WO2018063849A1

WO2018063849A1 - Radiant heat transfer device and membrane or liquid contactor for dehumidification or humidification of air

Info

Publication number: WO2018063849A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/052144
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dongchan Ahn; Paul P. FISHER; Aaron J. GREINER; Alexandra N. LICHTOR; James F. Thompson
Original assignee: Dow Corning Corp
Current assignee: Dow Silicones Corp
Priority date: 2016-09-28
Filing date: 2017-09-19
Publication date: 2018-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-28

Abstract

Various embodiments disclosed relate to systems and methods for dehumidifying or humidifying air, and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, the present invention can provide an HVAC system including a radiant heat transfer device in fluid communication with a membrane module or a liquid contacting device. The membrane module or liquid contacting device can enrich or deplete water in a feed gas mixture including air.

Description

RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER DEVICE AND MEMBRANE OR LIQUID CONTACTOR FOR DEHUMIDIFICATION OR HUMIDIFICATION OF AIR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Modern buildings typically use heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to control indoor temperature, pressure, ventilation rate, and other variables. HVAC systems often include dehumidification or humidification systems that remove or add various amounts of moisture from air. However, current methods of dehumidifying or humidifying air can be expensive, inefficient, lack precision, have an inconveniently large footprint, lack modularity or be difficult to modularize, be slow to respond to changes in humidity, lack the versatility to also humidify air in dry seasons, fail to remove pollutants or contaminants, and require handling a condensate stream.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In various embodiments, the present invention provides an HVAC system that includes a radiant heat transfer device. The HVAC system also includes a membrane module in fluid communication with the heat transfer device. The module includes a first membrane. The module includes a feed gas mixture including at least water vapor and ambient air. The feed gas mixture contacts a first side of the first membrane in the membrane module. The module includes a permeate mixture on a second side of the first membrane. The permeate mixture is formed by the contacting of the feed gas mixture and the membrane. The permeate mixture is enriched in water. The module also includes a retentate mixture on the first side of the first membrane, the retentate mixture formed by the contacting. The retentate mixture is depleted in water.

[0003] In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of

dehumidifying ambient air. The method includes contacting a first side of a first membrane with a feed gas mixture that includes at least water vapor and ambient air. The contacting forms a permeate mixture on a second side of the membrane and a retentate mixture on the first side of the membrane. The membrane is in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device. The permeate mixture is enriched in water and the retentate mixture is depleted in water.

[0004] In various embodiments, the present invention provides an HVAC system including a radiant heat transfer device. The HVAC system also includes a liquid contacting device in fluid communication with the heat transfer device. The liquid contacting device includes a feed gas mixture including at least water vapor and ambient air. The feed gas mixture contacts a liquid sorbent material in the liquid contacting device. The liquid sorbent material is enriched in water by the contacting and the feed gas mixture is depleted in water by the contacting.

[0005] In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of

dehumidifying ambient air. The method includes contacting a liquid sorbent material with a feed gas mixture in a liquid contacting device in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device. The feed gas mixture includes at least water vapor and ambient air. The liquid sorbent material is enriched in water by the contacting and the feed gas mixture is depleted in water by the contacting.

[0006] In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of

dehumidifying ambient air and reducing CO2 levels in the ambient air. The method includes contacting a liquid sorbent material with a feed gas mixture in a liquid contacting device in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device. The feed gas mixture includes at least water vapor and ambient air. The liquid sorbent material is enriched in water and CO2 by the contacting and the feed gas mixture is depleted in water and CO2 by the contacting.

[0007] In various embodiments, the present invention provides a HVAC system including a radiant heat transfer device. The HVAC system also includes a membrane module in fluid communication with the heat transfer device. The module includes a first membrane. The module includes a feed gas mixture including at least dry ambient air. The feed gas mixture contacts a first side of the first membrane. The module includes a sweep liquid including water. The sweep liquid contacts a second side of the first membrane. The module includes a permeate mixture on the first side of the first membrane. The permeate mixture is formed by the contacting of the feed gas mixture to the membrane and the contacting of the sweep liquid to the membrane. The permeate mixture is enriched in water. The module includes a retentate mixture on the second side of the first membrane, the retentate mixture formed by the contacting of the feed gas mixture to the membrane and the contacting of the sweep liquid to the membrane, wherein the retentate mixture is depleted in water.

[0008] In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of humidifying ambient air. The method includes contacting a first side of a first membrane with a feed gas mixture including at least dry ambient air. The method also includes contacting a second side of the first membrane with a sweep liquid including water to produce a permeate mixture on the first side of the first membrane and a retentate mixture on the second side of the first membrane. The membrane is in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device. The permeate mixture is enriched in water and the retentate mixture is depleted in water.

[0009] In various embodiments, the present invention provides an HVAC system including a radiant heat transfer device. The HVAC system also includes a liquid contacting device in fluid communication with the heat transfer device. The liquid contacting device includes a feed gas mixture including dry ambient air. The feed gas mixture contacts a liquid sorbent material including water in the liquid contacting device. The feed gas mixture is enriched in water by the contacting and the liquid sorbent material is depleted in water by the contacting.

[0010] In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of humidifying ambient air. The method includes contacting a liquid sorbent material including water with a feed gas mixture including dry ambient air in a liquid contacting device. The liquid contacting device is in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device. The feed gas mixture is enriched in water by the contacting and the liquid sorbent material is depleted in water by the contacting.

[0011] Various embodiments of the present invention have certain advantages over other methods of humidifying and dehumidifying air, and systems for performing the method, at least some of which are unexpected. Radiant cooling systems are desirable because of their energy efficiency and ability to reduce air handling equipment size and costs; however, their use can be limited in warm humid climates because of condensation of moisture from the chilled radiant surfaces. In various embodiments, the method or system of the present invention can address these issues by dehumidifying air prior to contact with the chilled radiant surfaces with efficient, small, and modular membrane or liquid contactor dehumidification.

[0012] In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can provide improved humidity and temperature control. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can provide more precise or more easily controlled humidity in various zones than other methods or systems for humidification or dehumidification, and can provide a more decentralized zone control. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can respond more quickly to changes in relative humidity. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can provide removal of humidity from air with little or no heating of the air stream (e.g., nearly isothermal management of latent load). In some cases, the method or system can provide a decoupling of latent and sensible loads. In some embodiments, the method or system can provide more comfortable control of indoor air temperature and humidity. In some embodiments, the method or system can provide more quiet control of indoor air temperature and humidity. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can decrease or eliminate condensation problems with minimal or no reduction in cooling intensity. In some embodiments, the same equipment used to provide dehumidification and cooling in seasons when the outdoor air is warm and humid can be used to provide humidification and heating in seasons when the outdoor air is cold and dry.

[0013] In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can provide more energy efficient humidification or dehumidification. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can improve the efficiency of the HVAC system as a whole in addition to the efficiency of the humidification or dehumidification system. For example, in various embodiments, due to dehumidification via membrane or liquid contactor, the method or HVAC system can include a chilled beam system that can operate at a lower water temperature without experiencing condensation than other methods or HVAC systems, resulting in higher efficiency. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can be operated with milder process temperatures (e.g., the sorbent fluid can be regenerated at a lower temperature) to allow the use of low quality heat or waste heat. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can be operated with a higher cold water temperature (e.g., increasing efficiency of the compressor). In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can be operated with a single cold water source for managing both the latent and sensible loads.

[0014] In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can occupy a smaller footprint than other methods or systems for humidification or dehumidification, providing increased space utilization in buildings. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can be more modular than other methods or systems for humidification or dehumidification. In various embodiments, the modularity of the membrane or liquid contactor method or system can allow tailoring of humidification or dehumidification to the different zones, rather than use of the same dehumidified air for all zones, which can result in increased efficiency as each zone can independently have its own environmental variables such as moisture requirements, moisture generation, and the like.

[0015] In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can respond faster to moisture level changes in building zones than variable air volume HVAC systems. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can allow for a wider range of building zone dry- bulb set-point temperatures than radiant HVAC systems without membranes or liquid contacting devices. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can reduce the probability of water condensate formation compared to radiant HVAC systems without membranes or liquid contacting devices. [0016] In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can remove pollutants or contaminants, providing improved air quality. In some embodiments, the method or HVAC system can reduce CO2 levels to reduce fresh air intake requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates the air flow path in a central dehumidification system, in accordance with various embodiments.

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates the air flow path in a decentralized dehumidification system, in accordance with various embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates an HVAC system including four active chilled beam units each having a dehumidification membrane module, in accordance with various embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates an HVAC system including four active chilled beam units each having a dehumidification membrane module, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. While the disclosed subject matter will be described in conjunction with the enumerated claims, it will be understood that the exemplified subject matter is not intended to limit the claims to the disclosed subject matter.

[0023] Values expressed in a range format should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. For example, a range of "about 0.1 % to about 5%" or "about 0.1 % to 5%" should be interpreted to include not just about 0.1 % to about 5%, but also the individual values (e.g., 1 %, 2%, 3%, and 4%) and the sub-ranges (e.g., 0.1 % to 0.5%, 1 .1 % to 2.2%, 3.3% to 4.4%) within the indicated range. The statement "about X to Y" has the same meaning as "about X to about Y," unless indicated otherwise. Likewise, the statement "about X, Y, or about Z" has the same meaning as "about X, about Y, or about Z," unless indicated otherwise.

[0024] In this document, the terms "a," "an," or "the" are used to include one or more than one unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term "or" is used to refer to a nonexclusive "or" unless otherwise indicated. The statement "at least one of A and B" has the same meaning as "A, B, or A and B." In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein, and not otherwise defined, is for the purpose of description only and not of limitation. Any use of section headings is intended to aid reading of the document and is not to be interpreted as limiting; information that is relevant to a section heading may occur within or outside of that particular section.

[0025] In the methods of manufacturing described herein, the steps can be carried out in any order without departing from the principles of the invention, except when a temporal or operational sequence is explicitly recited. Furthermore, specified steps can be carried out concurrently unless explicit claim language recites that they be carried out separately. For example, a claimed step of doing X and a claimed step of doing Y can be conducted

simultaneously within a single operation, and the resulting process will fall within the literal scope of the claimed process.

[0026] Selected substituents within the compounds described herein are present to a recursive degree. In this context, "recursive substituent" means that a substituent may recite another instance of itself or of another substituent that itself recites the first substituent.

Recursive substituents are an intended aspect of the disclosed subject matter. Because of the recursive nature of such substituents, theoretically, a large number may be present in any given claim. One of ordinary skill in the art of organic chemistry understands that the total number of such substituents is reasonably limited by the desired properties of the compound intended. Such properties include, by way of example and not limitation, physical properties such as molecular weight, solubility, and practical properties such as ease of synthesis. Recursive substituents can call back on themselves any suitable number of times, such as about 1 time, about 2 times, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 30,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, 500,000, 750,000, or about 1 ,000,000 times or more.

[0027] The term "about" as used herein can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 10%, within 5%, or within 1 % of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

[0028] The term "substantially" as used herein refers to a majority of, or mostly, as in at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.9%, 99.99%, or at least about 99.999% or more.

[0029] The term "organic group" as used herein refers to but is not limited to any carbon-containing functional group. For example, an oxygen-containing group such as an alkoxy group, aryloxy group, aralkyloxy group, oxo(carbonyl) group, a carboxyl group including a carboxylic acid, carboxylate, and a carboxylate ester; a sulfur-containing group such as an alkyl and aryl sulfide group; and other heteroatom-containing groups. Non-limiting examples of organic groups include OR, OOR, OC(0)N(R)₂, CN, CF3, OCF3, R, C(O), methylenedioxy, ethylenedioxy, N(R)₂, SR, SOR, S0₂R, S0₂N(R)₂, SO3R, C(0)R, C(0)C(0)R,

C(0)CH₂C(0)R, C(S)R, C(0)OR, OC(0)R, C(0)N(R)₂, OC(0)N(R)₂, C(S)N(R)₂, (CH₂)₀-

₂N(R)C(0)R, (CH₂)o-₂N(R)N(R)₂, N(R)N(R)C(0)R, N(R)N(R)C(0)OR, N(R)N(R)CON(R)₂,

N(R)S0₂R, N(R)S0₂N(R)₂, N(R)C(0)OR, N(R)C(0)R, N(R)C(S)R, N(R)C(0)N(R)₂,

N(R)C(S)N(R)₂, N(COR)COR, N(OR)R, C(=NH)N(R)₂, C(0)N(OR)R, or C(=NOR)R, wherein R can be hydrogen (in examples that include other carbon atoms) or a carbon-based moiety, and wherein the carbon-based moiety can itself be further substituted.

