WO2017014708A1

WO2017014708A1 - An air dehumidification and heating system

Info

Publication number: WO2017014708A1
Application number: PCT/TR2016/050232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hasan Ayarturk
Original assignee: Tofas Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi AS
Current assignee: Tofas Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi AS
Priority date: 2015-07-22
Filing date: 2016-07-22
Publication date: 2017-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-22
Also published as: EP3325891A1; TR201509085A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air dehumidification and heating system (1), which supplies dry and hot air free-of-bacteria into the vehicle cabin, and basically comprises at least one atomizer (2) which enables to pulverize and atomize water, at least one intake air line (3) which enables the outer environment air (H) to be mixed with the pulverized water coming from the atomizer (2) and which enables to transfer this mixture, at least one liquid desiccant container (4) in which the liquid-air mixture coming from the intake air line (3) is atomized to the solution therein via sprinkling method and supplies hot, dry and clean air, at least one solution pump (41) which is connected to the liquid desiccant container (4) and enables the solution in the liquid desiccant container (4) to be mixed, at least one ejector (42) which is located at the end of the solution pump (41), at least one clean air line (5) which is connected to the liquid desiccant container (4) and enables the solution in the liquid desiccant container (4) to be mixed, at least one HVAC module (6) into which the hot, dry and clean air coming from the clean air line (5) enters, at least one fan (61) which enables the hot, dry and clean air to enter into the HVAC module (6), at least one serpentine (62) which enables to increase the heat of the hot, dry and clean air within the HVAC module (6), at least one evaporator (7) in which the solution whose concentration has decreased inside the liquid desiccant container (4) is evaporated, at least one vapor heater connection (8) which enables the hot water vapor leaving the evaporator (7) to be delivered to the serpentine (62) located in the HVAC module (6), at least one waste hot water pipe (9) which enables the waste hot water vapor in the serpentine (62) to be delivered to the atomizer (2), at least one water charging component (10) to which a part of the water in the waste hot water pipe (9) is delivered.

Description

AN AIR DEHUMIDIFICATION AND HEATING SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air dehumidification and heating system with liquid desiccant which supplies dry and hot air free-of-bacteria into the vehicle cabin.

Background of the Invention

Daily problems such as corrosion of the metals, rotting of food and wood, mold growth, reproduction of fungi, skin getting sticky and agglomeration of powder food products, distortion of wooden furniture, difficulty in breathing, encrusting or color change of food products occur particularly due to humidity changes in addition to temperature changes. This situation which makes life conditions difficult and causes loss of property and money is particularly related with high levels of humidity. The humidity that is meant is the water carried by the breathing air. Humidity, which changes according to climate and weather conditions out of human control, is the most important factor that harms human health and property comfort. Excessively high humidity is a significant problem which causes harm to human health due to the fungi and molds to who reproduction it helps, harm to all metal goods and structures-machines due to corrosion (rusting) and associated abrasion, rotting of all dry food products due to water suction, degradation of printing quality in printing facilities by causing elongation or shrinkage of the materials, corrosion-failure-short circuit of electrical and electronic goods, hygroscopic materials becoming dysfunctional upon absorbing moisture, disruption of building statics upon causing rusting of the iron in the concrete, loss of seeds due to untimely germination, risking of all living beings upon leading to excessive reproduction of harmful microorganisms, harm to metal-wood or fabric works of art upon affecting paint-paper and fabrics and corroding metals, disruption of ice rinks upon sticking on cold surfaces, excessive energy consumption upon sticking to evaporator surfaces, and harm to museums and libraries upon destroying works of culture and art.

Dehumidification and Humidification

Air can retain only a certain amount of water vapor at certain temperature. Relative humidity of saturated air which cannot hold any more moisture is 100%. As temperature of the air increases the amount of water vapor it can hold increases, and the said amount decreases as its temperature decreases, because as the air gets colder, a part of the vapor that it holds will condense and transform into water. Therefore when unsaturated air is cooled to a certain temperature degree, it reaches saturation point and when it is further cooled, moisture is separated from the air in the form of water droplets. This temperature is called "dew point". Thus, one way of eliminating the excessive humidity in the air is to cool the air so that its temperature drops below the dew point. A second method is passing the air over hygroscopic substances.

