Energy-efficient regenerative liquid desiccant drying process

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863510

Ko, Suk M ^[1]; Grodzka, Philomena G ^[1]; McCormick, Paul O ^[2]

---

1. Huntsville, AL
2. Athens, AL

This invention relates to the use of desiccants in conjunction with an open oop 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.

• DOE Contract Number: E(40-1)-5157
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4189848
• OSTI ID: 863510
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

energy-efficient
regenerative
liquid
desiccant
drying
process
relates
desiccants
conjunction
oop
cycle
closed
loop
reclaim
energy
expended
vaporizing
moisture
harvested
crops
air
brought
contact
exits
crop
bin
water
vapor
moist
absorbed
reducing
relative
humidity
heated
returned
fossil
solar
heat
sources
regenerated
temperature
driving
condensed
preheat
dilute
wet
added
external
source
latent
vaporization
removed
reclaimed
manner
sensible
utilized
operation
implies
net
heating
moist air
sensible heat
heat sources
latent heat
relative humidity
closed loop
water vapor
solar energy
heat source
external source
closed cycle
net energy
energy heat
drying process
drying cycle
liquid desiccant
oop drying
/34/126/