Abstrict An improved method and apparatus for air conditioning, using a
refrigeration system, are disclosed. The disclosed method and apparatus
provide for a refrigeration type air conditioning system to be equipped
with a regeneratable desiccant for contacting moist feed air prior
to passing the feed air across evaporator coils of the system. The
desiccant removes a substantial portion of moisture from the feed
air, thereby improving the efficiency of the air conditioning system.
The desiccant material is regenerated by utilizing waste heat that
is removed from the condenser of the air conditioning system.
Claims The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In a refrigeration type air conditioning system which includes
a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser, a vaporizable refrigerant
contained within a closed conduit communicating with said compressor,
said evaporator and said condenser, the improvement which comprises
a regeneratable desiccant material, means to pass a first fluid
into contact with said desiccant material to thereby remove at least
a portion of the water vapor from said first fluid and to produce
a desiccant material at least partially saturated with water, means
to thereafter pass the thus treated first fluid into contact with
said evaporator, thereby cooling said thus treated first fluid,
means to pass a second fluid into contact with said condenser to
thereby heat said second fluid and means to contact the thus heated
second fluid with at least a portion of the at least partially water
saturated desiccant material to thereby at least partially regenerate
said desiccant material.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means to pass a first fluid
into contact with said desiccant material includes a first duct
with said desiccant disposed in said first duct, said first duct
being in open communication with a second duct with said evaporator
being disposed in said second duct and said means to contact said
second fluid with said condenser includes a third duct with said
condenser being disposed in said third duct.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said system includes means to
move said at least partially water saturated desiccant material
from said first duct to said third duct and means to move the at
least partially regenerated desiccant material from said third duct
to said first duct.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said means to move said at least
partially water saturated desiccant material and said means to move
said at least partially regenerated desiccant material include a
desiccant bed supported in a rotating bed and means to rotate said
bed with said rotating bed being adapted to rotate with said at
least partially water saturated desiccant material being moved from
said first duct into said third duct and said at least partially
regenerated desiccant material from said third duct to said first
duct.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said desiccant includes alumina.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein said desiccant includes silica
gel.
7. The system of claim 3 wherein said means to move said at least
partially water saturated desiccant material and said means to move
said at least partially regenerated desiccant material include an
endless belt with said desiccant material supported by said endless
belt and means to rotate said belt.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said desiccant material includes
alumina.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein said desiccant material includes
silica gel.
10. The system of claim 3 wherein said desiccant material is a
liquid desiccant.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said at least partially saturated
desiccant material is passed in heat exchange relationship with
said at least partially regenerated desiccant material.
12. The sytem of claim 10 wherein said desiccant material includes
a glycol selected from the group consisting of dimethyleglycol and
trimethylene glycol.
13. The system of claim 3 wherein additional heating means disposed
within said third duct means whereby additional heat is supplied
to said second fluid before said second fluid is contacted with
said at least partially saturated desiccant material.
14. In a process for air conditioning a structure with a refrigeration
type air conditioning system which includes a compressor means,
an evaporator means, a condenser means and a vaporizable refrigerant
contained within a conduit means communicating with said compressor
means, said condenser means and said evaporator means, the improvement
comprising passing a first fluid into contact with a regeneratable
desiccant means in a first conduit means to remove at least a portion
of the water vapor from said first fluid and to produce a desiccant
at least partially saturated with water, passing the thus treated
first fluid into contact with said evaporator means in a second
conduit means, removing at least a portion of said desiccant which
is at least partially saturated with water and passing it to a third
conduit means, passing a second fluid into contact with said condenser
to thereby heat it and thereafter passing the thus heated second
fluid into contact with said at least partially saturated water
to thereby regenerate said desiccant material and means to return
the regenerated desiccant material to said first conduit means.
15. The process of claim 14 wherein said desiccant material is
supported in a rotatable bed and said bed is rotated in a manner
whereby said first fluid passes through a portion of said bed to
contact said desiccant material to at least partially saturate said
desiccant and whereby said bed is rotated whereby said at least
partially saturated desiccant is contacted with said second fluid
to regenerate said desiccant material and returning the thus regenerated
desiccant material to said first conduit means.
