being transferred into collection areas by means of capillary attraction; an evaporation chamber in thermal contact with the condenser apparatus having an inlet connected to the collection areas by means of a first valve device and an outlet connected by means of a second valve device to a space wherein the pressure is lower than that of the volume of pressurized air; and a control device for controlling the valve devices in order to carry out a control cycle with a first phase for placing the evaporation chamber under negative pressure in relation to the volume of pressurized air, and a second phase for suctioning the condensed water in the collection areas towards the decompression chamber, until the pressure in the decompression chamber reaches a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventors: Robert Laine, Primo Tamburini
  • Patent number: 6883602
    Abstract: An evaporator unit for use in the air conditioning system of a mass transit vehicle that includes a housing mounted inside the air conditioned section of the vehicle having a return air inlet connected to a supply air outlet by a flow passage. The evaporator coil of the air conditioner is mounted in the flow passage to cool the air moving through the passage. A heater coil is mounted behind the evaporator coil to selectively heat the air moving through the passage. A dehumidifying coil is mounted in front of the evaporator coil that utilizes ambient air to dehumidify the indoor air when the ambient air temperature is at a temperature below that at which the air conditioner cannot reliably operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Alan S. Drucker
  • Patent number: 6868690
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for extracting freshwater from atmospheric humidity in extremely hot and humid climates and supplying freshwater to a small group of people, a building, a farm, or forestation area. The freshwater is treated to provide drinking water by disinfecting to eliminate microorganisms and filtration to remove suspended particulates from air, erosion or corrosion products, and disinfected waste. Compact units provide drinking water for individuals, passengers in cars, vans, trucks, or recreational boats, or crewmembers on a seagoing cargo ship whether from atmospheric humidity or from moisture-laden gases. Furthermore, systems are disclosed for the ample supply of freshwater with minimal treatment for small- to large-sized buildings in a manner that alleviates the heat load on buildings. Collection of freshwater from hot humid ambient air is also provided for other uses, such as irrigation and farm animal drinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Fakieh Research & Development
    Inventor: Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Kader M. Faqih
  • Publication number: 20040255598
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having a chamber, having a replaceable part which has a moisture adsorption characteristic and which is in communication with the chamber, and having a humidity monitoring section which is responsive to the humidity within the chamber. A method of controlling humidity within a chamber in a housing includes: providing a replaceable part which has a moisture adsorption characteristic and which is in communication with the chamber, and monitoring the humidity within the chamber using a humidity monitoring section which is responsive to the humidity within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: James L. Haws, Ronald J. Richardson
  • Publication number: 20040244398
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a water making device that collects the moisture contained in the atmosphere and condenses it into high purity water. In one embodiment, moist air entering the water making/water cooling system flows across an air filter, then a precooler heat exchanger (where the air stream is cooled to or close to its dew point) and then a water extraction heat exchanger, where the air stream is cooled further and water is extracted. The water that leaves water extraction heat exchanger is collected in a water collection device and passes from there through a primary water filter into a water storage tank. The air stream then passes across a reheat heat exchanger and exhausted to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Reinhard K. Radermacher, Hisham Fawzi
  • Patent number: 6828499
    Abstract: A condensation panel to be used for harvesting water from atmospheric moisture during those times of the diurnal cycle when relative humidity is at or near 100% utilizes very localized cooling to optimize condensation on a surface whose materials promote the condensation and collection of the water. The panel is passive in the sense that it can be deployed and left in an unmaintained condition for considerable periods of time. At least one time each day, almost certainly in the morning, water harvested by the process of assisted condensation can be collected for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Marine Desalination Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael David Max
  • Publication number: 20040231344
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioner enabling to supply a room with oxygen as well as control temperature and humidity of air therein. The present invention includes an outdoor module 10, an indoor module 20, a refrigerant tube 30, and an oxygen generating module. The outdoor module 10 includes a condenser 11, an outdoor fan 12, and a compressor 13 so as to compress and condense a refrigerant. The indoor module 20 includes an evaporator 21, an indoor fan 22, an inlet 23, and an outlet 24 so as to cool the air in the room. The refrigerant tube 30 connects the evaporator 21 of the indoor module 20 to the condenser 11 of the outdoor module 10 so as to circulate the refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Ho Geun Jang, Dong Jin Kwak, Min Chul Cho