[0030] The term "substituted" as used herein refers to an organic group as defined herein or molecule in which one or more hydrogen atoms contained therein are replaced by one or more non-hydrogen atoms. The term "functional group" or "substituent" as used herein refers to a group that can be or is substituted onto a molecule or onto an organic group. Examples of substituents or functional groups include, but are not limited to, a halogen (e.g., F, CI, Br, and I); an oxygen atom in groups such as hydroxy groups, alkoxy groups, aryloxy groups, aralkyloxy groups, oxo(carbonyl) groups, carboxyl groups including carboxylic acids, carboxylates, and carboxylate esters; a sulfur atom in groups such as thiol groups, alkyl and aryl sulfide groups, sulfoxide groups, sulfone groups, sulfonyl groups, and sulfonamide groups; a nitrogen atom in groups such as amines, hydroxyamines, nitriles, nitro groups, N-oxides, hydrazides, azides, and enamines; and other heteroatoms in various other groups. Non-limiting examples of substituents J that can be bonded to a substituted carbon (or other) atom include F, CI, Br, I, OR, OC(0)N(R)₂, CN, NO, N0₂, ON0₂, azido, CF₃, OCF3, R, O (oxo), S (thiono), C(O), S(O), methylenedioxy, ethylenedioxy, N(R)₂, SR, SOR, S0₂R, S0₂N(R)₂, SO3R, C(0)R,

C(0)C(0)R, C(0)CH₂C(0)R, C(S)R, C(0)OR, OC(0)R, C(0)N(R)₂, OC(0)N(R)₂, C(S)N(R)₂,

(CH₂)o-₂N(R)C(0)R, (CH₂)o-₂N(R)N(R)₂, N(R)N(R)C(0)R, N(R)N(R)C(0)OR,

N(R)N(R)CON(R)₂, N(R)S0₂R, N(R)S0₂N(R)₂, N(R)C(0)OR, N(R)C(0)R, N(R)C(S)R,

N(R)C(0)N(R)₂, N(R)C(S)N(R)₂, N(COR)COR, N(OR)R, C(=NH)N(R)₂, C(0)N(OR)R, or

C(=NOR)R, wherein R can be hydrogen or a carbon-based moiety, and wherein the carbon- based moiety can itself be further substituted; for example, wherein R can be hydrogen, alkyl, acyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, or heteroarylalkyl, wherein any alkyl, acyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, or heteroarylalkyl or R can be independently mono- or multi-substituted with J; or wherein two R groups bonded to a nitrogen atom or to adjacent nitrogen atoms can together with the nitrogen atom or atoms form a heterocyclyl, which can be mono- or independently multi-substituted with J.

[0031] The term "alkyl" as used herein refers to straight chain and branched alkyl groups and cycloalkyl groups having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, 1 to 12 carbons or, in some embodiments, from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Examples of straight chain alkyl groups include those with from 1 to 8 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n- pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, and n-octyl groups. Examples of branched alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, isopropyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, neopentyl, isopentyl, and 2,2- dimethylpropyl groups. As used herein, the term "alkyl" encompasses n-alkyl, isoalkyl, and anteisoalkyl groups as well as other branched chain forms of alkyl. Representative substituted alkyl groups can be substituted one or more times with any of the groups listed herein, for example, amino, hydroxy, cyano, carboxy, nitro, thio, alkoxy, and halogen groups.

[0032] The term "alkenyl" as used herein refers to straight and branched chain and cyclic alkyl groups as defined herein, except that at least one double bond exists between two carbon atoms. Thus, alkenyl groups have from 2 to 40 carbon atoms, or 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, or 2 to 12 carbons or, in some embodiments, from 2 to 8 carbon atoms. Examples include, but are not limited to vinyl, -CH=CH(CH₃), -CH=C(CH₃)₂, -C(CH₃)=CH₂, - C(CH3)=CH(CH3), -C(CH2CH3)=CH2, cyclohexenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexadienyl, butadienyl, pentadienyl, and hexadienyl among others.

[0033] The term "alkynyl" as used herein refers to straight and branched chain alkyl groups, except that at least one triple bond exists between two carbon atoms. Thus, alkynyl groups have from 2 to 40 carbon atoms, 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, or from 2 to 12 carbons or, in some embodiments, from 2 to 8 carbon atoms. Examples include, but are not limited to - C≡CH, -C≡C(CH₃), -C≡C(CH₂CH₃), -CH₂C≡CH, -CH₂C≡C(CH₃), and -CH₂C≡C(CH₂CH₃) among others.

[0034] The term "acyl" as used herein refers to a group containing a carbonyl moiety wherein the group is bonded via the carbonyl carbon atom. The carbonyl carbon atom is also bonded to another carbon atom, which can be part of an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl group or the like. In the special case wherein the carbonyl carbon atom is bonded to a hydrogen, the group is a "formyl" group, an acyl group as the term is defined herein. An acyl group can include 0 to about 12-20 or 12-40 additional carbon atoms bonded to the carbonyl group. An acyl group can include double or triple bonds within the meaning herein. An acryloyi group is an example of an acyl group. An acyl group can also include heteroatoms within the meaning here. A nicotinoyl group (pyridyl-3-carbonyl) is an example of an acyl group within the meaning herein. Other examples include acetyl, benzoyl, phenylacetyl, pyridylacetyl, cinnamoyl, and acryloyi groups and the like. When the group containing the carbon atom that is bonded to the carbonyl carbon atom contains a halogen, the group is termed a "haloacyl" group. An example is a trifluoroacetyl group.

[0035] The term "cycloalkyl" as used herein refers to cyclic alkyl groups such as, but not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl groups. In some embodiments, the cycloalkyl group can have 3 to about 8-12 ring members, whereas in other embodiments the number of ring carbon atoms range from 3 to 4, 5, 6, or 7. Cycloalkyl groups further include polycyclic cycloalkyl groups such as, but not limited to, norbornyl, adamantyl, bornyl, camphenyl, isocamphenyl, and carenyl groups, and fused rings such as, but not limited to, decalinyl, and the like. Cycloalkyl groups also include rings that are substituted with straight or branched chain alkyl groups as defined herein. Representative substituted cycloalkyl groups can be mono-substituted or substituted more than once, such as, but not limited to, 2,2-, 2,3-, 2,4- 2,5- or 2,6-disubstituted cyclohexyl groups or mono-, di- or tri- substituted norbornyl or cycloheptyl groups, which can be substituted with, for example, amino, hydroxy, cyano, carboxy, nitro, thio, alkoxy, and halogen groups. The term "cycloalkenyl" alone or in combination denotes a cyclic alkenyl group.

[0036] The term "aryl" as used herein refers to cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that do not contain heteroatoms in the ring. Thus aryl groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl, azulenyl, heptalenyl, biphenyl, indacenyl, fluorenyl, phenanthrenyl, triphenylenyl, pyrenyl, naphthacenyl, chrysenyl, biphenylenyl, anthracenyl, and naphthyl groups. In some

embodiments, aryl groups contain about 6 to about 14 carbons in the ring portions of the groups. Aryl groups can be unsubstituted or substituted, as defined herein. Representative substituted aryl groups can be mono-substituted or substituted more than once, such as, but not limited to, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-substituted phenyl or 2-8 substituted naphthyl groups, which can be substituted with carbon or non-carbon groups such as those listed herein.

[0037] The term "heterocyclyl" as used herein refers to aromatic and non-aromatic ring compounds containing three or more ring members, of which one or more is a heteroatom such as, but not limited to, N, O, and S.

[0038] The term "alkoxy" as used herein refers to an oxygen atom connected to an alkyl group, including a cycloalkyl group, as are defined herein. Examples of linear alkoxy groups include but are not limited to methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, and the like. Examples of branched alkoxy include but are not limited to isopropoxy, sec-butoxy, tert- butoxy, isopentyloxy, isohexyloxy, and the like. Examples of cyclic alkoxy include but are not limited to cyclopropyloxy, cyclobutyloxy, cyclopentyloxy, cyclohexyloxy, and the like. An alkoxy group can include one to about 12-20 or about 12-40 carbon atoms bonded to the oxygen atom, and can further include double or triple bonds, and can also include heteroatoms. For example, an allyloxy group is an alkoxy group within the meaning herein. A methoxyethoxy group is also an alkoxy group within the meaning herein, as is a methylenedioxy group in a context where two adjacent atoms of a structure are substituted therewith.

[0039] The term "amine" as used herein refers to primary, secondary, and tertiary amines having, e.g., the formula N(group)3 wherein each group can independently be H or non-

H, such as alkyl, aryl, and the like. Amines include but are not limited to R-NH2, for example, alkylamines, arylamines, alkylarylamines; R2NH wherein each R is independently selected, such as dialkylamines, diarylamines, aralkylamines, heterocyclylamines and the like; and R3N wherein each R is independently selected, such as trialkylamines, dialkylarylamines, alkyldiarylamines, triarylamines, and the like. The term "amine" also includes ammonium ions as used herein.

[0040] The term "amino group" as used herein refers to a substituent of the form -NH2, -

NHR, -NR2, - R3+, wherein each R is independently selected, and protonated forms of each, except for -NR3+, which cannot be protonated. Accordingly, any compound substituted with an amino group can be viewed as an amine. An "amino group" within the meaning herein can be a primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary amino group. An "alkylamino" group includes a monoalkylamino, dialkylamino, and trialkylamino group.

[0041] The terms "halo," "halogen," or "halide" group, as used herein, by themselves or as part of another substituent, mean, unless otherwise stated, a fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine atom.

[0042] The term "haloalkyl" group, as used herein, includes mono-halo alkyl groups, poly-halo alkyl groups wherein all halo atoms can be the same or different, and per-halo alkyl groups, wherein all hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogen atoms, such as fluoro. Examples of haloalkyl include trifluoromethyl, 1 ,1 -dichloroethyl, 1 ,2-dichloroethyl, 1 ,3-dibromo-3,3- difluoropropyl, perfluorobutyl, and the like.

[0043] The term "hydrocarbon" as used herein refers to a functional group or molecule that includes carbon and hydrogen atoms. The term can also refer to a functional group or molecule that normally includes both carbon and hydrogen atoms but wherein all the hydrogen atoms are substituted with other functional groups.

[0044] The term "resin" as used herein refers to polysiloxane material of any viscosity that includes at least one siloxane monomer that is bonded via a Si-O-Si bond to three or four other siloxane monomers. In one example, the polysiloxane material includes T or Q groups, as defined herein.

[0045] The term "number-average molecular weight" as used herein refers to the ordinary arithmetic mean of the molecular weight of individual molecules in a sample. It is defined as the total weight of all molecules in a sample divided by the total number of molecules in the sample. Experimentally, the number-average molecular weight (M_n) is determined by analyzing a sample divided into molecular weight fractions of species i having nj molecules of molecular weight Mj through the formula M_n = ZMjrij /∑rij. The number-average molecular weight can be measured by a variety of well-known methods including gel permeation chromatography, spectroscopic end group analysis, and osmometry. If unspecified, molecular weights of polymers given herein are number-average molecular weights.

[0046] The term "weight-average molecular weight" as used herein refers to M_w, which is equal to∑Mj²rij / ZMjrij, where nj is the number of molecules of molecular weight Mj. In various examples, the weight-average molecular weight can be determined using light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, X-ray scattering, and sedimentation velocity.

[0047] The term "cure" as used herein refers to exposing to radiation in any form, heating, or allowing to undergo a physical or chemical reaction that results in hardening or an increase in viscosity.

[0048] The term "pore" as used herein refers to a depression, slit, or hole of any size or shape in a solid object. A pore can run all the way through an object or partially through the object. A pore can intersect other pores.

[0049] The term "free-standing" or "unsupported" as used herein refers to a membrane with the majority of the surface area on each of the two major sides of the membrane not contacting a substrate, whether the substrate is porous or not. In some embodiments, a membrane that is "free-standing" or "unsupported" can be 1 00% not supported on both major sides. A membrane that is "free-standing" or "unsupported" can be supported at the edges or at the minority (e.g. less than about 50%) of the surface area on either or both major sides of the membrane. [0050] The term "supported" as used herein refers to a membrane with the majority of the surface area on at least one of the two major sides contacting a substrate, whether the substrate is porous or not. In some embodiments, a membrane that is "supported" can be 100% supported on at least one side. A membrane that is "supported" can be supported at any suitable location at the majority (e.g. more than about 50%) of the surface area on either or both major sides of the membrane.

[0051] The term "enrich" as used herein refers to increasing in quantity or concentration, such as of a liquid, gas, or solute. For example, a mixture of gases A and B can be enriched in gas A if the concentration or quantity of gas A is increased, for example by selective permeation of gas A through a membrane to add gas A to the mixture, or for example by selective permeation of gas B through a membrane to take gas B away from the mixture.

[0052] The term "deplete" as used herein refers to decreasing in quantity or

concentration, such as of a liquid, gas, or solute. For example, a mixture of gases A and B can be depleted in gas B if the concentration or quantity of gas B is decreased, for example by selective permeation of gas B through a membrane to take gas B away from the mixture, or for example by selective permeation of gas A through a membrane to add gas A to the mixture.

[0053] The term "solvent" as used herein refers to a liquid that can dissolve a solid, liquid, or gas. Nonlimiting examples of solvents are silicones, organic compounds, water, alcohols, ionic liquids, and supercritical fluids.

[0054] The term "selectivity" or "ideal selectivity" as used herein refers to the ratio of permeability of the faster permeating gas over the slower permeating gas, measured at room temperature.

[0055] The term "permeability" as used herein refers to the permeability coefficient (P_x) of substance X through a membrane, where q_mx = P_x ^* A ^* Δρ_χ ^* (1/δ), where q_mx is the volumetric flow rate of substance X through the membrane, A is the surface area of one major side of the membrane through which substance X flows, Δρ_χ is the difference of the partial pressure of substance X across the membrane, and δ is the thickness of the membrane. P_x can also be expressed as V-5/(A-t-Ap), wherein P_x is the permeability for a gas X in the membrane, V is the volume of gas X which permeates through the membrane, δ is the thickness of the membrane, A is the area of the membrane, t is time, Δρ is the pressure difference of the gas X at the retentate and permeate side. Permeability is measured at room temperature, unless otherwise indicated. [0056] The term "permeance" as used herein refers to the normalized permeability (M_x) of substance X through a membrane, wherein M_x = P_x/ δ = V/(A-t-Ap_x), wherein P_x is the permeability for a gas X in the membrane, V is the volume of gas X which permeates through the membrane, δ is the thickness of the membrane, A is the area of the membrane, t is time, Δρ_χ is the difference of the partial pressure of substance X across the membrane. Permeance is measured at room temperature, unless otherwise indicated.

[0057] The term "Barrer" or "Barrers" as used herein refers to a unit of permeability, wherein 1 Barrer = 1 (H 1 (cm3 gas) cm cm^-2 s^ mmHg^"'' , or 1 (H 0 (cm3 gas) cm cm^-2 s^ cm

Hg^~1 , where "cm^ gas" represents the quantity of the gas that would take up one cubic centimeter at standard temperature and pressure.

