Energy-efficient regenerative liquid desiccant drying process

Patent · Tue Feb 26 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:7040281

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

This invention relates to 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. 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: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4189848
• OSTI ID: 7040281
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320304* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Waste Heat Recovery & Utilization
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CLOSED-CYCLE SYSTEMS
CROPS
DESICCANTS
DESIGN
DRYING
ENERGY RECOVERY
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM CHLORIDES
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM HALIDES
OPEN-CYCLE SYSTEMS
RECOVERY
REGENERATION
SOLAR DRYING