16. The process of claim 14 wherein said desiccant material is
supported on an endless belt and said belt is rotated in a manner
whereby said first fluid passes through a portion of said desiccant
material to at least partially saturate said desiccant and whereby
said belt is rotated whereby said at least partially saturated desiccant
is contacted with said second fluid to regenerate said desiccant
material and returning the thus regenerated desiccant material to
said first conduit means.
17. The process of claim 14 wherein said additional heat is supplied
to said third conduit means to heat said second fluid.
18. The process of claim 17 wherein said additional heat is supplied
by solar heating.
19. The process of claim 14 wherein said first fluid is passed
into contact with a liquid desiccant material to produce a desiccant
which is at least partially saturated with water and passing the
thus at least partially saturated desiccant material in heat exchange
relationship with regenerated desiccant material.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved air conditioning method and
apparatus. In another aspect, this invention relates to an improved
air conditioning method and apparatus wherein moisture can be removed
from air to be cooled without codensing such moisture. In still
another aspect, this invention relates to an improved air conditioning
method and apparatus wherein waste heat from the system is used
to improve the overall efficiency of the system.
Within the past few years, the use of air conditioning systems
for controlling the temperature of air in various types of structures
has increased dramatically. In some areas of the country, virtually
all types of new construction of homes, office buildings and factories
include air conditioning systems to improve the overall comfort
of the occupants. The most widely used types of air conditioning
systems are systems that utilize a refrigeration cycle wherein a
refrigerant is alternately compressed and vaporized. Upon compression
of the gaseous refrigerant, a considerable amount of waste heat
can be removed from the system by passing air or any other fluid
across the condenser of the system. Likewise, a considerable amount
of heat can be removed from air which is passed across the evaporator
portion of the apparatus.
A considerable amount of energy is required to operate a refrigeration
cycle air conditioning system.
Recent economic and political developments have resulted in a dramatic
increase in the cost of energy. Because of such increased cost and,
as the result of very real and potential shortages of conventional
energy sources, various approaches toward conserving and reducing
energy consumption have been investigated. Due to the fact that
refrigeration cycle air conditioning systems use such vast quantities
of energy, it is apparent that methods and apparatus for improving
the efficiency of refrigeration cycle air conditioning systems are
needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved
air conditioning methods and apparatus. It is another object of
this invention to provide improved air conditioning methods and
apparatus wherein the overall efficiency of refrigeration cycle
air conditioning systems can be improved. It is still a further
object of this invention to provide new and improved air conditioning
methods and apparatus wherein waste heat from the system can be
used in a beneficial manner. It is yet a further object of this
invention to provide an improved air conditioning method and apparatus
that utilizes a novel approach for dehumidification of air.
Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure
and appended claims.
In the instant invention, a refrigeration cycle air conditioning
system utilizes a conventional compressor, evaporator and condenser
in conjunction with a unique dehumidification system. The dehumidification
system utilized in the invention is a system wherein air is dehumidified
prior to passing the air across the evaporator coils of the system.
The dehumidification is carried out by contacting the moist feed
air with a desiccant material in such a manner that a substantial
amount of the water vapor in the feed air is removed from the feed
air by the desiccant material. Following such contact, the thus
treated air is passed across evaporator coils of the air conditioning
system. As the desiccant material becomes at least partially saturated
with moisture that is removed from the feed air, the desiccant material
can then be regenerated with heat energy that is removed from the
air conditioning system through the condenser portion of the system.
The heat energy that is utilized to regenerate the desiccant material
is that energy that is normally referred to as "waste heat",
since it is normally exhausted into the atmosphere. The instant
invention provides for a continuous operation wherein a portion
of the desiccant material is removing moisture from feed air, prior
to the feed air being passed across the evaporator coils, while
the remaining portion of the desiccant material is being regenerated
with waste heat that is removed from the system in the condenser
section of the system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the arrangement of various
pieces of equipment utilized in the instant invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing an alternate apparatus for
dehumidifying feed air and for regenerating a desiccant used in
the dehumidification process.