[0058] The term "total surface area" as used herein with respect to membranes refers to the total surface area of the side of the membrane exposed to the feed gas mixture.

[0059] The term "air" as used herein refers to a mixture of gases with a composition approximately identical to the native composition of gases taken from the atmosphere, generally at ground level. In some examples, air is taken from the ambient surroundings. Air has a composition that includes approximately 78% nitrogen, 21 % oxygen, 1 % argon, and 0.04% carbon dioxide, as well as small amounts of other gases.

[0060] The term "room temperature" as used herein refers to a temperature of about 15

°C to 28 °C.

[0061] As used herein, the term "polymer" refers to a molecule having at least one repeating unit and can include copolymers.

Method of humidifying or dehumidifyinq ambient air.

[0062] Various embodiments relate to methods for dehumidifying or humidifying air, and methods of using the same. The present invention can provide an HVAC system including a radiant heat transfer device in fluid communication with a membrane module or a liquid contacting device. The membrane module or liquid contacting device can enrich or deplete water in a feed gas mixture including air. Examples of radiant heat transfer devices include a radiant panel, environmental beam (e.g., chilled beam), fin array, mat, sail, or capillary tube mat. In some embodiments, a liquid sorbent material can be used to introduce water or to facilitate removal of water vapor from air. The liquid sorbent can be regenerated in a continuous manner, and can be non-volatile, non-corrosive, and non-flammable, such as an organosilicon liquid. In some embodiments, the method can reduce the concentration of indoor pollutants such as CO2, volatile organic compounds, and chloramines. The method can be used with other HVAC processes in modular fashion to provide delocalized control of temperature and humidity within a building.

[0063] The liquid contacting device can be any suitable device that can allow the feed gas mixture and a liquid sorbent material to directly contact one another, such as a membrane (herein, a membrane can provide direct contact between the feed gas mixture and a liquid sorbent material, or can provide contact between the liquid sorbent material and only the components of the feed gas mixture that are permeable through the membrane), column, packed column, spray tower, and a falling film-on-plate device. For example, the liquid contacting device can flow a gas over the liquid sorbent material or bubble a gas directly into the liquid sorbent material. For example, the liquid contacting device can include a packed bed column or tower with any appropriate packing material (for example, random or structured packing or other packing material), a trayed tower column or tower with any appropriate tray type such as a sieve tray, valve tray, or bubble cap tray with any appropriate tray spacing and feed stream positions, a distillation column or tower with any appropriate tray type such as a sieve tray, valve tray, or bubble cap tray with any appropriate tray spacing and feed stream positions, a liquid spray column or tower with any appropriate packing material (for example random or structured packing or other packing material), a centrifugal contactor, a rotating surface such as a wheel or tray, a falling film device that features one or more immobile surfaces that permits gas contact with a falling thin film of liquid, across a porous polymeric or inorganic membrane, or any combination thereof.

[0064] In some embodiments, the method is a method of dehumidifying ambient air.

The method can include providing a feed gas mixture including ambient air and water to a membrane or a liquid contacting device. The membrane or liquid contacting device is in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device. The first side of the membrane can be contacted with the feed gas mixture to produce a permeate mixture on the second side of the membrane and a retentate mixture on the first side of the membrane, wherein the permeate mixture is enriched in water. The liquid contacting device can contact the feed gas mixture and a liquid sorbent material to enrich the liquid sorbent material in water and deplete the feed gas mixture in water.

[0065] In some embodiments, the method is a method of humidifying ambient air. The method can include providing a feed gas mixture including dry ambient air to a membrane or a liquid contacting device. The membrane or liquid contacting device is in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device. The first side of the membrane can be contacted with the feed gas mixture while the second side is contacted with a sweep liquid including water to produce a permeate mixture on the first side of the membrane and a retentate mixture on the second side of the membrane. The permeate mixture is enriched in water and the retentate mixture is depleted in water. The liquid contacting device can contact the feed gas mixture and a liquid sorbent material including water to enrich the feed gas mixture in water and to deplete the liquid sorbent material in water.

[0066] The method can humidify or dehumidify a feed gas mixture. The

dehumidification can include decreasing the concentration of water in the feed gas mixture, or the dehumidification can include the removal of substantially all of the water from the feed gas mixture. The dehumidification method can remove any suitable amount of the water from the feed gas mixture. The ambient air that is dehumidified can have any suitable starting relative humidity, such as a relative humidity at room temperature of about 1 % to about 100%, about 10% to about 95%, or about 1 % or less, or about 5%, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or about 99% or more. In some examples, the feed gas mixture is depleted in water by about 1 wt% to about 100 wt%, as compared to the feed gas mixture, about 40 wt% to about 99 wt%, about 70 wt% to about 95 wt%, or about 1 wt% or less, 2 wt%, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.5 wt%, or about 99.9 wt% or more, to have a final relative humidity at room temperature of about 1 % to about 80%, about 2% to about 50%, or about 0.001 % or less (e.g., relative humidity can be 0%), or about 0.01 %, 0.1 , 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, or about 80% or more. With the humidification method, the starting dry ambient air can have any suitable relative humidity, such as a relative humidity at room temperature of about 1 % to about 80%, about 2% to about 50%, or about 0.001 % or less (e.g. relative humidity can be 0%), or about 0.01 %, 0.1 , 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, or about 80% or more. The humidification method can introduce any suitable amount of water into the feed gas mixture, such as generating a relative humidity at room temperature of about 5% to about 100%, about 10% to about 95%, or about 5% or less, or about 10%, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or about 99% or more.

[0067] The feed gas mixture can be contacted to the membrane (e.g., one or more membranes) in any suitable fashion. In some embodiments, the feed gas mixture can be allowed to contact the membrane at a pressure such that there is a positive gradient in partial pressure of the water across the membrane to drive the permeation of the water to the second side of the membrane (in a dehumidification embodiment) or to drive the permeation of the water to the first side of the membrane (in a humidification embodiment). In one example, the feed gas mixture is allowed to contact the membrane at approximately ambient pressure. In another example, the first side of the membrane is kept near ambient pressure, but the second side has a pressure and flow rate such that a positive partial pressure gradient of the water is maintained. In some embodiments, a pressure difference across the membrane can be such that the pressure of the feed gas mixture (on the first side of the membrane) is greater than the pressure at the second side of the membrane. The pressure difference can be caused by the pressure of the feed gas mixture being at above ambient pressure; in such examples, the pressure of the feed gas mixture can be raised above ambient pressure using any suitable means, such as with a pump. In another example, the pressure difference is caused by the pressure at the second side of the membrane being at or below ambient pressure; in such examples, the pressure of the second side of the membrane can be reduced below ambient pressure using any suitable device such as a blower or vacuum pump. In other examples, a combination of lower than ambient pressure at the second side of the membrane, and higher than ambient pressure at the first side of the membrane, contributes to the pressure difference across the membrane. In some embodiments, a higher than ambient pressure on the first side of the membrane can be achieved by pumping feed gas mixture to the first side of the membrane. In some embodiments, a lower pressure can be used at the first side (e.g., generated by a blower or vacuum pump), a higher pressure (e.g., generated by a pump) can be used at the second side, or a combination thereof, to maintain a pressure gradient from the second side to the first side (e.g., in a dehumidification embodiment).

[0068] In some embodiments, the temperature of the feed gas mixture can be adjusted to provide a desired degree of humidification or dehumidification, depending on the nature of the sweep medium (if used) and the membrane or liquid contactor. The temperature of the feed gas mixture can be any suitable temperature, such as about room temperature to about 150 ^eC, about -40 ^eC to about 250 ^eC, about 30 ^eC to about 150 ^eC, about 40 ^eC to about 1 10 ^eC, about 50 ^eC to about 90 ^eC, or about room temperature, or about -40 ^eC or less, or about -35 ^eC, -30, - 25, -20, -15, -10, -5, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 1 10, 1 15, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240 ^eC, or about 250 ^eC or more. In some embodiments, a sweep medium can be introduced to the second side of the membrane or to the liquid contactor at a favorable temperature and pressure to achieve a more rapid transfer of the water from the feed gas mixture into the sweep medium, e.g., to increase the flux of the water across the membrane or the flux of water from the feed gas mixture into the contacted sweep medium. The sweep medium can be any suitable temperature during the contacting, such as about -60 ^eC to about 150 ^eC, about -30 ^eC to about 150 ^eC, about -20 ^eC to about 150 ^eC, about -10 ^eC to about 150 ^eC, about 0 ^eC to about 150 ^eC, about 10 ^eC to about 150 ^eC, about 20 ^eC to about 150 ^eC, about 10 ^eC to about 1 10 ^eC, about 10 ^eC to about 90 ^eC, or about -60 ^eC or less, or about -55 ^eC, -50, -45, -40, -35, -30, -25, -20, -15, -10, -5, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 1 10, 1 15, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145 ^eC, or about 150 ^eC or more.

[0069] The feed gas mixture can have any suitable pressure during the contacting with the first side of the membrane or in the liquid contactor. For example, the pressure of the feed gas mixture can be 0.01 bar to about 100,000 bar, or about 0.5 bar to about 5 bar, or about 0.01 bar or less, 0.05, 0.1 , 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1 .0, 1 .2, 1 .4, 1 .6, 1 .8, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, 750, 1 ,000, 1 ,500, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, or about 100,000 bar or more. The sweep medium can have any suitable pressure during the contacting with the first side of the membrane or in the liquid contactor. For example, the pressure of the sweep medium can be about 0.000,01 bar to about 100 bar, or about 0.001 bar to about 10 bar, or about 0.000,01 bar or less, about 0.000,1 bar, 0.001 , 0.01 , 0.1 , 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1 .0, 1 .2, 1 .4, 1 .6, 1 .8, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 75, or about 100 bar or more. For embodiments including a membrane, the pressure differential between the feed gas mixture and the sweep medium can be any suitable pressure differential, such that the method can be carried out as described herein. For example, the pressure differential between the feed gas mixture and the sweep medium can be about 0, about 0.000,01 bar to about 100,000 bar, or about 0.01 bar to about 10,000 bar, or about 0.000,01 bar or less, about 0.000,1 bar, 0.001 , 0.01 , 0.1 , 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1 .0, 1 .2, 1 .4, 1 .6, 1 .8, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, 750, 1 ,000, 1 ,500, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, or about 100,000 bar or more.

[0070] In some examples, if the concentration of the water at the second side of the membrane, or the concentration of the water in the sweep medium in a liquid contactor, is allowed to reach certain levels, the rate of humidification or dehumidification of the feed gas mixture can be decreased. The flow rate of the feed gas mixture and the sweep medium can be adjusted such that efficient and effective humidification or dehumidification occurs. For example, the flow rate of the feed gas mixture can be about 0.001 L/min to about 100,000 L/min, about 0.1 L/min to about 100 L/min, or about 0.001 L/min or less, 0.01 L/min, 0.1 , 1 , 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, 750, 1 ,000, 1 ,500, 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 25,000, 50,000, 75,000, or about 100,000 L/min or more. The flow rate of the sweep medium can be 0.001 L/min to about 100,000 L/min, about 0.1 L/min to about 100 L/min, or about 0.001 L/min or less, 0.01 L/min, 0.1 , 1 , 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, 750, 1 ,000, 1 ,500, 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 25,000, 50,000, 75,000, or about 100,000 L/min or more.

[0071] In some embodiments, the method for humidifying or dehumidifying a feed gas mixture can also include removing the water from the sweep medium provided by the contacting, or adding water to the sweep medium removed by the contacting, by at least one of changing the concentration and quantity of the water in the sweep medium. Thus, the present invention can provide a combination of removing water from a feed gas mixture using a sweep medium and removing the water from the used sweep medium, or a combination of adding water to a feed gas mixture and adding water back to the used sweep medium, such as by use of a second membrane or via another suitable means. The method can further include recirculating the restored sweep medium into contact with the second side of the membrane, allowing reuse of the sweep medium. Such reuse can enhance efficiency of the humidification or dehumidification, and can occur for multiple cycles (e.g., about 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 100, 1000, or more cycles). Desorbing the water or adding the water can include contacting a first side of a second membrane with the sweep medium and contacting a second side of the second membrane with another sweep medium. The sweep medium used in the second process can be the same as or different from the sweep medium used in the first process. In some embodiments, the sweep medium is not recycled.

Radiant heat transfer device.

[0072] The membrane or liquid contacting device is in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device. The fluid communication of the radiant heat transfer device with the membrane or liquid contactor provides to the radiant heat transfer device at least some of material that will contact, that is contacting, that has contacted the membrane, or a combination thereof, or that will be, is, has been, or a combination thereof, in the liquid contactor (e.g., the feed gas mixture or the sweep medium). The fluid communication can be a direct fluid communication (e.g., no other intervening HVAC unit operations between the radiant heat transfer device and the membrane or fluid contacting device other than transfer piping or ducts) or indirect fluid communication (e.g., one or more intervening HVAC unit operations between the radiant heat transfer device and the membrane or fluid contacting device). The fluid communication can communicate some or all of the feed gas mixture, the dehumidified or humidified feed gas mixture, or the sweep medium, to or from the radiant heat transfer device, such as about 0.01 vol% or wt% of any one or more members of the preceding list, or about 0.1 , 1 , 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.9, or about 99.99 vol% or wt%. The radiant heat transfer device can modify the temperature of at least one of the feed gas mixture, the dehumidified or humidified feed gas mixture (e.g., the permeate mixture in a humidification embodiment, or a retentate mixture in a dehumidification embodiment, or the contacted feed gas mixture emerging from a liquid contactor), and the sweep medium (e.g., at least one of prior to contacting the membrane or entering the liquid contactor, during contacting, and after contacting the membrane or exiting the liquid contactor).