Heating, cooling and ventilation systems are the leading systems that provide comfort in the vehicles. These systems which are now standard in vehicles are also used in heavy machinery. In cold temperatures, cabin temperature of vehicles considerably decreases and the cabin becomes unventilated. For this reason, in- cabin temperature should be maintained at a normal level and the cabin should be ventilated. Thus, in-cabin air quality is made suitable for the drivers and passengers of the motor vehicles and their comfort is ensured.

In the air conditioning systems in the state of the art, for demisting by dehumidifying the air without exceeding the comfort temperature, air is first cooled by the air conditioning system, the humidity therein is condensed, and then it is heated thereby relative humidity rate is decreased at a lower temperature. In such systems, energy consumption is high since air conditioning system is operated.

In the state-of-the-art air dehumidification systems with liquid desiccant, liquid desiccant is atomized into the outer air and thus the water vapor in the air is condensed by LiCl due to the partial vapor pressure difference (Figure 3). Since concentration of LiCl solution decreases as it absorbs the water in the air, it is regenerated in the cooling tower by hot air in order for it to be reused and upon being cooled by a serpentine; its dehumidification capacity is restored. Cooling towers are not suitable structures particularly for vehicles. Since the system is very complicated in the state of the art, it is not applicable in vehicles.

The Korean patent document KR1020010032785A, an application in the state of the art, discloses an air conditioning system with liquid desiccant. It is disclosed that dry and hot air is discharged by using liquid desiccant and the residual air in the liquid desiccant is recovered back to the system by using an evaporator.

International patent document no. WO2013054322A1, an application in the state of the art, discloses an air dehumidifier system with liquid desiccant. It is disclosed that an evaporator is used for humidifying the liquid entering into the liquid desiccant in the said system.

Problems Solved by the Invention An objective of the present invention is to provide an air dehumidification and heating system which converts the humidity in the latent heat of the outer air to heat by condensation and thus obtains dry and hot air without consuming energy.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an air dehumidification and heating system which has a high performance coefficient (COP). A further objective of the present invention is to provide an air dehumidification and heating system which enables the air entering into the compartment to be antibacterial. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an air dehumidification and heating system which enables the excessive water condensed from the air to be used as the vehicle windshield washer fluid and engine coolant.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an air dehumidification and heating system which enables to heat the air without any need for operation of the air conditioning system.

Detailed Description of the Invention An air dehumidification and heating system developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the air dehumidification and heating system. Figure 2 is a schematic view of an alternative air dehumidification and heating system.

The components shown in the figure are given reference numbers as follows:

1. Air dehumidification and heating system

2. Atomizer

3. Intake air line

4. Liquid desiccant container

41. Solution pump

42. Ejector

5. Clean air line

6. HVAC module 61. Fan

62. Serpentine

7. Evaporator

8. Vapor heater connection

9. Waste hot water pipe

10. Water charging components

11. Air connection line

H. Outer environment air

An air dehumidification and heating system (1), which supplies dry and hot air free of bacteria into the vehicle cabin, basically comprises

at least one atomizer (2) which enables to pulverize and atomize water, at least one intake air line (3) in which the pulverized water coming from the atomizer (2) and the outer environment (H) air are mixed and which enables to transfer this mixture,

at least one liquid desiccant container (4) which supplies hot, dry and clean air upon atomizing therein the liquid- air mixture coming from the intake air line (3) via sprinkling method,

- at least one solution pump (41) which is connected to the liquid desiccant container (4) and enables the solution in the liquid desiccant container (4) to be mixed, at least one ejector (42) which is located at the end of the solution pump (41), - at least one clean air line (5) which is connected to the liquid desiccant container (4) and enables the solution in the liquid desiccant container (4) to be mixed,

at least one HVAC module (6) into which the hot, dry and clean air coming from the clean air line (5) enters,

- at least one fan (61) which enables the hot, dry and clean air to enter into the HVAC module (6) and to be delivered into the cabin, at least one serpentine (62) which enables to increase the heat of the hot, dry and clean air within the HVAC module (6),

at least one evaporator (7) in which the solution whose concentration has decreased inside the liquid desiccant container (4) is evaporated,

- at least one vapor heater connection (8) which enables the hot water vapor leaving the evaporator (7) to be delivered to the serpentine (62) located in the HVAC module (6),

at least one waste hot water pipe (9) which enables the waste hot water vapor in the serpentine (62) to be delivered to the atomizer (2),

- at least one water charging component (10) to which a part of the water in the waste hot water pipe (9) is delivered.

