Energy-efficient regenerative liquid desiccant drying process. [Patent application]

Patent · Thu Aug 04 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6746441

Ko, S M; Grodzka, P G; McCormick, P O

The use of desiccants in conjunction with an open loop drying cycle and a closed loop drying cycle to reclaim the energy expended in vaporizing moisture in harvested crops is described. In the closed loop cycle, the drying air is brought into contact with a desiccant after it exits the crop drying bin. Water vapor in the moist air is absorbed by the desiccant, thus reducing the relative humidity of the air. The air is then heated by the used desiccant and returned to the crop bin. During the open loop drying cycle the used desiccant is heated (either fossil or solar energy heat sources may be used) and regenerated at high temperature, driving water vapor from the desiccant. This water vapor is condensed and used to preheat the dilute (wet) desiccant before heat is added from the external source (fossil or solar). The latent heat of vaporization of the moisture removed from the desiccant is reclaimed in this manner. The sensible heat of the regenerated desiccant is utilized in the open loop drying cycle. Also, closed cycle operation implies that no net energy is expended in heating drying air.

• Assignee: TIC; EDB-78-109130; ERA-03-053042
• Patent Number(s): None
• OSTI ID: 6746441
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
AGRICULTURE
AIR
CROPS
DESIGN
DRYING
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
EVAPORATION
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAT RECOVERY EQUIPMENT
HEAT STORAGE
MOISTURE
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SENSIBLE HEAT STORAGE
STORAGE
VAPORS
WATER VAPOR