Hybrid desiccant dehumidifying apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are a hybrid desiccant dehumidifying apparatus and a control method thereof which are employed under poor environment, such as a ship painting field. External air cooled by an evaporator is dehumidified and heated while passing through a desiccant dehumidifier and external air heated by condensation heat of a condenser is supplied to the desiccant dehumidifier as a regeneration air source such that high-temperature and high-humidity regeneration. A cooler is integrally formed with the desiccant dehumidifier so that the hybrid desiccant dehumidifying apparatus is manufactured in a compact size and the operating cost thereof is significantly reduced.

1 . A hybrid desiccant dehumidifying apparatus comprising:
 a first external air receiving line into which external air is introduced;   an evaporator installed in the first external air receiving line to cool the external air through a heat exchange reaction;   a compressor for compressing a refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator;   a condenser for condensing the refrigerant that has passed through the compressor;   a capillary tube for expanding the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser;   a desiccant rotor for dehumidifying and heating the external air cooled by the evaporator;   a heated air supply line for supplying the external air, which is introduced through a second external air receiving line connected to the condenser, to the desiccant rotor after the external air is heated by condensation heat of the condenser;   a regeneration air exhaust line which exhausts regeneration air having high-temperature and high-humidity by receiving the regeneration air from the desiccant rotor;   an air feeding line for feeding processed air, which is dehumidified and heated while passing through the desiccant rotor, to a dehumidifying space such that the dehumidifying space keeps predetermined internal temperature and internal humidity; and   a controller selectively cooling, dehumidifying or heating the external air according to external temperature and humidity conditions,   wherein a filter is installed at an inlet side of the evaporator and an eliminator is installed at an outlet side of the evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid desiccant dehumidifying apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a first bypass is provided to connect the outlet side of the evaporator to the regeneration air exhaust line. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid desiccant dehumidifying apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a second bypass is provided to connect the heated air supply line to the air feeding line such that the external air heated by the condenser is introduced into the dehumidifying space through the air feeding line without driving the desiccant rotor under a condition of low temperature and low humidity. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid desiccant dehumidifying apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a heater is installed in the heated air supply line to heat the air that has passed through the condenser such that the air has a higher temperature. 
     
     
         5 . A method of controlling a hybrid desiccant dehumidifying apparatus including a first external air receiving line into which external air is introduced, an evaporator installed in the first external air receiving line to cool the external air through a heat exchange reaction, a compressor for compressing a refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant that has passed through the compressor, a capillary tube for expanding the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser, a desiccant rotor for dehumidifying and heating the external air cooled by the evaporator, a heated air supply line for supplying the external air, which is introduced through a second external air receiving line connected to the condenser, to the desiccant rotor after the external air is heated by condensation heat of the condenser, a regeneration air exhaust line which exhausts regeneration air by receiving the regeneration air from the desiccant rotor, an air feeding line for feeding processed air, which is dehumidified and heated while passing through the desiccant rotor, to a dehumidifying space such that the dehumidifying space keeps predetermined internal temperature and internal humidity, and a controller selectively cooling, dehumidifying, heating or blowing the external air according to external temperature and humidity conditions to generate the processed air which is supplied to the dehumidifying space such that the temperature and the humidity in the dehumidifying space are maintained in a target level, the method comprising:
 operating the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator and the capillary tube to cool and dehumidify the external air introduced through the first external air receiving line;   supplying the external air, which is heated by condensation heat of the condenser, to the desiccant rotor through the heated air supply line;   supplying the processed air, which is dehumidified and heated by heat-exchanging the regeneration air with the external air supplied through the first external air receiving line in the desiccant rotor, to the dehumidifying space through the air feeding line;   supplying some of the external air, which has been cooled and dehumidified, to the air feeding line through a third bypass to cool the external air; and   supplying the cooled external air to the dehumidifying space, thereby keeping the dehumidifying space with proper temperature and humidity in a summer season in which the external air has higher temperature and higher humidity.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 stopping operation of the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator and the capillary tube; and   shutting off a regeneration part of the desiccant rotor using a damper and opening a second bypass to allow the external air passing through a coil of the condenser to be supplied to the dehumidifying space through the air feeding line in such a way that a cooling operation is performed through circulation of the external air without operating a cooler in a spring season or an autumn season in which the external air has low temperature and low humidity.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 operating the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator and the capillary tube to cool the external air introduced through the first external air receiving line;   opening a first bypass to exhaust the external air cooled by the evaporator through the regeneration air exhaust line; and   shutting off a regeneration part of the desiccant rotor and opening a second bypass to supply the external air heated by condensation heat of the condenser to the dehumidifying space through air feeding line in such a way that the external air heated by the condensation heat of the condenser is further heated by a heater in a winter season in which the external air has low temperature and low humidity.