[0073] The radiant heat transfer device can modify the temperature of the feed gas mixture, dehumidified or humidified feed gas mixture, or sweep medium via transfer of thermal energy or radiation to the feed gas mixture or sweep medium (e.g., heating the gas mixture or sweep medium) or transfer of thermal energy or radiation from the feed gas mixture or sweep medium to a heat sink (e.g., cooling the gas mixture or sweep medium). The radiant heat transfer device can be any suitable device that can modify temperature of a gas or liquid medium via transfer of thermal energy or radiation, such as including at least one of a radiant panel, beam, fin array, mat, sail, and a capillary tube mat. Examples of devices used for cooling air can include chilled beams, chilled ceiling panels, chilled sails, chilled mats and capillary tube mats. For cooling, the driving force for heat transfer can be maintained by circulating a pre- cooled heat transfer medium (typically a liquid such as water) to reduce the temperature of the air stream. Such devices can either be classified as active or passive devices. For instance, active chilled beams can require a dedicated air stream that is driven by a fan or blower to help induce secondary air flows over the radiant heat transfer surface. Passive devices can rely upon induced air currents without the assistance of a fan or blower. In some cases, particularly with active devices, the heat transfer medium can be pre-heated instead of pre-cooled to provide heating of air during the winter. The radiant heat transfer device can include any suitable system for heating or cooling, such as electric heating elements, gas heating elements, infrared heating elements, heat exchangers (e.g., employing condenser waste heat, steam, or geothermal energy), refrigeration, absorption chillers, chilled water, chilled brine, evaporative coolers, chilled water, chilled brine, other cooling systems, or a combination thereof, as well as systems for transferring heat throughout the heat transfer device such as piping, channels, or other flow pathways filled with water or another medium. Membrane.

[0074] The method or system can include any suitable membrane or combination of membranes as described further herein. The method or system can include a single membrane or a bank or array of membranes made or any suitable material and having any size, shape, or form factor, including a module of hollow fiber membranes. The one or more membranes can be selectively permeable to water vapor or to any one or more compounds in the feed gas mixture. In embodiments including hollow fiber membranes, the fibers can collectively have a bore-side and a shell-side (e.g., such as in a particular hollow fiber membrane module), wherein at least one of 1 ) the first side of the hollow fiber membrane is the bore-side and the second side of the hollow fiber membrane is the shell-side, and 2) the first side of the hollow fiber membrane is the shell-side and the second side of the hollow fiber membrane is the bore-side.

[0075] In some embodiments, one or more of the membranes can be hydrophobic membranes. A hydrophobic membrane can reduce the wetting of water to the membrane. A hydrophobic membrane can have any suitable degree of hydrophobicity. In some

embodiments, one or more of the membranes can be hydrophilic membranes. A hydrophilic membrane can increase the wetting of water to the membrane. A hydrophilic membrane can have any suitable degree of hydrophilicity.

[0076] Embodiments of the membrane include a cured product of a silicone

composition, such a cured product of an organopolysiloxane composition. Various methods of curing can be used, including any suitable method of curing, including for example

hydrosilylation curing, condensation curing, free-radical curing, amine-epoxy curing, radiation curing, cooling, or any combination thereof.

[0077] One or more of the membranes can be dense membranes. One or more of the membranes can be nonporous. Some types of pores can penetrate from one major side of a membrane to another major side, such as cylindrical pores shaped approximately as cylinders, or such as sponge pores, for example pores that include randomly shaped cavities or channels, that form a connection from one major side to the other major side. Some types of pores do not penetrate from one major side of a membrane to another major side, such as blind pores, also referred to as surface pores. Some types of sponge pores can also not penetrate from one major side of the membrane to the other major side. In some embodiments, a dense membrane of the present invention can include substantially no pores, including both pores that penetrate from one major side to the other major side, and including pores that do not penetrate from one major side to the other major side, such as less than about 100,000 pores per mm², or less than about 10,000, 1000, 100, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, or less than about 1 pore per mm². In some embodiments, a dense membrane can include substantially no pores that penetrate from one side to the other, such as less than about 100,000 penetrating pore per mm², or less than about

10,000, 1000, 100, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, or less than about 1 penetrating pore per mm², but the membrane can also include any suitable number of pores that do not penetrate from one major side of the membrane to the other major side of the membrane, such as at least one of surface pores and sponge pores, such as equal to or more than about 100,000 non-penetrating pores per mm², or less than 10,000, 1000, 100, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, or equal to or more than about 1 non-penetrating pore per mm². In some embodiments, a dense membrane can have substantially zero pores penetrating from one major side of the membrane to the other major side having a diameter larger than about 0.00001 , 0.0001 , 0.001 , 0.005, 0.01 , 0.05, 0.1 , 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1 , or larger than about 2 μηι, such as less than about 100,000 pores per mm², or less than about 10,000, 1000, 100, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, or less than about 1 pore per mm². Pore size can be determined by the average size of the pore throughout its path through the entire thickness or only partway through the membrane. Pore size can be determined by the average size of the pore at the surface of the membrane. Any suitable analytical technique can be used to determine the pore size. Embodiments encompass dense membranes having any combination of approximate maximum sizes from the dimensions given in this paragraph for each of the pores passing all the way through the membrane, cylinder pores, sponge pores, blind pores, any other type of pore, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, a dense membrane does have at least one of pores passing all the way through the membrane, cylinder pores, sponge pores, blind pores, and any other type of pore, wherein the pores have a size smaller than the maximum size of the dimensions given in this paragraph.

[0078] The one or more membranes can have any suitable thickness. In some examples, the one or more membranes have a thickness of about 1 μηι to about 20 μηι, or about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, or 15 μηι to about 20 μηι. In some examples, the one or more membranes have a thickness of about 0.1 μηι to about 300 μηι, or about 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 μηι to about 200 μηι. In other examples, the one or more membranes have a thickness of about 0.01 μηι to about 2000 μηι, or about 0.01 μηι or less, about 0.1 μηι, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 1 10, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 350, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750 μηι, or about 2000 μηι or more. [0079] The one or more membranes can be selectively permeable to one substance over another. In one example, the one or more membranes are selectively permeable to water vapor over other compounds in the feed gas mixture. In some embodiments, the membrane has a water vapor permeability coefficient of the water vapor of about 0.001 Barrer or less, or at least about 0.01 Barrer, 0.1 , 1 , 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 240, 280, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1 ,000, 1 ,200, 1 ,400, 1 ,600, 1 ,800, 2,000, 2,500, 3,000, 4,500, 5,000, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, 12,000, 14,000, 16,000, 18,000, 20,000, 25,000, 30,000, 35,000, 40,000, 45,000, 50,000, 75,000, or at least about 100,000 Barrer or more, when tested at room temperature without the sweep medium present.

[0080] The one or more membranes can have any suitable shape. An array of fibers or sheets may be bundled to form a membrane module that may be surrounded partially or completely by a frame or shell. In some examples, the one or more membranes are plate-and- frame membranes, spiral wound membranes, tubular membranes, capillary fiber membranes, or hollow fiber membranes. The one or more membranes can be a hollow fiber membrane module containing a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, each fiber having a bore side and a shell side. The fibers in a hollow fiber membrane module can collectively have a bore side and a shell side accessible through a single connector on each side of the module. Alternately, the fibers in a hollow fiber membrane module can have a bore side and a shell side accessible through multiple connectors placed at various points in the module. In some embodiments of the method, the feed gas mixture can be contacted to the bore side of the one or more hollow fiber membranes, and the sweep medium can be contacted to the shell side. In other embodiments of the method, the feed gas mixture can be contacted to the shell side of the one or more hollow fiber membranes, and the sweep medium can be contacted to the bore side. The membrane modules may take on any shape and aspect ratio. In some embodiments, the membrane module has a rectangular or square cross section that fits into an air channel or duct. In some embodiments, the membrane module is cylindrical has a circular cross-section. In some embodiments, the module geometry is suitable to minimize axial air pressure drops (in the direction of air flow) while fitting conveniently into the air channel.

[0081] The one or more membranes can be free-standing or supported by a porous substrate. In some embodiments, the pressure on either side of the one or more membranes can be about the same. In other embodiments, there can be a pressure differential between one side of the one or more membranes and the other side of the one or more membranes. For example, the pressure on the first side of the one or more membranes can be higher than the pressure on the second side of the one or more membranes. In other examples, the pressure on the second side of the one or more membranes can be higher than the pressure on the first side of the one or more membranes.

[0082] Any number of membranes can be used to accomplish the humidification or dehumidification. Any combination of free-standing and supported membranes can be used. Any suitable surface area of the one or more membranes can be used. For example, the surface area of each membrane, or the total surface area of the membranes, can be about 0.01 m², 0.1 , 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, 2000, 2200, 2400, 2600, 2800, 3000, 3200, 3400, 3800, 4000, 5000, 10,000, 50,000,

100,000, 500,000, or about 1 ,000,000 m².

[0083] In one example, the one or more membranes are one or more hollow tube or fiber membranes. Any number of hollow tube or fiber membranes can be used. For example, 1 hollow tube or fiber membrane, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 100,000 or about 1 ,000,000 hollow tube or fiber membranes can be used together as the one or more membranes. In one example, the one or more membranes are crosslinked silicone or organopolysiloxane hollow tube or fiber membranes. In one example, the one or more membranes are one or more free standing hollow tube or fiber membranes (e.g., having no porous support). In one example, the one or more membranes are crosslinked silicone or organopolysiloxane free standing hollow tube or fiber membranes (e.g., having no porous support). The one or more hollow tube or fiber membranes can be in the form of a modular cartridge, such that the one or more membranes can be easily replaced or maintained. In one embodiment, the inside of the one or more hollow tube or fiber membranes can be the first side of the one or more membranes, and the outside of the one or more hollow tube or fiber membranes can be the second side of the one or more membranes. In another embodiment, the outside of the one or more hollow tube or fiber membranes can be the first side of the one or more membranes, and the inside of the one or more hollow tube or fiber membranes can be the second side of the one or more membranes. In some examples, a pressure difference is maintained between the first and second side of the one or more hollow tube or fiber membranes.

[0084] In some embodiments, various embodiments of the present invention can provide a module that allows limited or no heat transfer from a sweep medium to the feed gas mixture or vice versa. In other embodiments, various embodiments of the present invention can provide a module that allows substantial heat transfer from a sweep medium to the feed gas mixture or vice versa. For example, the present invention can provide a system that allows concurrent heat and mass exchange between the feed gas mixture and a sweep medium. [0085] In some embodiments of the present invention, the membrane is supported on a porous or highly permeable non-porous substrate. The substrate can be any suitable substrate. A supported membrane has the majority of the surface area of at least one of the two major sides of the membrane contacting a porous or highly permeable non-porous substrate. A supported membrane on a porous substrate can be referred to as a composite membrane, where the membrane is a composite of the membrane and the porous substrate. The porous substrate on which the supported membrane is located can allow gases or liquids to pass through the pores and to reach the membrane. The supported membrane can be attached (e.g., adhered) to the porous substrate. The supported membrane can be in contact with the substrate without being adhered. The porous substrate can be partially integrated, fully integrated, or not integrated into the membrane.

[0086] In some embodiments, the membrane is unsupported, also referred to as freestanding. The majority of the surface area on each of the two major sides of a membrane that is free-standing is not contacting a substrate, whether the substrate is porous or not. In some embodiments, a membrane that is free-standing can be 100% unsupported. A membrane that is free-standing can be supported at the edges or at the minority (e.g., less than 50%) of the surface area on either or both major sides of the membrane. A free-standing membrane can have any suitable shape, regardless of the percent of the free-standing membrane that is supported. Examples of suitable shapes for free-standing membranes include, for example, squares, rectangles, circles, tubes, cubes, spheres, cones, cylinders, and planar sections thereof, with any thickness, including variable thicknesses.

[0087] The membrane can be made of any suitable materials, such as organic material, silicone, inorganic materials, or any combination thereof, such that the method can be performed as described herein. The membrane can be polymeric. The membrane can be porous, and can optionally include a dense skin. In some embodiments, the membrane is porous with a hydrophobic coating. In some embodiments, the membrane has a porous support wherein the pores are filled with a highly permeable polymer. The membrane can include a polymer such as cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, a cellulose ester, polysulfone, a polyether sulfone, polyacrylonitrile, polyamide, polyimide, a polyethylene, a polypropylene,

polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl chloride, or a polyorganopolysiloxane such as polydimethylsiloxane. The membrane can include poly(etheretherketone) (PEEK), a polybenzimidazole, a polystyrene, a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, a polyvinylalcohol, a polyether, a polyaryletherketones, a polyester, a polyacetylene, a poly(1 -trimethylsilyl-1 - propyne), a poly(methylpentene), a fluroropolymer such as a polytetrafluoroethylene or a poly(perfluorovinyl ether), a polycarbonate, or an epoxy resin. The membrane can include a polymer that is crosslinked or not crosslinked. For example, the membrane can include a crosslinked polymer, such as a polyvinyl polymer (e.g., polyvinyl chloride), a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber such as polyisoprene or polybutadiene, an EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer) rubber, a nitrile rubber, an acrylic rubber, a fluoroacrylate rubber, a polyurethane, polyisobutylene, a silicone, or a fluorosilicone. In some embodiments, the membrane can include a thermoplastic (e.g., free of chemical crosslinks), such as a styrenic block copolymer, a thermoplastic polyolefin blend or copolymer, a thermoplastic polyurethane, an elastomeric alloy, thermoplastic polyester copolymer, a polyester-polyether copolymer, a polyamide-polyether copolymer, or a silicone thermoplastic. In some embodiments, the membrane can include materials crosslinked through ionic associations, such as metal salts of carboxylated, sulfonated or maleated polymers and blends of ionic and non-ionic polymers comprising such compounds. The membrane can include materials crosslinked chemically or non-chemically through physical crosslinks in phase-separated domains. The membrane can be a ceramic membrane, including inorganic materials such as alumina, titania, zirconia oxides, silicon carbide, or glassy materials. The membrane can be a silicone membrane, such as an organopolysiloxane membrane.

