Fully regenerative liquid desiccant system for residential applications

Abstract

An air dehumidification system includes a modified packed column air stripper for contacting humid air with a liquid desiccant. The dehumidification system also includes a solar distiller for regenerating the liquid desiccant through evaporation of water. The liquid desiccant may be a salt solution, more specifically, an aqueous solution of calcium chloride. The dehumidification system may also include an evaporative cooler for cooling dehumidified air exiting the air stripper. Condensate from the solar distiller may be directed to the evaporative cooler.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning system, comprising:
 a dehumidification unit including contacting means for contacting humid air with a desiccant solution, thereby humidifying the desiccant solution and dehumidifying the air by moving a first water vapor from the humid air into the desiccant solution;   a desiccant regeneration unit for removing water from the humidified desiccant solution as a second water vapor, thereby regenerating the desiccant solution;   first transferring means for transferring the humidified desiccant solution into said desiccant regeneration unit; and   second transferring means for transferring the regenerated desiccant solution into said dehumidification unit.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said desiccant regeneration unit includes a solar distiller that uses solar radiation to heat the humidified desiccant solution, whereby the second water vapor is removable from the humidified desiccant solution. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising an evaporative cooling unit for cooling the dehumidified air and conveying means for conveying the dehumidified air from said dehumidification unit into and through said evaporative cooling unit. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning system of  claim 3 , further comprising condensing means for condensing the second water vapor to thereby form a condensate, and third transferring means for transferring the condensate to said evaporative cooling unit. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting means includes a packed column air stripper, transporting means for transporting the air through said packed column air stripper, and third transferring means for transferring the desiccant solution into said packed column air stripper. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning system of  claim 5 , wherein said packed column air stripper includes internal trays arranged to direct the flow of the air within the packed column air stripper. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting means includes circulating means for circulating the desiccant solution within said contacting means. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling means for cooling the regenerated desiccant solution, said cooling means located between said dehumidification unit and said desiccant regeneration unit. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said cooling means includes a transfer tank hydraulically connected to said dehumidification unit and said desiccant regeneration unit. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , further including at least one transfer tank between said dehumidification unit and said desiccant regeneration unit.