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing yet another alternate apparatus
for dehumidifying feed air and for regenerating a liquid desiccant
used in the dehumidification process.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiments of this invention can best be described
by referring to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing that
shows the arrangement of various pieces of equipment utilizing one
preferred dehumidification apparatus. FIG. 1 illustrates an air
conditioning system that can be utilized to control temperature
and humidity conditions in a habitable structure such as a home,
office building, factory and the like. Compressor 10 is utilized
to compress a vaporizable refrigerant material such as Freon refrigerant,
ammonia refrigerant and the like. As the compressed refrigerant
is discharged from compressor 10 through discharge conduit 11 the
high pressure fluid will be in a heated state, due to the compression.
The high temperature refrigerant is then passed through condenser
coils 12 wherein a heat exchange occurs between the high temperature
compressed refrigerant and relatively cooler air that is directed
across condenser coils 12 by means of fan 13 which is propelled
by suitable means such as electric motor 14. As the heat exchange
occurs, the heated compressed refrigerant will at least partially
condense as the temperature of the gas is lowered. Thus, as the
refrigerant leaves condenser coils 12 at least a portion of it
will normally be in a liquid state. The thus condensed refrigerant
is removed from condenser coils 12 by means of transfer conduit
15 and is passed to expansion valve 16. As the refrigerant passes
through expansion valve 16 the pressure is substantially lowered
and the refrigerant will begin to vaporize as it passes through
evaporator coil 17. The vaporization, of course, will cause a substantial
temperature drop by virtue of the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant.
Air that is passed over the outer surfaces of the evaporator coils
undergoes heat exchange with the cold refrigerant and the temperature
of the air will be substantially lowered. The at least partially
vaporized refrigerant is removed from evaporator coil 17 by means
of return conduit 18. The suction side of compressor 10 is connected
to return conduit 18.
Evaporator coils 17 are disposed in duct 19. Air is moved across
evaporator coils 17 by means of blower 20 whereby the suction side
of blower 20 pulls air across evaporator coil 17 and discharges
the cooled air through discharge duct 21. Discharge duct 21 can
be utilized to direct the thus cooled air into a duct system for
distribution throughout a structure, as desired.
In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the air passing
through duct 19 is dehumidified prior to the air being passed across
evaporator coils 17. The dehumidification occurs by passing feed
air through feed duct 22 through filter means 23 if desired, and
then into contact with desiccant means 24. Normally, feed air being
passed through feed circuit 22 will be relatively moist air. The
feed air can be fresh, outside air or it can be return air from
the structure being cooled.
While it is preferred in most instances to dehumidify air by contacting
it with the desiccant means prior to passing the air into contact
with the evaporator coils, it is also within the scope of the invention
to dehumidify air that has previously been cooled by contacting
the air with the desiccant downstream of the evaporator.
Dessicant means 24 can be any suitable type of desiccant material
that is capable of removing moisture from the feed air and which
can be regenerated by using heat energy recovered from the condenser
section of the air conditioning system. Useful desiccant materials
include solids such as silica gel, activated alumina, bauxite molecular
sieves and the like. It is also within the scope of the present
invention to use liquid desiccant materials such as glycerine, various
glycols, concentrated acids, aqueous solutions of various salts
and the like. When liquid desiccants are utilized, it is preferred
that such liquids be at least partially miscible in water and readily
regeneratable. Especially preferred liquid desiccants include glycols
such as triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, glycerol and the
like. It will be appreciated that mixtures of desiccants are useful
in this invention. One particularly preferred type of liquid desiccant
material is Hygrol, a trademark used by the Niagara Blower Company
to describe a glycol based liquid desiccant.
As feed air passes through the desiccant means 24 moisture will
be removed and the thus dehumidified air can thereafter be passed
across evaporator coils 17. By the removal of the moisture from
the feed air, the amount of sensible heat removed from the feed
air per given volume will be substantially increased as opposed
to the same given volume of moist feed air. As is known to those
skilled in the art, when moist feed air is passed across evaporator
coils 17 a substantial amount of the energy utilized in the air
conditioning is energy that is used to condense water that is contained
in the feed air. In some instances, when relative humidity levels
are high, as much as about twenty-five percent and more of the total
energy utilized in the air conditioning system will be energy that
is utilized to condense water from the feed air. In other words,
only about seventy-five percent or less of the total energy utilized
will be energy utilized to lower the sensible heat of the feed air
as it passes across evaporator coils 17.