[0088] The one or more membranes can include the cured product of an organosilicon composition. The organosilicon composition can be any suitable organosilicon composition. The curing of the organosilicon composition gives a cured product of the organosilicon composition. The curable organosilicon composition includes at least one suitable

organopolysiloxane compound. The silicone composition includes suitable ingredients to allow the composition to be curable in any suitable fashion. In addition to the at least one suitable polysiloxane, the organosilicon composition can include any suitable additional ingredients, including any suitable organic or inorganic component, including components that do not include silicon, or including components that do not include a polysiloxane structure. In some examples, the cured product of the silicone composition includes a polysiloxane.

[0089] The curable silicon composition can include molecular components that have properties that allow the composition to be cured. In some embodiments, the properties that allow the silicone composition to be cured are specific functional groups. In some

embodiments, an individual compound contains functional groups or has properties that allow the silicone composition to be cured by one or more curing methods. In some embodiments, one compound can contain functional groups or have properties that allow the silicone composition to be cured in one fashion, while another compound can contain functional groups or have properties that allow the silicone composition to be cured in the same or a different fashion. The functional groups that allow for curing can be located at pendant or, if applicable, terminal positions in the compound.

[0090] The curable silicon composition can include an organosilicon compound. The organosilicon compound can be any organosilicon compound. The organosilicon compound can be, for example, a silane (e.g, an organosilane), a polysilane (e.g., an organopolysilane), a siloxane (e.g., an organosiloxane such as an organomonosiloxane or an organopolysiloxane), a polysiloxane (e.g., an organopolysiloxane), or a polysiloxane-organic copolymer, such as any suitable one of such compound as known in the art. The curable silicone composition can contain any number of suitable organosilicon compounds, and any number of suitable organic compounds. An organosilicon compound can include any functional group that allows for curing.

[0091] In some embodiments, the organosilicon compound can include a silicon-bonded hydrogen atom, such as organohydrogensilane or an organohydrogensiloxane. In some embodiments, the organosilicon compound can include an alkenyl group, such as an organoalkenylsilane or an organoalkenyl siloxane. In other embodiments, the organosilicon compound can include any functional group that allows for curing. The organosilane can be a monosilane, disilane, trisilane, or polysilane. Similarly, the organosiloxane can be a disiloxane, trisiloxane, or polysiloxane. The structure of the organosilicon compound can be linear, branched, cyclic, or resinous. Cyclosilanes and cyclosiloxanes can have from 3 to 12 silicon atoms, alternatively from 3 to 10 silicon atoms, alternatively from 3 to 4 silicon atoms.

[0092] The organosilicon compound can be an organopolysiloxane compound. In some examples, the organopolysiloxane compound has an average of at least one, two, or more than two functional groups that allow for curing. The organopolysiloxane compound can have a linear, branched, cyclic, or resinous structure. The organopolysiloxane compound can be a homopolymer or a copolymer. The organopolysiloxane compound can be a disiloxane, trisiloxane, or polysiloxane. The organopolysiloxane compound can be a single

organopolysiloxane or a combination including two or more organopolysiloxanes that differ in at least one of the following properties: structure, viscosity, average molecular weight, siloxane units, and sequence.

Sweep medium.

[0093] In some embodiments, a sweep medium such as a silicone fluid can be used to sweep the shell-side or bore-side of a hollow fiber membrane module, or to contact the feed gas mixture in a liquid contactor, to add or remove water from a feed gas mixture. In some embodiments, the sweep liquid can then be regenerated for re-use. For example, the sweep medium can be prepared to use again to hydrate (water can be added to the sweep medium) or dehydrate (water can be removed from the sweep medium) a feed gas mixture such as through the use of a second module, or by use of another liquid contactor to contact the sweep liquid with ambient air or another sweep medium. In some embodiments, the water can be desorbed from the sweep fluid using a higher temperature than used during the absorption, optionally without the use of a vacuum pump. In some embodiments including absorption and desorption, the absorption can be performed with at least one of a colder temperature of the sweep medium and a higher pressure of the surrounding environment (e.g., gaseous environment) in contact with the sweep medium, while during desorption at least one of a higher temperature of the sweep medium and a lower pressure of surrounding environment (e.g., gaseous environment) in contact with the sweep medium is used. In some embodiments, the sweep medium absorbs water vapor across a membrane from a feed gas mixture, and the sweep medium is then regenerated either by direct contact with air or dry gas or by desorption across a membrane to air or dry gas. In some embodiments, the sweep medium is recirculated for reuse without being regenerated (e.g., multiple passes). In some embodiments, a sweep fluid containing sorbed water or that has been desorbed is not regenerated immediately but sent to another process or stored for future use.

[0094] The present invention provides methods of using a membrane or liquid contactor in combination with a sweep medium. In a dehumidification embodiment, the sweep medium can be contacted to the second side of a membrane to help sweep away some or substantially all of the water that permeates through the membrane into the second side, thus helping maintain a strong driving force for mass transfer of the water across the membrane. In a humidification embodiment, the sweep medium can be contacted to the second side of the membrane to provide water that permeates through the membrane into the first side. With a membrane or liquid contactor, the feed gas mixture and sweep medium can have any suitable flow configuration with respect to one another. The movement of the sweep medium can lessen the concentration of the water immediately adjacent the membrane or immediately adjacent the feed gas mixture in a liquid contactor, which can increase the rate of transfer of the water. By moving the feed gas mixture and sweep medium with respect to one another, the amount of the feed gas mixture and sweep medium contacting the membrane over a given time, or contacting one another in a liquid contactor, can be increased or maximized, which can improve the humidification or dehumidification performance of the membrane by increasing or optimizing the transfer of the water. In some examples, the feed gas mixture and sweep medium flow in similar directions. In other examples, the feed gas mixture and sweep medium flow in at least one of countercurrent or crosscurrent flow. Flow configurations can include multiple flow patterns, for example about 10%, 20 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90% of the feed gas mixture and sweep medium can have a crosscurrent flow while the other about 90%, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, or 10% of the feed gas mixture and sweep medium have a countercurrent flow, a similar flow direction (e.g., co-current flow), or a radial flow direction with respect to one another (e.g., bore flow along length while sweep flow is along a radial direction). Any suitable combination of flow patterns is encompassed within embodiments of the present invention. The flow rate of the feed gas mixture and the flow rate of the sweep medium can be independently adjusted to give any suitable feed gas mixture to sweep medium flow ratio. There can be an optimum range of feed gas mixture to sweep medium flow ratios to accomplish a desired amount of humidification or dehumidification for a given system, configuration, and operating conditions. When a sweep liquid is used to assist in removal of water from a feed gas mixture, the optimal feed gas mixture to sweep liquid flow ratio can be different from the optimal ratio for a process where the water is removed from the feed gas mixture into a sweep medium.

[0095] The sweep medium can include a vacuum, ambient pressure, or greater than ambient pressure. The sweep medium can include a gas, a liquid, or a combination of a gas or liquid. The gas can be any suitable gas, such as ambient air, compressed air, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, or argon. The liquid can be any suitable liquid, such as an aqueous liquid, an organic solvent, or a silicon fluid such as an organosilicon fluid. The vacuum can be any suitable vacuum, and can be based on at least one of the vapor pressure of the water at the temperature used, the temperature of the system, and the flow rates of the feed gas mixture and the sweep medium. For example, the vacuum can be 0.000,01 bar to about 1 bar, or about 0.001 bar to about 0.5 bar, or about 0.000,01 bar or less, about 0.000,1 bar, 0.001 , 0.01 , 0.1 , 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or about 1 bar or more. A vacuum pump can be preceded by a trap, such that water does not enter the pump.

[0096] In some embodiments, such as humidification embodiments, the sweep medium can be water or can include a large proportion of water. For example, the sweep medium can be 100 wt% water, or about 99 wt%, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 92, 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or about 1 wt% or less water. In some embodiments, such a dehumidification embodiments, the sweep medium can be air having less water therein than the feed gas mixture desired to be dehumidified, such as air taken from a drier location in the environment (e.g., a different part of the building). [0097] In some embodiments, the sweep medium includes an organosilicon fluid, such as about 0.1 wt% or less, or 1 wt%, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 96, 97, 97, 98, 99, or about 99.9 wt% or more. The organosilicon fluid can be at least one of absorbent and adsorbent, e.g., the organosilicon fluid can be a sorbent fluid. The organosilicon fluid can include at least one of an organosiloxane and an organosilane. In some embodiments, the organosilicon fluid is substantially non-volatile and having a modest moderate viscosity, such as 10 to 500 cP at 1 rad/s, to be pumpable and stable at the temperatures of use without using excessive energy to convey the fluid. The sweep fluid can be substantially non-reactive with the water, contaminants, or pollutants being absorbed, and optionally non-reactive with the other components of the feed gas mixture.

[0098] The organosilicon fluid includes at least one organosilicon compound, and can additionally include any other suitable compound, including any suitable organic or inorganic component, including components that do not include silicon, including any suitable solvent or non-solvent. The organosilicon fluid can be, for example, a silane (e.g, an organosilane), a polysilane (e.g., an organopolysilane), a siloxane (e.g., an organosiloxane such as an organomonosiloxane or an organopolysiloxane), or a polysiloxane (e.g., an

organopolysiloxane), such as any suitable one of such compound as known in the art. The organosilane can be a monosilane, disilane, trisilane, or polysilane. Similarly, the

organosiloxane can be a disiloxane, trisiloxane, or polysiloxane. The structure of the

organosilicon compound can be linear, branched, cyclic, or resinous. Cyclosilanes and cyclosiloxanes can have from 3 to 12 silicon atoms, alternatively from 3 to 10 silicon atoms, alternatively from 3 to 4 silicon atoms.

[0099] The sweep medium has properties that allow it to absorb or desorb the water at a suitable speed and at sufficient quantity, such that a sufficiently efficient humidification or dehumidification process occurs. In an embodiment including desorption of the water from the sweep medium (humidification of feed gas mixture, or removal of water from sweep medium for reuse in a dehumidification process), the sweep medium has properties that allow it to desorb the water to achieve a suitably low concentration of the water in the sweep medium over a suitably short period of time, such that a sufficiently efficient humidification or dehumidification process occurs. While some sweep mediums, such as liquids including organosilicon fluids, can have the right balance of properties allowing efficient combined absorption and desorption processes, others can be better suited for either absorption or desorption process.

[00100] In various embodiments, the organosilicon fluid can include an organosilicon (e.g., an organopolysiloxane, an organosiloxane, or an organosilane) having at least one silicon- bonded substituent chosen from any suitable hygroscopic group, or chosen from at least one of -OH, -H, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted (C-| -C2o)hydrocarbyl having at least one -OH substituent (e.g., 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or more -OH substituents) and interrupted or terminated with 0, 1 , 2, or 3 groups selected from -0-, -NH-, and -S-, a substituted or unsubstituted (C-| -

C2fj)hydrocarbyloxy (e.g., alkoxy, such as methoxy, or acyloxy, such as acetoxy), an ether or polyether (e.g., terminated with a hydroxy group or a (C-| -C2o)alkyl group, having a degree of polymerization of about 2 to about 1 ,000, 3-100, 4-50, 5-20, or about 6-10, wherein the ether or polyether is bonded via an alkyl group or via an oxygen-atom, optionally including a (C-| -

C2o)a!kyl spacer), acrylate (e.g., bonded via C2 or C3 carbon or via an oxygen-atom, optionally including a (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl spacer), methacrylate (e.g., bonded via 02, 03, or methyl carbon, or via an oxygen-atom, optionally including a (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl spacer), acrylamide (e.g., bonded via 02 or 03 carbon, or via a nitrogen-atom, optionally including a (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl spacer), methacrylamide (e.g., bonded via 02, 03, or methyl carbon, or via a nitrogen-atom, optionally including a (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl spacer), carboxylate or a salt or (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl ester thereof (e.g., bonded via 01 carbon or oxygen atom, optionally including a (C1 -C20)alkyl spacer), a saccharide or polysaccharide (e.g., the organosilicon fluid can be a sugar silicone), a peptide, and a cellulose, e.g., about 0.001 mole% or less, or about 0.01 , 0.1 , 0.5, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or about 99.9 mole% or more of one or more of such groups, or about 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or about 100 or more groups on average per molecule. In some embodiments, one or more silicon-bonded substituents are bonded to non-terminal silicon atoms. In an organopolysiloxane, the mole percent of silicon-bonded functional groups is the ratio of the number of moles of siloxane units in the organopolysiloxane having the silicon- bonded group to the total number of moles of siloxane units in the organopolysiloxane, multiplied by 100.

[00101 ] In some examples, an organosilicon including at least one hydroxy group can be a hydroxydiorganosilyl-terminated polydiorganosiloxane, such as a hydroxydimethylsilyl- terminated polydimethylsiloxane, a hydroxymethylvinylsilyl-terminated polymethylvinylsiloxane, a hydroxy-terminated polymethylvinylsiloxane-polydimethylsiloxane random copolymer, a hydroxydiorganosilyl-terminated polyalkyl(haloalkyl)siloxane, a

hydroxymethyl(trifluoromethylethyl)silyl-terminated polymethyl(trifluoromethylethyl)siloxane, a hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane oligomer diol, a hydroxy-terminated oligomeric trifluoropropyl methylsiloxane, a hydroxy-terminated 3-(3-hydroxypropyl)-heptamethyltrisiloxane which has been ethoxylated (e.g., poly(ethylene oxide) substituted at one or more hydroxy groups, a hydroxy-terminated heptamethyl-3-(propyl(poly(ethylene oxide))trisiloxane), an acetoxy- or methoxy-terminated heptamethyl-3-(propyl(poly(ethylene oxide))trisiloxane, a poly(ethylene oxide)-substituted heptamethyltrisiloxane having an acetoxy or a methoxy cap on the polyether wherein the polyether substituent can be on a terminal siloxane group or a nonterminal siloxane group, and blends of such organopolysiloxanes.