  • Publication number: 20040231345
    Abstract: A process for recovering potable water from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. In this process the exhaust gases are cooled causing water to condense out, and the water formed is passed through particulate filters, activated carbon filters and ion exchange resin filters. In this process, the water is treated to reduce the levels of nitrates, sulfates, acidic and other organic components therein (for example, by passing it through a flow through capacitor) before the water is passed through the ion exchange resins. The apparatus for practicing this process is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Marit Jagtoyen Mazzetti
  • Patent number: 6813894
    Abstract: There are provided a heat pump having a high COP and a dehumidifying apparatus arranged in a compact size. The heat pump has a pressurizer 260 for raising a pressure of a refrigerant 260, an evaporator 210 for cooling a low-temperature heat source fluid A with heat of evaporation of the refrigerant to be pressurized, a condenser 220 for heating a high-temperature heat source fluid B with heat of condensation of the pressurized refrigerant, and a first heat exchanger 300a for exchanging heat between the low-temperature heat source fluid A upstream of the evaporator 210 and a cooling fluid. The first heat exchanger 300a has a first compartment 310 through which the low-temperature heat source fluid A flows, a second compartment 320 through which the cooling fluid flows, and refrigerant passages 251A1-A9, 252A1-A9 extending through the first compartment and the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventor: Kensaku Maeda
  • Publication number: 20040211207
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Mordechai Forkosh, Dan Forkosh, Tomy Forkosh
  • Publication number: 20040206094
    Abstract: A dehumidifying air-conditioning apparatus comprises a pressurizer (4) for raising a pressure of a refrigerant, a condenser (5) for condensing the refrigerant to heat a high-temperature heat source fluid, and an evaporator (1) for evaporating the refrigerant to cool process air to a temperature lower than its dew point. A first heat exchanging portion (21) is disposed in a refrigerant path between the condenser (5) and the evaporator (1) for evaporating the refrigerant under an intermediate pressure between the condensing pressure of the condenser (5) and the evaporating pressure of the evaporator (1) to cool the process air by evaporation of the refrigerant under the intermediate pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Kensaku Maeda
  • Publication number: 20040206095
    Abstract: The invention concerns a low-temperature dryer, especially a compressed air low-temperature dryer, for drying of a gaseous working fluid with cooling of the gaseous working fluid by use of a refrigerant. It comprises a pre-heat exchanger section (11) and a main heat exchanger section (12), in which the pre-heat exchanger section (11) and/or the main heat exchanger section (12) comprises at least one, preferably elongated heat exchanger element. Cooling of the working fluid introduced to the low-temperature dryer occurs here in the pre-heat exchanger section (11) from the dried and cooled working fluid. Additional cooling of the precooled working fluid passed through the low-temperature dryer occurs in the main heat exchanger section (12) from the refrigerant, so that moisture is condensed from the working fluid. All flow channels (21, 22) of the pre-heat exchanger section (11) and/or the main heat exchanger section (12) are formed essentially by hollow chamber profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Kaeser Kompressoren GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Feisthauer
  • Publication number: 20040194478
    Abstract: This heat pump and dehumidifying apparatus have small energy-consumed per moisture-removed ratios. Their components include a pressurizer for raising refrigerant pressure; a condenser for condensing refrigerant, thereby heating a high-temperature heat source fluid; an evaporator for evaporating refrigerant to cool a low-temperature heat source fluid; and a heat exchanger in a refrigerant path connecting the condenser and the evaporator for evaporating and condensing refrigerant under an intermediate pressure between the condensor pressure and the evaporator pressure. The low-temperature heat source fluid is successively cooled by the heat exchanger, cooled by the evaporator, and heated by the heat exchanger. This fluid can be precooled by the heat exchanger before cooling in the evaporator, and heat removed during precooling can be returned to the fluid after cooling by the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Kensaku Maeda, Hideo Inaba, Shunro Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 6799430
    Abstract: A method for reclamation of atmospheric water uses a water reclamation chamber (1) with water reclamation cells (2) and variable high-performance blowers (3). In this occurs by means of cooling collectors (6) during the nighttime the cooling of a coolant stored in a cooling resorvoir (7), and during the daytime operation by means of solar collectors (8) occurs the heating of a further fluid stored in a heat reservoir, so that the coolant that is cooled during the night for the purpose of water reclamation cools by day and/or night the cooling registers through which air flows. At these cooling registers, the air is dehumidified so that the heat-accumulating fluid by day and/or by night is used for the generation of energy for the operation of the equipment and/or for the extraction of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Walter Georg Steiner