The desiccant material that is utilized to remove water from the
feed air prior to the feed air being passed across evaporator coils
17 can be contained within any suitable container that will allow
an intimate contact of the feed air with the desiccant material.
For example, the desiccant material can be contained in beds or
it can be supported by any suitable type of support structure such
as a fibrous support structure, screens, grids, wheels and the like.
In those instances where a liquid desiccant is utilized, the desiccant
may be sprayed into the air stream to be dehumidified or it may
be utilized to wet or otherwise coat surfaces of pads, screens,
belts, beds of particulate materials and the like, to allow intimate
contact of the air to be dehydrated with the liquid desiccant. As
the desiccant material becomes at least partially saturated with
water, the effectiveness in the removal of water from the incoming
feed air is, of course, reduced. To regenerate the desiccant material,
at least a portion of the desiccant material is removed from contact
with the incoming feed air and is then passed to a zone wherein
heat energy that is removed from condenser coils 12 is utilized
to regenerate the desiccant material.
As shown in FIG. 1 desiccant material 24 can be mounted in a cylindrical
bed which is rotatably supported by desiccant bed shaft 25. Desiccant
bed shaft 25 is operably connected to motor means 26 whereby motor
means 26 can cause rotation of the desiccant bed about its axis
with shaft 25 extending through said axis. The lower end of desiccant
bed shaft 25 can be supported by bearing means 27 to allow the shaft
to rotate in response to the action of motor means 26. As shown
in FIG. 1 a portion of the desiccant bed on one side of shaft 25
extends into feed duct 22 and the portion of the desiccant bed on
the other side of shaft 25 extends into regenerator duct 28. Regenerator
duct 28 is a duct means that allows heated air to pass across condenser
coils 12 and then into contact with the portion of the desiccant
bed extending into regenerator duct 28. It will be appreciated that
apertures are formed in the walls of duct 22 and regenerator duct
28 to allow the cylindrical desiccant bed to rotate with portions
of the desiccant bed extending into the interior of duct 22 and
regenerator duct 28. The cylindrical desiccant bed or "desiccant
wheel" can be rotated as desired to allow portions of the desiccant
material to be alternately contacting feed air passing through duct
22 and heated air passing through regenerator duct 27. As illustrated,
fan 13 directs air upwardly through and across relatively hot condenser
coils 12 where the air is heated and then such heated air passes
upwardly through regenerator duct 27 through that portion of desiccant
bed 24 that is then extending into the interior of regenerator duct
28. As the hot air passes through the dessicant material in the
interior of regenerator duct 28 water is removed from the desiccant
material and passes outwardly through the upper discharge end of
regenerator duct 28. With the removal of the water by virtue of
the passage of the heated air through the desiccant bed, the desiccant
material will be regenerated.
The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 can be operated in such a manner
that motor means 26 is periodically activated to thereby cause a
rotation of the desiccant bed to allow regenerated desiccant to
be reintroduced into the interior of duct 22 and allow the substantially
saturated desiccant material to be introduced into the interior
or regenerator duct 28. If desired, motor means 26 can be adapted
to run continously whereby the desiccant bed will slowly be rotated
on a continuous basis.
It will be appreciated that FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration
of only one of the preferred embodiments of this invention. Various
other equipment, such as additional filters, additional bearings
to support shaft 25 and the desiccant bed will also be incorporated
into the apparatus.
While the apparatus of FIG. 1 is especially useful for containing
solid desiccant materials in a bed, the apparatus is also useful
for containing a solid particulate material or fibrous material
that is coated with or wetted with a suitable liquid desiccant material.
Since the desiccant bed, as illustrated in FIG. 1 will be a desiccant
bed that will rotate the desiccant material through feed duct 22
and regenerator duct 28 suitable means will be incorporated into
the duct walls to insure a relatively tight air seal to prevent
excessive leakage of air into or out of ducts. Any suitable seal
means can be utilized, such as flexible rubber flaps that are disposed
within the walls of the ducts to contact the outer surfaces of the
desiccant wheel are especially useful. Other types of seals may
also be used.
FIG. 2 represents another preferred embodiment of this invention
wherein the desiccant material is carried by a continuous belt.
