Solar-assisted climate control system

Abstract

A method for providing climate control is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of circulating liquid desiccant in a first fluid circuit. The method also includes the step of disposing a dehumidifier along the first fluid circuit. The method also includes the step of disposing a regenerator along the first fluid circuit downstream of the dehumidifier. The method also includes the step of harnessing solar energy with at least one solar collector. The method also includes the step of circulating coolant in a second fluid circuit. The at least one solar collector and the regenerator are both disposed along the second fluid circuit whereby the coolant is heated during passage adjacent to the at least one solar collector and transfers thermal energy to the liquid desiccant during passage through the regenerator. The first and second fluid circuits are in parallel in the regenerator.

1 . A method for providing comfort cooling comprising the steps of:
 circulating liquid desiccant in a first fluid circuit;   disposing a dehumidifier along the first fluid circuit;   disposing a regenerator along the first fluid circuit downstream of the dehumidifier;   harnessing solar energy with at least one solar collector; and   circulating coolant in a second fluid circuit, the solar collector and the regenerator both disposed along the second fluid circuit whereby the coolant is heated during passage adjacent to the solar collector and transfers thermal energy to the liquid desiccant during passage through the regenerator, the first and second fluid circuits being in parallel in the regenerator.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 disposing an auxiliary heater along the second fluid circuit.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 directing a stream of ambient air through a third fluid passageway having an inlet and an outlet; and   defining the third fluid passageway at least in part with the dehumidifier and the evaporative cooler to cool the liquid desiccant.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the steps of:
 forming the evaporative cooler with a plurality of dry channels and a plurality of wet channels; and   bifurcating the stream of ambient air in the evaporative cooler with a first portion of the stream passing through the plurality of dry channels and a second portion passing through the plurality of wet channels.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of:
 recombining the first and second portions of the stream after passage through the evaporative cooler.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of:
 exhausting the second portion of the stream after passage through the plurality of wet channels of the evaporative cooler.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 stopping said circulating step in order to provide comfort heating;   directing a stream of ambient air through a third fluid passageway having an inlet and an outlet; and   defining the third fluid passageway at least in part with the regenerator and the evaporator cooler to heat the ambient air.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of:
 forming the evaporative cooler with a plurality of dry channels and a plurality of wet channels; and   bifurcating the stream of ambient air in the evaporative cooler with a first portion of the stream passing through the plurality of dry channels and a second portion passing through the plurality of wet channels.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of:
 recombining the first and second portions of the stream after passage through the evaporative cooler.