The present application relates generally to the use of liquid desiccant membrane modules to dehumidify and cool an air stream entering a space. More specifically, the application relates to the use of micro-porous membranes to separate the liquid desiccant from the air stream wherein the fluid streams (air, heat transfer fluids, and liquid desiccants) are made to flow turbulently so that high heat and moisture transfer rates between the fluids can occur. The application further relates to the application of such membrane modules to locally dehumidify spaces in buildings with the support of external cooling and heating sources by placing the membrane modules in or near suspended ceilings.
Liquid desiccants have been used in parallel to conventional vapor compression HVAC equipment to help reduce humidity in spaces, particularly in spaces that either require large amounts of outdoor air or that have large humidity loads inside the building space itself. Humid climates, such as for example Miami, Fla. require a large amount of energy to properly treat (dehumidify and cool) the fresh air that is required for a space's occupant comfort. Conventional vapor compression systems have only a limited ability to dehumidify and tend to overcool the air, oftentimes requiring energy intensive reheat systems, which significantly increases the overall energy costs because reheat adds an additional heat-load to the cooling coil or reduces the net-cooling provided to the space. Liquid desiccant systems have been used for many years and are generally quite efficient at removing moisture from the air stream. However, liquid desiccant systems generally use concentrated salt solutions such as solutions of LiCl, LiBr or CaCl2 and water. Such brines are strongly corrosive, even in small quantities, so numerous attempts have been made over the years to prevent desiccant carry-over to the air stream that is to be treated. One approach—generally categorized as closed desiccant systems—is commonly used in equipment dubbed absorption chillers, places the brine in a vacuum vessel which then contains the desiccant. Since the air is not directly exposed to the desiccant, such systems do not have any risk of carry-over of desiccant particles to the supply air stream. Absorption chillers however tend to be expensive both in terms of first cost and maintenance costs. Open desiccant systems allow a direct contact between the air stream and the desiccant, generally by flowing the desiccant over a packed bed similar to those used in cooling towers. Such packed bed systems suffer from other disadvantages besides still having a carry-over risk: the high resistance of the packed bed to the air stream results in larger fan power and pressure drops across the packed bed, thus requiring more energy. Furthermore, the dehumidification process is adiabatic, since the heat of condensation that is released during the absorption of water vapor into the desiccant has no place to go. As a result both the desiccant and the air stream are heated by the release of the heat of condensation. This results in a warm, dry air stream where a cool dry air stream was desired, necessitating the need for a post-dehumidification cooling coil. Warmer desiccant is also exponentially less effective at absorbing water vapor, which forces the system to supply much larger quantities of desiccant to the packed bed which in turn requires larger desiccant pump power, since the desiccant is doing double duty as a desiccant as well as a heat transfer fluid. The larger desiccant flooding rate also results in an increased risk of desiccant carryover. Generally air flow rates in open desiccant systems need to be kept well below the turbulent region (at Reynolds numbers of less than ˜2,400) to prevent carry-over of desiccant to the air stream.
Modern multi-story buildings typically separate the outside air supply that is required for occupant comfort as well as air quality concerns from the sensible cooling or heating that is also required to keep the space at a required temperature. Oftentimes in such buildings the outside air is provided by a duct system in a suspended ceiling to each and every space from a central outside air handling unit. The outside air handling unit dehumidifies and cools the air, typically to a temperature slightly below room neutral temperatures (65-70F) and a relative humidity level of about 50% and delivers the treated outside air to each space. In addition, in each space one or more fan-coil units (often called Variable Air Volume units) are installed that remove some air from the space, lead it through a water cooled or heated coils and bring it back into the space.
Between the outside air handling unit and the fan-coil units, the space conditions can usually be maintained at proper levels. However, it is well possible that in certain conditions, for example if outside air humidity is high, or if a significant amount of humidity is created within the space or if windows are opened allowing for excess air to enter the space, the humidity in the space raises to the point where the fan-coil in the suspended ceiling starts to condense water on the cold surfaces of the coil, leading to potential water damage and mold growth. Generally condensation in a ceiling mounted fan-coil is undesirable for that reason.
There thus remains a need for a system that provides a cost efficient, manufacturable and thermally efficient method to capture moisture from an air stream in a ceiling location, while simultaneously cooling such an air stream and while also eliminating the risk of condensation of such an air stream on cold surfaces. Furthermore such a system needs to be compatible with existing building infrastructure and physical sizes need to be comparable to existing fan-coil units.