[00102] In some embodiments, the organosilicon fluid is an organosilane fluid. In one example, an organosilane can have the formula R^Si-F^-SiR^, wherein R^ is silicon-bonded substituent chosen from any suitable hygroscopic group, or chosen from at least one of -OH, -H, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted (C-| -C2o)hydrocarbyl having at least one -OH substituent

(e.g., 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or more -OH substituents) and interrupted or terminated with 0, 1 , 2, or 3 groups selected from -0-, -NH-, and -S-, a substituted or unsubstituted (C-| -C2o)hydrocarbyloxy

(e.g., alkoxy, such as methoxy, or acyloxy, such as acetoxy), an ether or polyether (e.g., terminated with a hydroxy group or a (C-i -C^oJa!kyl group, having a degree of polymerization of about 2 to about 1 ,000, 3-100, 4-50, 5-20, or about 6-10, wherein the ether or polyether is bonded via an alkyl group or via an oxygen-atom, optionally including a (C-i -C^nJa!kyl spacer), acrylate (e.g., bonded via C2 or C3 carbon or via an oxygen-atom, optionally including a (C-| - C2o)a!kyl spacer), methacrylate (e.g., bonded via C2, C3, or methyl carbon, or via an oxygen- atom, optionally including a (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl spacer), acrylamide (e.g., bonded via C2 or C3 carbon, or via a nitrogen-atom, optionally including a (C-i -C^nJa!kyl spacer), methacrylamide (e.g., bonded via C2, C3, or methyl carbon, or via a nitrogen-atom, optionally including a (C-| - C^nJa!kyl spacer), carboxylate or a salt or (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl ester thereof (e.g., bonded via C1 carbon or oxygen atom, optionally including a (C1 -C20)alkyl spacer), a saccharide or polysaccharide (e.g., the organosilicon fluid can be a sugar silicone), a peptide, and a cellulose.

The variable R² can be a hydrocarbylene group free of aliphatic unsaturation, such as having a formula selected from monoaryl such as 1 ,4-disubstituted phenyl, 1 ,3-disubstituted phenyl; or bisaryl such as 4,4'-disubstituted-1 ,1 '-biphenyl, 3, 3'-disubstituted-1 ,1 '-biphenyl, or similar bisaryl with a hydrocarbon chain including 1 to 6 methylene groups bridging one aryl group to another.

[00103] In various embodiments, the organosilicon fluid can include or can be an organosiloxane fluid. In some embodiments, the organosiloxane fluid can include an

organopolysiloxane compound. An organopolysiloxane compound can be nonfunctionalized, having only alkyl groups substituted to each siloxy group. An organopolysiloxane compound can be functionalized, having groups other than alkyl groups (e.g., other than methyl groups) substituted to at least one siloxy group, such as silicon-bonded substituent chosen from any suitable hygroscopic group, or chosen from at least one of -OH, -H, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted (C-| -C2o)hydrocarbyl having at least one -OH substituent (e.g., 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or more -OH substituents) and interrupted or terminated with 0, 1 , 2, or 3 groups selected from -O- , -NH-, and -S-, a substituted or unsubstituted (C-| -C2o)hydrocarbyloxy (e.g., alkoxy, such as methoxy, or acyloxy, such as acetoxy), an ether or polyether (e.g., terminated with a hydroxy group or a (C-i -C^nJa!kyl group, having a degree of polymerization of about 2 to about 1 ,000, 3-

100, 4-50, 5-20, or about 6-10, wherein the ether or polyether is bonded via an alkyl group or via an oxygen-atom, optionally including a (C-i -C^oJa!kyl spacer), acrylate (e.g., bonded via C2 or

C3 carbon or via an oxygen-atom, optionally including a (C-i -C^nJa!kyl spacer), methacrylate

(e.g., bonded via C2, C3, or methyl carbon, or via an oxygen-atom, optionally including a (C-| -

C^nJa!kyl spacer), acrylamide (e.g., bonded via C2 or C3 carbon, or via a nitrogen-atom, optionally including a (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl spacer), methacrylamide (e.g., bonded via C2, C3, or methyl carbon, or via a nitrogen-atom, optionally including a (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl spacer), carboxylate or a salt or (C-| -C2o)a^|kyl ester thereof (e.g., bonded via C1 carbon or oxygen atom, optionally including a (C1 -C20)alkyl spacer), a saccharide or polysaccharide (e.g., the organosilicon fluid can be a sugar silicone), a peptide, and a cellulose. In some examples, the organopolysiloxane compound has an average of at least one, two, or more than two non-alkyl (e.g., non-methyl) functional groups per molecule. The organopolysiloxane compound can have a linear, branched, cyclic, or resinous structure. The organopolysiloxane compound can be a

homopolymer or a copolymer. The organopolysiloxane compound can be a disiloxane, trisiloxane, or polysiloxane. In some embodiments, the organosilicon fluid includes

predominantly one or more organopolysiloxanes. In various embodiments, the sweep medium or the silicone fluid can include 0.1 wt% or less organopolysiloxane, or 1 wt%, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 96, 97, 97, 98, 99, or about 99.9 wt% or more

organopolysiloxanes. In some embodiments, the sweep medium or the silicone fluid can include about 1 -99.9999 wt%, 40-99.999 wt%, or about 60-99.99 wt% organopolysiloxanes.

[00104] The sweep medium can include one compound or more than one compound. In some embodiments, the sweep medium can include a silicone fluid, an organic oil, a polyether, or halogen-substituted versions thereof. The sweep medium can include one or more organic compounds dissolved or suspended therein, wherein the compounds can be liquid, solid, or gas (e.g., in pure form at standard temperature and pressure). In some embodiments the sweep medium can include or can be a salt solution, such as lithium chloride, lithium bromide, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The sweep medium may also optionally contain heat stabilizers, antifoams, rheology modifiers, corrosion inhibitors, acid scavengers, base scavengers, dyes, pigments, surfactants, or a combination thereof, such as to make the solution more amenable to extended use and monitoring.

[00105] A particular sweep medium has a characteristic speed with which it can absorb or desorb a given quantity of water. Different sweep mediums can have different abilities to absorb water, with regard to the amount of the water that can be absorbed, and the

concentration of water at which the sweep medium begins to become saturated. As the sweep medium becomes saturated with water, the rate of absorption can decrease. When the sweep medium is relatively depleted of water, as compared to the concentration at which saturation begins to occur, the rate of absorption of water can be higher. Therefore, to maximize the efficiency of the removal of water from the feed gas mixture, the sweep medium can be depleted in the water (as compared to a saturated or semi-saturated state).

[00106] In some embodiments, the organopolysiloxane can include only siloxy-repeating units (e.g., can be non-copolymeric). In other embodiments, the organopolysiloxane can be a copolymer that includes at least one other repeating unit in addition to siloxy-repeating units. In some examples, the other repeating unit in the copolymer can be formed by a water-compatible organic polymer, an alcohol-compatible organic polymer, or any combination thereof.

Optional Ingredients

[00107] Any optional ingredient described herein can be present in the membrane, in the composition that forms the membrane, or in the sweep medium (e.g., at a concentration of about 0.001 wt% or less, or about 0.005 wt%, 0.01 , 0.05, 0.1 , 0.5, 1 , 1 .5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 98, 99, or about 99.9 wt% or more); alternatively, any optional ingredient described herein can be absent from the membrane, the composition that forms the membrane, or the sweep medium. Without limitation, examples of such optional additional components include surfactants, emulsifiers, dispersants, polymeric stabilizers, crosslinking agents, combinations of polymers, crosslinking agents, catalysts useful for providing a secondary polymerization or crosslinking of particles, rheology modifiers, density modifiers, aziridine stabilizers, cure modifiers such as hydroquinone and hindered amines, free- radical initiators, polymers, diluents, acid acceptors, antioxidants, heat stabilizers, flame retardants, scavenging agents, silylating agents, foam stabilizers, solvents, diluents, plasticizers, fillers and inorganic particles, pigments, dyes and dessicants. Liquids can optionally be used. An example of a liquid includes water, an organic solvent, any liquid organic compound, a silicone liquid, a salt solution, organic oils, ionic fluids, and supercritical fluids. Other optional ingredients include polyethers having at least one alkenyl group per molecule, thickening agents, fillers and inorganic particles, stabilizing agents, waxes or wax-like materials, silicones, organofunctional siloxanes, alkylmethylsiloxanes, siloxane resins, silicone gums, silicone carbinol fluids can be optional components, water soluble or water dispersible silicone polyether compositions, silicone rubber, hydrosilylation catalyst inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, adhesion promoters, heat stabilizers, UV stabilizers, and flow control additives.

System or apparatus.

[00108] In various embodiments the present invention provides an HVAC system or apparatus including a radiant heat transfer device in fluid communication with a membrane module or a liquid contacting device. The membrane module or liquid contacting device can enrich or deplete water in a feed gas mixture including air. The HVAC system or apparatus can be any suitable system or apparatus that can be used to perform an embodiment of a method of humidifying or dehumidifying air as described herein.

[00109] In some embodiments, the present invention provides an HVAC system for dehumidifying ambient air. The HVAC system includes a radiant heat transfer device in fluid communication with a membrane module or a liquid contacting device. The membrane module can include a first membrane, and a feed gas mixture including at least water vapor and ambient air contacting the first side of the first membrane. The membrane module can include a permeate mixture on the second side of the first membrane, wherein the permeate mixture is formed by the contacting and is enriched in water. The membrane module can include a retentate mixture on the first side of the first membrane that is formed by the contacting, wherein the retentate mixture is depleted in water. The liquid contacting device can include a feed gas mixture including at least water vapor and ambient air. The liquid contacting device can include a feed gas mixture contacting a liquid sorbent material, wherein the liquid sorbent material is enriched in water by the contacting and the feed gas mixture is depleted in water by the contacting.

[00110] In some embodiments, the HVAC system utilizes a chilled water supply that provides cold water at a temperature sufficient for both cooling the indoor air in a radiant heat transfer device and for removing humidity from the air stream through absorption into the sorbent fluid in a contactor or membrane. In some embodiments, the HVAC system utilizes a heated water supply that provides warm water at a temperature sufficient for both heating the indoor air in a radiant heat transfer device and for introducing humidity to the air stream through desorption from the sorbent fluid or water in a contactor or membrane. In some embodiments, the HVAC system utilizes multiple membrane modules or liquid contactors with multiple radiant heat transfer devices to provide decentralized climate control. In some embodiments, the HVAC system utilizes multiple membrane modules or liquid contactors with multiple radiant heat transfer devices to provide decentralized climate control, but with a single centralized array or bank of one or more membrane modules or contactors for regeneration of the sorbent fluid. In some embodiments, the HVAC utilizes a centralized array or bank of one more membrane modules or contactors for absorption of water vapor, and a centralized membrane bank of one or more membrane modules or contactors for regeneration (desorption) of the sorbent fluid. Whether centralized or decentralized, the absorption and desorption units can be located anywhere inside or outside the building, including between floors, in the walls, on the roof, and located on any interior or exterior surface including walls, windows, floors, ceilings, sub-floors and basements, and roofs. In some embodiments, the membrane or contacting units are also each in fluid communication with an air filter that reduces dust and particulates in the air stream prior to entry of the air into the membrane or contacting unit.

[00111 ] In some embodiments, the present invention provides an HVAC system for humidifying ambient air. The HVAC system includes a radiant heat transfer device in fluid communication with a membrane module or a liquid contacting device. The membrane module can include a first membrane, and a feed gas mixture including at least dry ambient air contacting the first side of the first membrane. The membrane module includes a sweep liquid including water that is contacting the second side of the first membrane. The membrane module includes a permeate mixture on the first side of the first membrane, wherein the permeate mixture is formed by the contacting of the feed gas mixture to the membrane and the contacting of the sweep liquid to the membrane, and wherein the permeate mixture is enriched in water. The membrane module includes a retentate mixture on the second side of the first membrane, wherein the retentate mixture is formed by the contacting of the feed gas mixture to the membrane and the contacting of the sweep liquid to the membrane, and wherein the retentate mixture is depleted in water.

Examples [00112] Various embodiments of the present invention can be better understood by reference to the following Examples which are offered by way of illustration. The present invention is not limited to the Examples given herein.

[00113] Silicone sorbent Fluid A was a heptamethyl-3-(propyl(poly(ethylene

oxide))trisiloxane, wherein the polyether had a number average degree of polymerization of 8 and the polyether was acetoxy-capped. Silicone sorbent Fluid B was a heptamethyl-3- (propyl(poly(ethylene oxide))trisiloxane, wherein the polyether had a number average degree of polymerization of 8 and the polyether was methoxy-capped.

Reference Example 1 . Silicone Membrane Contactor Dehumidification.