In FIG. 2 continuous belt 29 is supported by pulley means 30 in
the interior of feed duct 22 and by means of pulley means 31 in
the interior of regenerator duct 28. Partitioning wall 32 divides
and separates feed duct 22 from regenerator duct 27. If desired,
partitioning wall 32 can be insulated to reduce the amount of heat
transfer between the two ducts. Continuous belt 29 passes through
partitioning wall 32 with suitable seal means contacting the surfaces
of belt 29 to prevent leakage of air between the two duct means.
The continuous belt can be rotated by operably connecting at least
one of pulley means 30 and 31 to a suitable drive system, such as
an electric motor. As described above, for the apparatus in FIG.
1 continuous belt 29 can be intermittently rotated or it can be
continuously rotated whereby desiccant material will be continuously
moving through the feed duct and the regenerator duct to continuously
regenerate the spent desiccant and to continuously introduce regenerated
desiccant material into the feed duct. The belt structure will preferably
be a sieve-like or open mesh material that will allow the desiccant
to be supported thereon and to allow air to freely pass through
or into contact with such desiccant material. The belt structure
is useful for supporting either solid or liquid desiccant materials.
FIG. 3 represents another preferred embodiment of this invention
wherein a liquid desiccant material is utilized. In FIG. 3 moist
feed air is supplied to the system through feed duct 22. Disposed
within feed duct 22 is desiccant pad 33. Desiccant pad 33 can be
any suitable material that can be disposed and supported within
feed duct 22 to allow the moist feed air to flow through the pad
and contact the liquid desiccant material with a negligible pressure
drop across the pad. Materials such as fiberglass pads, wire screens,
packed steel shavings and the like, can be utilized for constructing
desiccant pad 33. Feed nozzle 34 is disposed upstream of desiccant
pad 33 and is oriented in such a manner that liquid desiccant material
can be sprayed across the surfaces of desiccant pad 33 to provide
a large surface area for the moist feed air to contact the liquid
desiccant material. If desired, a suitable feed conduit can be disposed
along the upper portions of desiccant pad 33 with suitable apertures
to allow the liquid desiccant material to trickle down and flow
downwardly and across the surfaces of desiccant pad 33.
Liquid desiccant material is supplied to feed nozzle 34 through
liquid feed conduit 35. Thus, as the moist feed air flows through
desiccant pad 33 the liquid desiccant material will remove substantial
portions of the moisture contained within the feed air. As the liquid
desiccant material picks up the moisture from the feed air, the
at least partially saturated liquid desiccant material will flow
downwardly and can be collected for subsequent regeneration as hereinafter
described.
If desired, mist eliminator 36 can be disposed downstream of desiccant
pad 33 in order to remove entrained droplets of the liquid desiccant
material. Mist eliminator 36 can be any suitable type of mist eliminator
such as a fibrous pad, wire or fiber screens, baffles and the like.
The thus dehydrated air is then passed through duct 19 with evaporator
coil 17 disposed therein for the desired heat exchange, as described
above.
Any suitable means for removing the at least partially saturated
liquid desiccant material for subsequent regeneration can be utilized.
One simple but effective method for removing the at least partially
saturated liquid desiccant material is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein
divider members 37 and 38 are positioned in the lower portions of
duct members 19 and 22 to thereby form small liquid dams to contain
the liquid desiccant material between such divider members. Drain
conduit 39 is in open communication with the portion of the air
duct between divider members 37 and 38 to allow the liquid desiccant
material to drain from the air duct and to be removed for subsequent
regeneration.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, at least partially
saturated liquid desiccant material is removed from the air duct
system through drain conduit 39 and passed to heat exchanger 40.
As will be described hereinafter, the at least partially saturated
liquid desiccant will be passed in heat exchange relationship with
regenerated liquid desiccant to effect a desired transfer of heat.
Following passage of the at least partially saturated liquid desiccant
through heat exchanger 40 the liquid desiccant material is directed
through conduit 41 to regenerator feed nozzle 42 which is disposed
in regenerator duct 28. Regenerator nozzle 42 is oriented so as
to allow the at least partially saturated liquid desiccant material
to be sprayed or spread across the surfaces of regenerator pad 43
which is also disposed within regenerator duct 28. Regenerator pad
43 is similar to desiccant pad 33 in that it is a structure, such
as a fiber structure, that allows the liquid desiccant material
to be spread evenly across its surfaces to thereby create a large
liquid surface area through which or over which air can be passed.
As described above, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 condenser
coil 12 is disposed within regenerator duct 28 and air is directed
across condenser coil 12 by means of fan 13 which is propelled by
motor means 14. Thus, as the air is directed across condenser coil
12 it is heated and is thereafter passed through regenerator pad
43. The heated air thereby removes moisture from the liquid desiccant
material, thus regenerating the liquid desiccant material as it
contacts the hot air. If desired, regenerator mist eliminator 44
can be disposed downstream of regenerator pad 43 to trap or remove
entrained droplets of the regenerated liquid desiccant material.
Any suitable means for removing the thus regenerated liquid desiccant
material from regenerator duct 28 can be utilized. One simple and
effective means for removing the regenerated liquid desiccant material
from regenerator duct 28 is by the use of divider members 45 and
46 which are disposed in the lower portions of regenerator duct
28. Divider members 45 and 46 are oriented in such a manner as to
form liquid barriers or small liquids dikes to contain the regenerated
liquid desiccant material between such divider members. Regenerator
drain conduit 47 is in open communication with the area between
divider members 45 and 46 whereby the regenerated liquid desiccant
material can flow by gravity downwardly through regenerator drain
conduit 47. Pump means 48 can be installed in regenerator drain
conduit 47 in such a manner that the regenerated liquid desiccant
material is thereafter pumped back through heat exchanger 40 by
means of return conduit 49.
Since the regenerated liquid desiccant material taken from the
regenerator section will be at an elevated temperature because of
its contact with the heated air in the regenerator section, it is
preferred to pass the heated regenerated desiccant material in heat
exchange relationship with the relatively cool at least partially
saturated liquid desiccant material that is being sent to the regenerator
for regeneration. Such a heat exchange between the partially saturated
liquid desiccant and the regenerated desiccant improves the overall
efficiency of the system. Following the heat exchange in heat exchanger
40 the thus cooled regenerated liquid desiccant material is passed
through feed conduit 35 back to feed nozzle 34 wherein the process
is repeated.
It will be appreciated that the use of liquid desiccant materials
may, in some instances, have several advantages over the use of
solid type desiccant materials, especially in the transport of the
desiccant materials from one zone to another. It, of course, will
be appreciated that by using equipment similar to that illustrated
in FIG. 3 it is not necessary to have large solid transport equipment
such as belts, moving beds and the like, for transferring the liquid
desiccant materials. Another advantage of using liquid desiccant
materials may be in the ease of sealing the various air ducts to
prevent undesired air leakage around large moving beds, belts and
the like. In some instances, it may be desirable to have the regenerator
section of the system removed a considerable distance from the portion
of the system removing moisture from feed air. When such displacement
of the regenerator occurs, it is sometimes more convenient to use
the liquid desiccant material since it is usually easier and more
economical to transport liquids than it is to transport solids over
long distances. It, of course, will also be appreciated that other
types of equipment, such as liquid wicks and the like, can be utilized
for contacting the moist feed air with the liquid desiccant material
and for regenerating the at least partially saturated liquid desiccant
material in the regenerator section of the apparatus.
It will be appreciated that in some instances, it may be desirable
to add supplemental waste heat to regenerator duct 28 to accomplish
the desired regeneration of the spent desiccant material. Supplemental
heat addition to the regenerator section usually improves the overall
efficiency of the system for removal of water from the desiccant
material. Such waste heat can be in the form of hot exhaust gases,
flue gases, solar generator heat and the like, which would normally
be vented into the atmosphere. The addition of such supplemental
heat sources for the regeneration of the desiccant material is optional
since sufficient waste heat can be removed from the condenser coils
to provide regeneration air streams of up to about 130.degree. F.
to thereby accomplish the desired regeneration.
It will be appreciated that the above-described apparatus will
allow for substantial improvements in the energy efficiency of air
conditioning system. By utilizing the instant invention, it is no
longer necessary to expend and use vast quantities of energy simply
to dehumidify air that is being cooled. By utilizing the instant
invention, the waste heat that is normally vented into the atmosphere
is utilized in an effective manner to regenerate desiccant material
that has previously carried out the desired dehumidification. |