High efficiency air-conditioner/dehumidifier
A system is described for controlling air temperature and humidity, comprising: an air temperature controlling unit comprising a heat pump having a heat mode and a cooling mode, the heat pump having a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet, an air passage extending from the inlet to the air outlet, a refrigerant coil disposed in the air passage, and a blower for forcing air through the refrigerant coil from the inlet to the outlet; a phase-change heat exchanger comprising heat pipes and including an evaporator section disposed on an inlet side of the passage, a condenser section disposed on an outlet side of the air passage, the evaporator section having a liquid refrigerant inlet and a vapor outlet, the condenser section having a vapor inlet and a liquid refrigerant outlet. The vapor inlet is at a higher level than the liquid refrigerant outlet, the liquid refrigerant inlet being connected to the liquid refrigerant outlet, and the vapor inlet being connected to the vapor outlet, and a refrigerant disposed in the heat exchanger in such quantity that the refrigerant vaporizes in the evaporator section to draw heat from air moving through the inlet side of the air passage when the heat pump is in the cooling mode, vaporized refrigerant flows to the condenser section and condenses in the condenser section to transfer heat to air passing through the outlet side of the air passage, and liquid refrigerant flows to the evaporator from the condenser. When the heat pump is in the heat mode the phase change heat exchanger acts as a thermal diode and is rendered inoperative; and a liquid refrigerant reservoir located outside of the air stream and which has sufficient capacity to contain the liquid refrigerant and limit the pressure within the heat exchanger is subjected to high temperatures from the heating apparatus.
- Assignee:
- Dinh Co., Inc., Alachua, FL
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4607498
- OSTI ID:
- 5286540
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
AIR CONDITIONERS
AIR FLOW
BLOWERS
BUILDINGS
CONDENSERS
CONTROL
DEHUMIDIFIERS
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
EVAPORATORS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GAS FLOW
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT PIPES
HEAT PUMPS
HUMIDITY CONTROL
OPERATION
PRESSURE CONTROL
REFRIGERANTS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
VAPOR CONDENSERS
WORKING FLUIDS