The air dehumidification and heating system (1) of the present invention intends to supply dry and hot air free-of-bacteria into the vehicle cabin. The waste hot water is atomized into the liquid desiccant container (4) via the intake air line (3) upon being pulverized by an atomizer (2) by the help of piezoelectric or pressure upon preference. The intake air line (3) includes the intake outer environment air (H) and the air is enabled to be evaporated by mixing of the pulverized water coming from the atomizer (2) and the outer environment air (H). As the air temperature contacts the pulverized hot water from the atomizer (2), saturation temperature is increased thereby increasing the evaporation capacity.

The air, whose temperature and water vapor amount are increased, is atomized into the liquid desiccant container (4) by means of sprinkling method. The hot air including a high amount of vapor which is atomized onto the solution in the base part of the liquid desiccant container (4) mixes with the solution. After mixture, the water vapor goes out from the solution in the form of bubbles. The water vapor goes out from the solution in the form of bubbles due to density difference. This way, the condensed water vapor is heated and dehumidified by drawing its latent heat. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, LiCl solution is used in the liquid desiccant container (4). LiCl solution enables the air to be cleaned of the viruses and bacteria.

The hot, dry and clean air obtained in the liquid desiccant container (4) is drawn into the clean air line (5) by means of the suction enabled by the fan (61) in the HVAC module (6). The hot, dry and clean air is delivered to the HVAC module (6) through the clean air line (5). The hot, dry and clean air in the HVAC module (6) passes through the hot vapor condenser serpentine (62) whereby its temperature is increased and it is blown into the cabin by the help of the fan (61). Thus, the air dehumidification and heating system (1) enables to heat the air without any need for operation of the air conditioning system. Furthermore, the air dehumidification and heating system (1) condenses the humidity in the latent heat of the outer air and converts it to heat, and enables to obtain dry and hot fresh air without consuming energy.

A part of the liquid desiccant, whose concentration in the liquid desiccant container (4) has decreased, is delivered to the evaporator (7) by means of the vacuum produced by the ejector (42) driven by the solution pump (41). This way, the solution pump (41) and the ejector (42) enable the solution to be mixed. The solution, whose concentration in the liquid desiccant container (4) has decreased, is evaporated in the evaporator (7) and then delivered to the serpentine (62) located in the HVAC module (6) by the help of the vapor heater connection (8).

The hot water vapor, which is delivered from the vapor heater connection (8) to the serpentine (62), condenses in the serpentine (62) and heats the cabin air, and then is delivered to the atomizer (2) via the waste hot water pipe (9). This way, an air dehumidification and heating system which has a high performance coefficient (COP) is realized. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a part of the water in the waste hot water pipe (9) is delivered to the charging components (10) in order to be used as the vehicle windshield washer fluid or engine coolant. Thus, the air dehumidification and heating system (1) enables the excessive water condensed from the air to be used as the vehicle windshield washer fluid and engine coolant. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air dehumidification and heating system (1), which supplies dry and hot air free-of-bacteria into the vehicle cabin, basically comprises

at least one intake air line (3) which enables the outer environment air (H) to be mixed with water vapor and which enables to transfer this mixture, - at least one liquid desiccant container (4) in which the liquid-air mixture coming from the intake air line (3) is atomized to the solution therein via sprinkling method and supplies hot, dry and clean air,

at least one solution pump (41) which is connected to the liquid desiccant container (4) and enables the solution in the liquid desiccant container (4) to be mixed,

at least one ejector (42) which is located at the end of the solution pump (41),

at least one clean air line (5) which is connected to the liquid desiccant container (4) and enables the solution in the liquid desiccant container (4) to be mixed,

at least one fan (61) which enables the hot, dry and clean air to enter into the HVAC module (6) and to be delivered into the cabin,

- at least one evaporator (7) in which the solution whose concentration has decreased inside the liquid desiccant container (4) is evaporated, at least one air connection line (11) which enables the hot water vapor in the evaporator (7) to be delivered to the intake air line (3). The air dehumidification and heating system (1) of the present invention intends to supply dry and hot air free-of-bacteria into the vehicle cabin, and a schematic view of and alternative air dehumidification and heating system (1) is shown in Figure 2. The intake air line (3) includes the intake outer environment air (H), and the outer environment air (H) is mixed with the hot water vapor coming from the evaporator (7) and atomized into the liquid desiccant container (4) via sprinkling method. There is solution in the base part of the liquid desiccant container (4) and the hot air including a high amount of vapor, which is atomized into the liquid desiccant container (4), mixes with the solution. The water vapor goes out from the solution in the form of bubbles due to density difference, and thus, the condensed water vapor is heated and dehumidified by drawing its latent heat. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, LiCl solution is used in the liquid desiccant container (4). LiCl solution enables the air to be cleaned of the viruses and bacteria. This way, the air dehumidification and heating system (1) enables the air entering into the cabin to be anti-bacterial. The hot, dry and clean air obtained in the liquid desiccant container (4) is drawn into the clean air line (5) by means of the suction enabled by the fan (61) in the HVAC module (6). The hot, dry and clean air is delivered into the HVAC module (6) through the clean air line (5) and is blown into the cabin by the help of the fan (61). Thus, the air dehumidification and heating system (1) enables to heat the air without any need for operation of the air conditioning system. Furthermore, the air dehumidification and heating system (1) condenses the humidity in the latent heat of the outer air and converts it to heat, and enables to obtain dry and hot fresh air without consuming energy. A part of the liquid desiccant, whose concentration in the liquid desiccant container (4) has decreased, is delivered to the evaporator (7) by means of the vacuum produced by the ejector (42) driven by the solution pump (41). The solution, whose concentration in the liquid desiccant container (4) has decreased, is evaporated in the evaporator (7) and thereby relative humidity of the air is increased and heated. The hot water vapor in the evaporator (7) is delivered to the intake air line (3) via the air connection line (11). The obtained hot water vapor is delivered to the intake air line (3), and there, it is mixed with the outer environment air (H). This way, an air dehumidification and heating system which has a high performance coefficient (COP) is realized.

Claims

An air dehumidification and heating system (1), which supplies dry and hot air free-of-bacteria into the vehicle cabin, basically characterized by

at least one liquid desiccant container (4) in which the liquid-air mixture coming from the intake air line (3) is atomized to the solution therein via sprinkling method and supplies hot, dry and clean air,

at least one serpentine (62) which enables to increase the heat of the hot, dry and clean air within the HVAC module (6),

at least one evaporator (7) in which the solution whose concentration has decreased inside the liquid desiccant container (4) is evaporated, at least one vapor heater connection (8) which enables the hot water vapor leaving the evaporator (7) to be delivered to the serpentine (62) located in the HVAC module (6), at least one waste hot water pipe (9) which enables the waste hot water vapor in the serpentine (62) to be delivered to the atomizer (2).

at least one intake air line (3) which enables the outer environment air (H) to be mixed with water vapor and which enables to transfer this mixture, at least one liquid desiccant container (4) in which the liquid-air mixture coming from the intake air line (3) is atomized to the solution therein via sprinkling method and supplies hot, dry and clean air,

at least one evaporator (7) in which the solution whose concentration has decreased inside the liquid desiccant container (4) is evaporated, at least one air connection line (11) which enables the hot water vapor in the evaporator (7) to be delivered to the intake air line (3).

An air dehumidification and heating system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by at least one atomizer (2) which enables to drive water by the help of a piezoelectric or pressure. An air dehumidification and heating system (1) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by at least one liquid desiccant container (4) in which LiCl solution is used.

An air dehumidification and heating system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by at least one water charging component (10) to which a part of the water in the waste hot water pipe (9) is delivered.