[00114] An air and water vapor mixture was fed to an absorption membrane module consisting of silicone hollow fiber membranes. The air and water vapor mixture entered the tube side of the absorption hollow fiber membrane module. Silicone sorbent fluids were pumped on the shell side of the absorption hollow fiber membrane module, countercurrent to the air flow. Water vapor was removed from the feed air and water vapor mixture by transfer of water vapor through the membrane and into the silicone sorbent fluids. Dehumidified air exited the absorption hollow fiber membrane module. Water vapor was removed from the silicone sorbent fluids by pumping said liquids, at an elevated temperature, on the shell side of a desorption membrane module consisting of silicone hollow fiber membranes. An air and water vapor mixture entered the tube side of the desorption hollow fiber membrane module, countercurrent to the liquid flow. Water vapor was removed from the silicone sorbent fluids by transfer of water vapor through the membrane and into the air and water vapor mixture. The regenerated liquid was pumped to the absorption membrane module in a continuous, steady- state, closed-loop process. The available contact area of both the absorption and desorption membrane modules was 2.1 m² each, based on the outer diameter of the hollow fiber.

[00115] Table 1 . Silicone membrane contactor dehumidification data, including the silicone sorbent fluids used (1 ), the thickness of the silicone membrane in the absorption and desorption modules (2), the inlet silicone polyether liquid temperatures to the absorption (3) and desorption (4) membrane modules, the silicone polyether liquid flow rates (5), the air and water vapor mixture flow rate to the absorption (6) and desorption (7) modules, the dew point of the air and water vapor mixture entering the absorption module (8), the dew point of the air and water vapor mixture exiting the absorption module (9), and the change in dew point between the air and water vapor mixture entering and exiting the absorption module (10). Table 1

Reference Example 2. Silicone Membrane Contactor Humidification.

[00116] Dry air at 0% RH was fed to a membrane module consisting of silicone hollow fiber membranes. The dry air entered the tube side of the hollow fiber membrane module. Liquid water was pumped on the shell side of the hollow fiber membrane module,

countercurrent to the air flow.

[00117] Table 2. Silicone membrane contactor humidification data, including the liquid water flow rate (1 ), the liquid water temperature (2), the bone-dry air flow rate (3), the relative humidity of the air stream exiting the membrane module (4), and the dew point of the air stream exiting the membrane module (5).

Table 2

Reference Example 3. Packed Column Dehumidification.

[00118] An air and water vapor mixture was fed to an absorption packed column consisting of randomly packed Rashig rings. The air and water vapor mixture entered at the bottom side of the absorption packed column. Silicone sorbent fluids were pumped into the top side of the absorption packed column, countercurrent to the air flow. Water vapor was removed from the feed air and water vapor mixture by transfer of water vapor into the silicone sorbent fluids. Dehumidified air exited the absorption packed column. Water vapor was removed from the silicone sorbent fluids by pumping said liquids, at an elevated temperature, into the top side of a desorption packed column consisting of randomly packed Rashig rings. An air and water vapor mixture entered the bottom side of the desorption packed column, countercurrent to the liquid flow. Water vapor was removed from the silicone sorbent fluids by transfer of water vapor into the air and water vapor mixture. The regenerated liquid was pumped to the absorption packed column in a continuous, steady-state, closed-loop process. The available contact area of both the absorption and desorption packed columns was 2.1 m² each.

[00119] Table 3. Packed column dehumidification data, including the silicone sorbent fluids used (1 ), the inlet silicone polyether liquid temperatures to the absorption (2) and desorption (3) packed columns, the silicone polyether liquid flow rates (4), the air and water vapor mixture flow rate to the absorption (5) and desorption (6) packed columns, the dew point of the air and water vapor mixture entering the absorption packed column (7), the dew point of the air and water vapor mixture exiting the absorption packed column (8), and the change in dew point between the air and water vapor mixture entering and exiting the absorption packed column (9).

Table 3

Reference Example 4. Organic Membrane Contactor Dehumidification.

[00120] An air and water vapor mixture was fed to an organic membrane module consisting of fluoropolymer hollow fiber membranes. The air and water vapor mixture entered the tube side of the absorption hollow fiber membrane module. Silicone sorbent fluids were pumped on the shell side of the absorption hollow fiber membrane module, countercurrent to the air flow. Water vapor was removed from the feed air and water vapor mixture by transfer of water vapor through the membrane and into the silicone sorbent fluids. Dehumidified air exited the absorption hollow fiber membrane module. The available contact area of the absorption membrane modules was 0.7 m², based on the outer diameter of the hollow fiber.

[00121 ] Table 4. Organic membrane contactor dehumidification data, including the silicone sorbent fluids used (1 ), the inlet silicone polyether liquid temperature to the absorption membrane module (2) , the silicone polyether liquid flow rates (3), the air and water vapor mixture flow rate to the absorption module (4), the dew point of the air and water vapor mixture entering the absorption module (5), the dew point of the air and water vapor mixture exiting the absorption module (6), and the change in dew point between the air and water vapor mixture entering and exiting the absorption module (7).

Table 4

Reference Example 5. Control of Zonal Dew Point by Centralized Air Dehumidification in Conjunction with Zonal Dry-bulb Temperature Control by Active Chilled Beams.

[00122] The sensible heat of three separate 1000 ft² zones, denoted as Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C, in a commercial building is controlled via four active chilled beams in each zone, each beam 6 ft x 2 ft, to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C in Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C. Chilled water at 15°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the chilled beams to cool the supply air, defined as the combination of primary air and induction air, and control the dry-bulb temperature. The desired dew point set point in Zone A is 10°C, the desired dew point set point in Zone B is 12°C, and the desired dew point set point in Zone C is 14°C. A total of 1080 cfm of humid air, at a dew point of 20°C, is dehumidified at a central location by any viable method including cooling by refrigeration or chilled water to condense and remove water, contacting air with a desiccant wheel to remove water vapor, or contacting air either directly or indirectly with a liquid desiccant to remove water vapor. The 1080 cfm of centrally-dehumidified air is distributed to each zone such that Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C each receives 360 cfm of centrally- dehumidified air. The 360 cfm of centrally-dehumidified air that each zone receives is considered the primary air source for the active chilled beams. In order to achieve the desired dew point set points for Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C, the dew point of the centrally- dehumidified air must be at least 10°C to meet the minimum zone dew point (that being Zone A, 10°C). The flow of air in the central dehumidification system of this Example is illustrated in Figure 1 .

Comparative Prophetic Example 1 . Condensation of Water Vapor on Chilled Water Pipes.

[00123] The sensible heat of a 1000 ft² zone in a commercial building is controlled via four active chilled beams, each 6 ft x 2 ft, to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C. A total of 360 cfm primary air is distributed to the four active chilled beams. The dew point of the primary air is 18°C and the dew point of the air in the zone is 14°C. The active chilled beams are designed to have an induction ratio of 2:1 , resulting in a supply air stream, defined as the combination of primary air and induction air, of 1080 cfm air. The dew point of the supply air is 15°C. Chilled water at 15°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the chilled beams to cool the supply air and control the dry-bulb temperature. Water vapor in the primary air and supply air will condense on the pipe or pipes transferring chilled water in the chilled beams. This is a result of the temperature of the outside of the chilled water pipe or pipes being less than the dew point of primary air and supply air.

Comparative Prophetic Example 2. Dry Zonal Conditions.

[00124] The sensible heat of a 1000 ft² zone in a commercial building is controlled via four radiant heat beams, each 6 ft x 2 ft, in which hot water flows through pipes and transfers heat to air to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C. A total of 360 cfm primary air is distributed to the four radiant heat beams. The dew point of the primary air is 5°C and the dew point of the air in the zone is 5°C. The radiant heat beams are designed to have an induction ratio of 2:1 , resulting in a supply air stream, defined as the combination of primary air and induction air, of 1080 cfm air. The dew point of the supply air is 5°C. Hot water at 80°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the radiant heat beams to heat the supply air and control the dry- bulb temperature. The supply air dew point is 5°C and is considered too low for comfort.

Prophetic Example 1 .

[00125] The sensible heat of a 1000 ft² zone in a commercial building is controlled via four active chilled beams, each 6 ft x 2 ft, to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C. A total of 360 cfm primary air is distributed to the four active chilled beams. The dew point of the primary air is 18°C and the dew point of the air in the zone is 14°C. The active chilled beams are designed to have an induction ratio of 2:1 , resulting in a supply air stream, defined as the combination of primary air and induction air, of 1080 cfm air. Silicone hollow fiber membrane absorption modules are placed upstream of each of the active chilled beams to dehumidify primary air before it enters the beams. Primary air is fed to the tube side of the modules. Fluid A is pumped on the shell side of the modules, countercurrent to the air flow. Akin to Reference Example 1 , the dew point of the primary air is reduced from 18°C to 14°C. The dew point of the supply air is 14°C. Chilled water at 15°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the chilled beams to cool the supply air and control the dry-bulb temperature. The water vapor in the primary air, induction air, and supply air will not condense on the pipe or pipes transferring chilled water in the chilled beams. This is a result of the temperature of the outside of the chilled water pipe or pipes being greater than the dew point of the primary air, induction air, and supply air.

Prophetic Example 2.

[00126] The sensible heat of a 1000 ft² zone in a commercial building is controlled via four radiant heat beams, each 6 ft x 2 ft, in which hot water flows through pipes and transfers heat to air to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C. A total of 360 cfm primary air is distributed to the four radiant heat beams. The dew point of the primary air is 0°C and the dew point of the air in the zone is 5°C. The radiant heat beams are designed to have an induction ratio of 2:1 , resulting in a supply air stream, defined as the combination of primary air and induction air, of 1080 cfm air. Silicone hollow fiber membrane modules are placed upstream of the radiant heat beams to humidify primary air before it enters the beams. Primary air is fed to the tube side of the modules. Liquid water is pumped on the shell side of the modules, countercurrent to the air flow. Akin to Reference Example 2, the dew point of the primary air is increased from 0°C to 15°C. The dew point of the supply air is 9°C. Hot water at 80°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the radiant heat beams to heat the supply air and control the dry- bulb temperature. The supply air dew point is 9°C (nearly 50% RH at 21 °C) and is considered comfortable.

Prophetic Example 3.

[00127] The sensible heat of a 1000 ft² zone in a commercial building is controlled via four active chilled beams, each 6 ft x 2 ft, to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C. A total of 360 cfm primary air is distributed to the four active chilled beams. The dew point of the primary air is 18°C and the dew point of the air in the zone is 14°C. The active chilled beams are designed to have an induction ratio of 2:1 , resulting in a supply air stream, defined as the combination of primary air and induction air, of 1080 cfm air. Organic membrane modules consisting of fluoropolymer-coated porous polypropylene hollow fiber membranes are placed upstream of the active chilled beams to dehumidify primary air before it enters the beams. Primary air is fed to the tube side of the modules. Fluid A is pumped on the shell side of the modules, countercurrent to the air flow. Akin to Reference Example 4, the dew point of the primary air is reduced from 18°C to 14°C. The dew point of the supply air is 14°C. Chilled water at 15°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the chilled beams to cool the supply air and control the dry-bulb temperature. The water vapor in the primary air, induction air, and supply air will not condense on the pipe or pipes transferring chilled water in the chilled beams. This is a result of the temperature of the outside of the chilled water pipe or pipes being greater than the dew point of the primary air, induction air, and supply air.

Prophetic Example 4.

[00128] The sensible heat of a 1000 ft² zone in a commercial building is controlled via four active chilled beams, each 6 ft x 2 ft, to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C. A total of 360 cfm primary air is distributed to the four active chilled beams. The dew point of the primary air is 18°C and the dew point of the air in the zone is 14°C. The active chilled beams are designed to have an induction ratio of 2:1 , resulting in a supply air stream, defined as the combination of primary air and induction air, of 1080 cfm air. Absorption packed columns are placed upstream of the active chilled beams to dehumidify primary air before it enters the beams. Primary air is fed to the bottom side of the absorption packed columns. Fluid A is pumped to the top side of the absorption packed columns, countercurrent to the air flow. Akin to Reference Example 3, the dew point of the primary air is reduced from 18°C to 14°C. The dew point of the supply air is 14°C. Chilled water at 15°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the chilled beams to cool the supply air and control the dry-bulb temperature. The water vapor in the primary air, induction air, and supply air will not condense on the pipe or pipes transferring chilled water in the chilled beams. This is a result of the temperature of the outside of the chilled water pipe or pipes being greater than the dew point of the primary air, induction air, and supply air.

Prophetic Example 5.

[00129] The sensible heat of a 1000 ft² zone in a commercial building is controlled via four active chilled beams, each 6 ft x 2 ft, to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C. A total of 360 cfm primary air is distributed to the four active chilled beams. The dew point of the primary air is 18°C and the dew point of the air in the zone is 14°C. The active chilled beams are designed to have an induction ratio of 2:1 , resulting in a supply air stream, defined as the combination of primary air and induction air, of 1080 cfm air. Silicone hollow fiber membrane modules are placed upstream of the active chilled beams to dehumidify primary air before it enters the beams. Primary air is fed to the tube side of the modules. A dry sweep air stream taken from a colder, dry zone in the building is blown on the shell side of the modules, countercurrent to the primary air flow. The dew point of the primary air is reduced from 18°C to 14°C. The dew point of the supply air is 14°C. Chilled water at 15°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the chilled beams to cool the supply air and control the dry-bulb temperature. The water vapor in the primary air, induction air, and supply air will not condense on the pipe or pipes transferring chilled water in the chilled beams. This is a result of the temperature of the outside of the chilled water pipe or pipes being greater than the dew point of the primary air, induction air, and supply air.

Prophetic Example 6.

[00130] The sensible heat of a 1000 ft² zone in a commercial building is controlled via four active chilled beams, each 6 ft x 2 ft, to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C. A total of 360 cfm primary air is distributed to the four active chilled beams. The dew point of the primary air is 18°C and the dew point of the air in the zone is 14°C. The active chilled beams are designed to have an induction ratio of 2:1 , resulting in a supply air stream, defined as the combination of primary air and induction air, of 1080 cfm air. Silicone hollow fiber membrane modules are placed upstream of the active chilled beams to dehumidify primary air before it enters the beams. Primary air is fed to the tube side of the modules. A vacuum pump applies vacuum on the shell side of the modules. The dew point of the primary air is reduced from 18°C to 14°C. The dew point of the supply air is 14°C. Chilled water at 15°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the chilled beams to cool the supply air and control the dry-bulb temperature. The water vapor in the primary air, induction air, and supply air will not condense on the pipe or pipes transferring chilled water in the chilled beams. This is a result of the temperature of the outside of the chilled water pipe or pipes being greater than the dew point of the primary air, induction air, and supply air.