Provided herein are methods and systems used for the efficient dehumidification of an air stream using a liquid desiccant. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the liquid desiccant flows down the face of a thin support plate as a falling film and the liquid desiccant is covered by a membrane, while an air stream is blown over the membrane. In some embodiments, a heat transfer fluid is directed to the side of the support plate opposite the liquid desiccant. In some embodiments, the heat transfer fluid is cooled so that the support plate is cooled which in turn cools the liquid desiccant on the opposite side of the support plate. In some embodiments, the cool heat transfer fluid is provided by a central chilled water facility. In some embodiments, the thus cooled liquid desiccant cools the air stream. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant is a halide salt solution. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant is Lithium Chloride and water. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant is Calcium Chloride and water. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant is a mixture of Lithium Chloride, Calcium Chloride and water. In some embodiments, the membrane is a micro-porous polymer membrane. In some embodiments, the heat transfer fluid is heated so that the support plate is heated which in turn heats the liquid desiccant. In some embodiments, the thus heated liquid desiccant heats the air stream. In some embodiments, the hot heat transfer fluid is provided by a central hot water facility such as a boiler or combined heat and power facility. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant concentration is controlled to be constant. In some embodiments, the concentration is held at a level so that the air stream over the membrane exchanges water vapor with the liquid desiccant in such a way that the air stream has a constant relative humidity. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant is concentrated so that the air stream is dehumidified. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant is diluted so that the air stream is humidified. In some embodiments, the membrane, liquid desiccant plate assembly is placed at a ceiling height location. In some embodiments, the ceiling height location is a suspended ceiling. In some embodiments, an air stream is removed from below the ceiling height location, directed over the membrane/liquid desiccant plate assembly where the air stream is heated or cooled as the case may be and is humidified or dehumidified as the case may be and directed back to the space below the ceiling height location.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the liquid desiccant is circulated by a liquid desiccant pumping loop. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant is collected near the bottom of the support plate into a collection tank. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant in the collection tank is refreshed by a liquid desiccant distribution system. In some embodiments, the heat transfer fluid is thermally coupled through a heat exchanger to a main building heat transfer fluid system. In some embodiments, the heat transfer fluid system is a chilled water loop system. In some embodiments, the heat transfer fluid system is a hot water loop system or a steam loop system.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the ceiling height mounted liquid desiccant membrane plate assembly receives concentrated or diluted liquid desiccant from a central regeneration facility. In some embodiments, the regeneration facility is a central facility serving multiple ceiling height mounted liquid desiccant membrane plate assemblies. In some embodiments, the central regeneration facility also serves a liquid desiccant Dedicated Outside Air System (DOAS). In some embodiments, the DOAS provides outside air to the various spaces in a building. In some embodiments, the DOAS is a conventional DOAS not utilizing liquid desiccants.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a liquid desiccant DOAS provides a stream of treated outside air to a duct distribution system in a building. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant DOAS comprises several sets of liquid desiccant membrane plate assemblies with heat transfer fluids for removing or adding heat to the liquid desiccants. In some embodiments, a first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates receives a stream of outside air. In some embodiments, the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates also receives a cold heat transfer fluid. In some embodiments, the air stream leaving the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed to a second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates, which also receives a cold heat transfer fluid. In some embodiments, the second set of plates receives a concentrated liquid desiccant. In some embodiments, the concentrated liquid desiccant is provided by a central liquid desiccant regeneration facility. In some embodiments, the air treated by the second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed towards a building and distributed to various spaces therein. In some embodiments, an amount of air is removed from said spaces and returned back to the liquid desiccant DOAS. In some embodiments, the return air is directed to a third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates receives a hot heat transfer fluid. In some embodiments, the hot heat transfer fluid is provided by a central hot water facility. In some embodiments, the central hot water facility is a boiler room, or a central heat and power facility. In some embodiments, the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates receives a liquid desiccant from the third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates through a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant is circulated by a liquid desiccant pumping system, and utilizes one or more liquid desiccant collection tanks.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a liquid desiccant DOAS provides a stream of treated outside air to a duct distribution system in a building. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant DOAS comprises several sets of liquid desiccant membrane plate assemblies with heat transfer fluids for removing or adding heat to the liquid desiccants. In some embodiments, a first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates receives a stream of outside air. In some embodiments, the air stream leaving the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed to a second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates, which receive a cold heat transfer fluid. In some embodiments, the second set of plates receives a concentrated liquid desiccant. In some embodiments, the concentrated liquid desiccant is provided by a central liquid desiccant regeneration facility. In some embodiments, the air treated by the second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed towards a building and distributed to various spaces therein. In some embodiments, an amount of air is removed from said spaces and returned back to the liquid desiccant DOAS. In some embodiments, the return air is directed to a third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates receives a liquid desiccant from the third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates also receives a heat transfer fluid from the third set of plates. In some embodiments, the system recovers both sensible and latent energy from the return air stream entering the third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant is circulated by a liquid desiccant pumping system, and utilizes one or more liquid desiccant collection tanks. In some embodiments, the heat transfer fluid is circulated between the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates and the third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a liquid desiccant DOAS provides a stream of treated outside air to a duct distribution system in a building. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant DOAS comprises several sets of liquid desiccant membrane plate assemblies with heat transfer fluids for removing or adding heat to the liquid desiccants. In some embodiments, a first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates receives a stream of outside air. In some embodiments, the air stream leaving the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed to a second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates, which receive a cold heat transfer fluid. In some embodiments, the second set of plates receives a concentrated liquid desiccant. In some embodiments, the concentrated liquid desiccant is provided by a central liquid desiccant regeneration facility. In some embodiments, the air treated by the second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed towards a building and distributed to various spaces therein. In some embodiments, an amount of air is removed from said spaces and returned back to the liquid desiccant DOAS. In some embodiments, this return air is directed to a third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates receives a liquid desiccant from the third set of liquid desiccant membrane. In some embodiments, the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates also receives a heat transfer fluid from the third set of plates. In some embodiments, the system recovers both sensible and latent energy from the return air stream entering the third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the air leaving the third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed to a fourth set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the fourth set of liquid desiccant membrane plates receives a hot heat transfer fluid from a central hot water facility. In some embodiments, the hot heat transfer fluid received by the fourth set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is used to regenerate the liquid desiccant present in the fourth set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the concentrated liquid desiccant from the fourth set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed to the second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates by a liquid desiccant pumping system through a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant between the first and third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is circulated by a liquid desiccant pumping system, and utilizes one or more liquid desiccant collection tanks. In some embodiments, a heat transfer fluid is circulated between the first and third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates so as to transfer sensible energy between the first and third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a liquid desiccant DOAS provides a stream of treated outside air to a duct distribution system in a building. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant DOAS comprises several sets of liquid desiccant membrane plate assemblies and conventional cooling or heating coils with heat transfer fluids for removing or adding heat to the liquid desiccants and heating and cooling coils. In some embodiments, a first cooling coil receives a stream of outside air. In some embodiments, the first cooling coil also receives a cold heat transfer fluid in such a way as to condense moisture out of the outside air stream. In some embodiments, the air stream leaving the first set cooling coil is directed to a first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates, which also receive a cold heat transfer fluid. In some embodiments, the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates receives a concentrated liquid desiccant. In some embodiments, the air treated by the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed towards a building and distributed to various spaces therein. In some embodiments, an amount of air is removed from said spaces and returned back to the liquid desiccant DOAS. In some embodiments, this return air is directed to a first hot water coil. In some embodiments, the first hot water coils receives hot water from a central hot water facility. In some embodiments, the hot water facility is a central boiler system. In some embodiments, the central hot water system is a combined heat and power facility. In some embodiments, the air leaving the first hot water coil is directed to a second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates also receives a hot heat transfer fluid from a central hot water facility. In some embodiments, the hot heat transfer fluid received by the second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is used to regenerate the liquid desiccant present in the second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates. In some embodiments, the concentrated liquid desiccant from the second set of liquid desiccant membrane plates is directed to the first set of liquid desiccant membrane plates by a liquid desiccant pumping system through a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant between the first and second set of liquid desiccant membrane plate is circulated by a liquid desiccant pumping system, and utilizes one or more liquid desiccant collection tanks.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a liquid desiccant DOAS is providing a stream of treated outside air to a duct distribution system in a building. In some embodiments, the liquid desiccant DOAS comprises a first and a second set of liquid desiccant membrane module assemblies and a conventional water-to-water heat pump system. In some embodiments, the water-to-water heat pump system is thermally coupled to a building's chilled water loops. In some embodiments, one of a first set of membrane modules is exposed to the outside air is also thermally coupled to the buildings chilled water loop. In some embodiments, the water-to-water heat pump is coupled so that it cools the building cooling water before it reaches the first set of membrane modules resulting in a lower supply air temperature from the membrane modules. In some embodiments, the water-to-water heap pump is coupled so that it cools the building cooling water after is has interacted with the first set of membrane modules resulting in a higher supply air temperature to the building. In some embodiments, the system is set up to control the temperature of the supply air to the building by controlling how the water from the building flows to the water-to-water heat pump and the first set of membrane modules. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the water-to-water heat pump provides hot water or hot heat transfer fluid to a second set of membrane modules. In some embodiments, the heat form the hot heat transfer fluid is used to regenerate a liquid desiccant in the membrane modules. In some embodiments, the second set of membrane modules receives return air from the building. In some embodiments, the second set of membrane modules receives outside air from the building. In some embodiments, the second set of membrane modules receives a mixture of return air and outside air. In some embodiments, the outside air directed to the first set of membrane modules is pre-treated by a first section of an energy recovery system and air directed to the second set of membrane modules is pre-treated by a second section of an energy recovery system. In some embodiments, the energy recovery system is a desiccant wheel, an enthalpy wheel, a heat wheel or the like. In some embodiments, the energy recovery system comprises a set of heat pipes or an air to air heat exchanger or any convenient energy recovery device. In some embodiments, the energy recovery is accomplished with a third and a fourth set of membrane modules wherein the sensible and/or the latent energy is recovered and passed between the third and fourth set of membrane modules.
In no way is the description of the applications intended to limit the disclosure to these applications. Many construction variations can be envisioned to combine the various elements mentioned above each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The present disclosure in no way is limited to a particular set or combination of such elements.
The fan coils 115 in
The fan coil units 107 thus utilize some form of hot and cold water supply system 112 as well as a return system 113. A central boiler and/or chiller plant 114 is usually available to provide the required hot and/or cold water to the fan-coil units.
The liquid desiccant is collected at the bottom of the wavy plates at 461 and is transported through a heat exchanger 463 to the top of the regenerator to point 465 where the liquid desiccant is distributed across the plates of the regenerator. Return air or optionally outside air 455 is blown across the regenerator plates and water vapor is transported from the liquid desiccant into the leaving air stream 456. An optional heat source 458 provides the driving force for the regeneration. The hot transfer fluid 460 from the heat source can be put inside the plates of the regenerator similar to the cold heat transfer fluid on the conditioner. Again, the liquid desiccant is collected at the bottom of the plates 452 without the need for either a collection pan or bath so that also on the regenerator the air can be vertical. An optional heat pump 466 can be used to provide cooling and heating of the liquid desiccant but can also be used to provide heat and cold as a replacement of cooler 457 and heater 458.
Return air 102 from the spaces in the building is directed over a third set of liquid desiccant membrane plates 720. These plates are internally heated by hot water loop 708. The heated air is directed to the outside where it exhausted as air stream 707. The liquid desiccant running over the membrane plates 720 is collected in a small storage tank 715, and is then pumped by pump 716 through loop 717 and liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger 718 to the first set of plates 703. The hot water inside plate set 720 helps to concentrate the desiccant running over the surface of the plate set 704. The concentrated desiccant can then be used to pre-dehumidify the air stream 706 on plate set 703, essentially functioning as a latent energy recovery device. A second desiccant loop 714 is used to further dehumidify the air stream 706 on the second plate set 702. The desiccant is collected in a second storage tank 712, and is pumped by pump 713 through loop 714 to plates 702. Diluted desiccant is removed through desiccant loop 711 and concentrated liquid desiccant is added to the tank 712 by supply line 710.
In many buildings only a central cold water system is available and there may not be a simple source of hot water available for regeneration of the liquid desiccant. This can be solved by using a system shown in
In
The hot heat transfer fluid is pumped by pump 1203 to the regenerator membrane modules 1215, and the cooler heat transfer fluid 1214 is directed back to the condenser heat exchanger 1201 where it again picks up heat. The advantage of the setup discussed above is clear: the local water-to-water heat pump is only used if liquid desiccant needs to be regenerated and thus can be used at times when electricity is inexpensive since concentrated liquid desiccant can be stored in tank 712 for use when needed. Furthermore, when the water-to-water heat pump is running, it actually cools the building water loop 704 down, thereby reducing the heat load on the central chilled water plant. Also when a building only has a cold water loop, which is commonly the case, there is no need to install a central hot water system. And lastly the regeneration system could be made to work even if no return air is available, and if there is return air, an energy wheel or conventional energy recovery system can be added, or a separate set of liquid desiccant energy recovery modules such as shown in
The regeneration heat transfer fluid loop is also illustrated in
Having thus described several illustrative embodiments, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to form a part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. While some examples presented herein involve specific combinations of functions or structural elements, it should be understood that those functions and elements may be combined in other ways according to the present disclosure to accomplish the same or different objectives. In particular, acts, elements, and features discussed in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from similar or other roles in other embodiments. Additionally, elements and components described herein may be further divided into additional components or joined together to form fewer components for performing the same functions. Accordingly, the foregoing description and attached drawings are by way of example only, and are not intended to be limiting.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/834,081 filed on Jun. 12, 2013 entitled IN-CEILING LIQUID DESICCANT SYSTEM FOR DEHUMIDIFICATION, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
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