Prophetic Example 7.

[00131 ] The sensible heat of three separate 1000 ft² zones, denoted as Zone A, Zone B,and Zone C, in a commercial building is controlled via four active chilled beams in each zone, each beam 6 ft x 2 ft, to maintain a zone dry-bulb temperature of 21 °C in Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C. Chilled water at 15°C flows through a pipe or pipes into the chilled beams to cool the supply air and control the dry-bulb temperature. The desired dew point set point in Zone A is 10°C, the desired dew point set point in Zone B is 12°C, and the desired dew point set point in Zone C is 14°C. A total of 1080 cfm of humid air, at a dew point of 20°C, is distributed to each zone such that Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C each receives 360 cfm of humid air. The 360 cfm of humid air dedicated to Zone A is dehumidified to a dew point of 10°C by a decentralized membrane and/or liquid contacting device as described in the present invention. The 360 cfm of humid air dedicated to Zone B is dehumidified to a dew point of 12°C by a decentralized membrane and/or liquid contacting device as described in the present invention. The 360 cfm of humid air dedicated to Zone C is dehumidified to a dew point of 14°C by a decentralized membrane and/or liquid contacting device as described in the present invention. The 360 cfm of decentrally-dehumidified air that each zone receives is considered the primary air source for the active chilled beams. Humid air is dehumidified only to the extent dictated by the zonal dew point set point, and no further, translating to energy savings relative to the process described in Reference Example 5 in which humid air must be dehumidified to a larger extent to meet the minimum zonal dew point set point. In addition, dehumidified air at 10°C entering Zone B and Zone C in Reference Example 5 may be considered too dry by occupants desiring a dew point of 12°C and 14°C, respectively. In contrast, dehumidified air at 12°C and 14°C entering Zone B and Zone C, respectively, in the current example may be considered comfortable by occupants desiring said dew points. The flow of air in the decentralized dehumidification system of this Example is illustrated in FIG. 2.

Prophetic Example 8.

[00132] Figure 3 shows an example of a room comprising 4 active chilled beam units each with a dehumidification membrane module (labeled dehumidifier) to remove moisture from the primary air supply to the beam. The chilled beam units are each cooled by a 15 °C chilled water source. The membrane dehumidification modules are each swept by Fluid A pre-cooled by the same chilled water source to absorb the moisture from the primary air stream. The fluid is then regenerated at a centralized regeneration station comprising a second large membrane module bank in which the fluid is pre-heated by the waste heat from the chiller compressor prior to passing through the modules. The water vapor in the warm fluid is desorbed through the membrane modules into an exhaust air stream from the building that is swept counter-current to the liquid. Prophetic Example 9.

[00133] An HVAC system described in Prophetic Example 8 is replicated, but this time uses a packed column rather than the membrane desorber bank to perform the regeneration of the silicone fluid. The packed desorption column is packed with Rashig rings and operated at the same fluid temperature and exhaust air flow rates as in Example 8.

Prophetic Example 10.

[00134] Figure 4 shows an example of wintertime configuration for the HVAC system shown in Prophetic Examples 8-9, where the chilled beams are now supplied with warm water, and the same absorber membrane units that provided dehumidified supply air to the beams in the summer season is now operated with warm deionized water flowing across the second surface of each membrane (instead of the silicone sorbent liquid) to humidify the dry winter air passing across the first side of each membrane. Makeup water for humidification is supplied at a centralized station labeled "Dl water station" and pre-heated prior to re-entering the humidification modules to enhance humidification of the supply air stream.

Prophetic Example 1 1 .

[00135] An HVAC system described in Prophetic Example 10 is replicated, but this time rather than circulating deionized water directly into the second side of each absorption membrane, the membranes are each swept with a pre-heated silicone fluid that contains liquid water near the saturation limit. The water contained in the heated silicone fluid desorbs into the dry primary air supply stream to humidify the supply to each warmed beam. The silicone fluid depleted in water content is then circulated to the "Dl water station" where it is pre-cooled and re-wetted by addition of deionized water to the fluid.

[00136] Prophetic Examples 8-1 1 illustrate non-limiting examples of HVAC systems involving decentralized moisture control schemes for radiant beam devices.

[00137] The terms and expressions that have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by specific embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those of ordinary skill in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

Additional Embodiments.

[00138] The following exemplary embodiments are provided, the numbering of which is not to be construed as designating levels of importance:

[00139] Embodiment 1 provides an HVAC system comprising:

a radiant heat transfer device; and

a membrane module in fluid communication with the heat transfer device, wherein the module comprises

a first membrane;

a feed gas mixture comprising at least water vapor and ambient air, the feed gas mixture contacting a first side of the first membrane;

a permeate mixture on a second side of the first membrane, the permeate mixture formed by the contacting, wherein the permeate mixture is enriched in water; and

a retentate mixture on the first side of the first membrane, the retentate mixture formed by the contacting, wherein the retentate mixture is depleted in water.

[00140] Embodiment 2 provides the system according to Embodiment 1 , wherein the radiant heat transfer device comprises at least one of a radiant panel, a chilled beam, a fin array, a capillary tube mat, and a chilled sail.

[00141 ] Embodiment 3 provides the system according to any one of Embodiments 1 -2, wherein the membrane module is a hollow fiber membrane module comprising a bundle of hollow fibers, wherein the fibers collectively have a bore-side and a shell-side.

[00142] Embodiment 4 provides the system according to Embodiment 3, wherein the first side of the hollow fiber membrane is the bore-side and the second side of the hollow fiber membrane is the shell-side.

[00143] Embodiment 5 provides the system according to Embodiment 3, wherein the first side of the hollow fiber membrane is the shell-side and the second side of the hollow fiber membrane is the bore-side.

[00144] Embodiment 6 provides the system according to any one of Embodiments 1 -5, wherein the first membrane is a hydrophobic membrane.

[00145] Embodiment 7 provides the system according to Embodiment 6, wherein the hydrophobic membrane is a nonporous membrane. [00146] Embodiment 8 provides the system according to Embodiment 7, wherein the nonporous membrane is a dense silicone membrane.

[00147] Embodiment 9 provides the system according to any one of Embodiments 1 -8, further comprising a sweep medium comprising at least one of a sweep gas, a sweep liquid, and a vacuum, the sweep medium contacting the second side of the membrane.

[00148] Embodiment 10 provides the system according to Embodiment 9, wherein the sweep medium is a sweep liquid comprising an organosilicon fluid.

[00149] Embodiment 1 1 provides an HVAC system comprising:

a radiant heat transfer device; and

a first membrane;

a feed gas mixture comprising at least dry ambient air, the feed gas mixture contacting a first side of the first membrane;

a sweep liquid comprising water contacting a second side of the first membrane; a permeate mixture on the first side of the first membrane, the permeate mixture formed by the contacting of the feed gas mixture to the membrane and the contacting of the sweep liquid to the membrane, wherein the permeate mixture is enriched in water; and

a retentate mixture on the second side of the first membrane, the retentate mixture formed by the contacting of the feed gas mixture to the membrane and the contacting of the sweep liquid to the membrane, wherein the retentate mixture is depleted in water.

[00150] Embodiment 12 provides a method of dehumidifying ambient air, the method comprising contacting a first side of a first membrane with a feed gas mixture comprising at least water vapor and ambient air to produce a permeate mixture on a second side of the first membrane and a retentate mixture on the first side of the first membrane, wherein the membrane is in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device, the permeate mixture is enriched in water, and the retentate mixture is depleted in water.

[00151 ] Embodiment 13 provides the method according to Embodiment 12, wherein the radiant heat transfer device is selected from a radiant panel, a chilled beam, a fin array, a capillary tube mat, and a chilled sail.

[00152] Embodiment 14 provides the method according to any one of Embodiments 12 or 13, wherein the membrane is a hollow fiber membrane module comprising a bundle of hollow fibers, wherein the fibers collectively have a bore-side and a shell-side. [00153] Embodiment 15 provides the method according to Embodiment 14, wherein the first side of the hollow fiber membrane is the bore-side and the second side of the hollow fiber membrane is the shell-side.

[00154] Embodiment 16 provides the method according to Embodiment 14, wherein the first side of the hollow fiber membrane is the shell-side and the second side of the hollow fiber membrane is the bore-side.

[00155] Embodiment 17 provides the method according to any one of Embodiments 12- 16, wherein the first membrane is a hydrophobic membrane.

[00156] Embodiment 18 provides the method according to Embodiment 17, wherein the hydrophobic membrane is a nonporous membrane.

[00157] Embodiment 19 provides the method according to Embodiment 18, wherein the nonporous membrane is a dense silicone membrane.

[00158] Embodiment 20 provides the method according to any one of Embodiments 12- 19, further comprising contacting the second side of the first membrane with a sweep medium comprising at least one of a sweep gas, a sweep liquid, and a vacuum.

[00159] Embodiment 21 provides the method according to Embodiment 20, wherein the sweep medium is a sweep liquid.

[00160] Embodiment 22 provides the method according to Embodiment 21 , wherein the sweep liquid comprises an organosilicon fluid.

[00161 ] Embodiment 23 provides the method according to any one of Embodiments 12- 22, wherein the first membrane has a water vapor permeability coefficient of at least about 25,000 Barrer at room temperature.

[00162] Embodiment 24 provides a method of humidifying ambient air, the method comprising:

contacting a first side of a first membrane with a feed gas mixture comprising at least dry ambient air; and

contacting a second side of the first membrane with a sweep liquid comprising water to produce a permeate mixture on the first side of the first membrane and a retentate mixture on the second side of the first membrane, wherein the membrane is in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device, the permeate mixture is enriched in water and the retentate mixture is depleted in water.

[00163] Embodiment 25 provides an HVAC system comprising:

a radiant heat transfer device; and a liquid contacting device in fluid communication with the heat transfer device, wherein the liquid contacting device comprises a feed gas mixture comprising at least water vapor and ambient air, the feed gas mixture contacting a liquid sorbent material, wherein the liquid sorbent material is enriched in water by the contacting and the feed gas mixture is depleted in water by the contacting.

[00164] Embodiment 26 provides a method of dehumidifying ambient air, the method comprising:

contacting a liquid sorbent material with a feed gas mixture comprising at least water vapor and ambient air in a liquid contacting device in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device, wherein the liquid sorbent material is enriched in water by the contacting and the feed gas mixture is depleted in water by the contacting.

[00165] Embodiment 27 provides an HVAC system comprising:

a radiant heat transfer device; and

a liquid contacting device in fluid communication with the heat transfer device, wherein the liquid contacting device comprises a feed gas mixture comprising dry ambient air, the feed gas mixture contacting a liquid sorbent material comprising water, wherein the feed gas mixture is enriched in water by the contacting and the liquid sorbent material is depleted in water by the contacting.

[00166] Embodiment 28 provides a method of humidifying ambient air, the method comprising:

contacting a liquid sorbent material comprising water with a feed gas mixture comprising dry ambient air in a liquid contacting device in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device, wherein the feed gas mixture is enriched in water by the contacting and the liquid sorbent material is depleted in water by the contacting.

[00167] Embodiment 29 provides the method or system of any one or any combination of Embodiments 1 -28 optionally configured such that all elements or options recited are available to use or select from.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . An HVAC system comprising:

a radiant heat transfer device; and

a first membrane;

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the radiant heat transfer device comprises at least one of a radiant panel, a chilled beam, a fin array, a capillary tube mat, and a chilled sail.

3. The system according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the membrane module is a hollow fiber membrane module comprising a bundle of hollow fibers, wherein the fibers collectively have a bore-side and a shell-side.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 -3, wherein the first membrane is a hydrophobic membrane.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 -4, further comprising a sweep medium comprising at least one of a sweep gas, a sweep liquid, and a vacuum, the sweep medium contacting the second side of the membrane.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the sweep medium is a sweep liquid comprising an organosilicon fluid.

7. An HVAC system comprising:

a radiant heat transfer device; and a membrane module in fluid communication with the heat transfer device, wherein the module comprises

a first membrane;

8. A method of dehumidifying ambient air, the method comprising contacting a first side of a first membrane with a feed gas mixture comprising at least water vapor and ambient air to produce a permeate mixture on a second side of the first membrane and a retentate mixture on the first side of the first membrane, wherein the membrane is in fluid communication with a radiant heat transfer device, the permeate mixture is enriched in water, and the retentate mixture is depleted in water.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the radiant heat transfer device is selected from a radiant panel, a chilled beam, a fin array, a capillary tube mat, and a chilled sail, and wherein the first membrane is a hydrophobic membrane.

10. The method according to any one of claims 8-9, further comprising contacting the second side of the first membrane with a sweep medium comprising at least one of a sweep gas, a sweep liquid, and a vacuum.

1 1 . A method of humidifying ambient air, the method comprising:

12. An HVAC system comprising:

a radiant heat transfer device; and

a liquid contacting device in fluid communication with the heat transfer device, wherein the liquid contacting device comprises a feed gas mixture comprising at least water vapor and ambient air, the feed gas mixture contacting a liquid sorbent material, wherein the liquid sorbent material is enriched in water by the contacting and the feed gas mixture is depleted in water by the contacting.

13. A method of dehumidifying ambient air, the method comprising:

14. An HVAC system comprising:

a radiant heat transfer device; and

15. A method of humidifying ambient air, the method comprising: