Heat modulation dehumidification system

Abstract

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, a modulating valve, and a liquid-cooled alternate condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the modulating valve. The modulating valve directs the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser and to the alternate condenser. The alternate condenser receives a portion of the flow of refrigerant and transfers heat from the refrigerant to a flow of fluid.

1 . A system comprising:
 a secondary evaporator operable to receive an inlet airflow and output a first airflow, the first airflow comprising cooler air than the inlet airflow, the first airflow generated by transferring heat from the inlet airflow to a flow of refrigerant as the inlet airflow passes through the secondary evaporator;   a primary evaporator operable to receive the first airflow and output a second airflow, the second airflow comprising cooler air than the first airflow, the second airflow generated by transferring heat from the first airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the first airflow passes through the primary evaporator;   a secondary condenser operable to receive the second airflow and output a third airflow, the third airflow comprising warmer and less humid air than the second airflow, the third airflow generated by transferring heat from the flow of refrigerant to the third airflow as the second airflow passes through the secondary condenser;   a compressor operable to receive the flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provide the flow of refrigerant to a modulating valve, the flow of refrigerant provided to the modulating valve comprising a higher pressure than the flow of refrigerant received at the compressor;   the modulating valve operable to:
 receive the flow of refrigerant from the compressor; 
 direct the flow of refrigerant to a primary condenser in response to a first temperature condition; 
 direct at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant to the alternate condenser and direct a remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser in response to a second temperature condition; and 
 direct the at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant back to the primary condenser in response to the second temperature condition changing to the first temperature condition; 
   the primary condenser operable to:
 receive the flow of refrigerant from the modulating valve in response to the first temperature condition; 
 in response to the second temperature condition, receive the remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant; and 
 output a dehumidified airflow, the dehumidified airflow generated by transferring heat away from the flow of refrigerant; 
 the alternate condenser operable to: 
   receive the at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant from the modulating valve in response to the second temperature condition; and
 transfer heat from the flow of refrigerant to a flow of fluid as the alternate condenser receives the at least a portion of flow of refrigerant and the flow of fluid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger operable to:
 receive the flow of fluid from the alternate condenser; and   transfer heat from the flow of fluid to a first outdoor airflow as the first outdoor airflow flows into the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger is a cooling tower operable to:
 dispense the fluid within the cooling tower, wherein the fluid directly contacts the first outdoor airflow as the fluid flows through the cooling tower and transfers heat to the first outdoor airflow;   evaporate a portion of the fluid as the heat transfers from the fluid to the first outdoor airflow; and   collect a remaining portion of the fluid after transferring heat to the first outdoor airflow, wherein the remaining portion of the fluid is at a lower temperature.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger is a dry cooler operable to:
 induce the first outdoor airflow to flow through the dry cooler; and   provide the flow of fluid to an external source, wherein the fluid is discharged at a lower temperature than the temperature of the fluid received by the dry cooler.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an external source configured to provide the flow of fluid, wherein the external source is selected from a group consisting of a ground reservoir, a natatorium, an outdoor body of water, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water or a mixture of water and glycol. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is operable to cause the refrigerant to evaporate twice and condense twice in one refrigeration cycle. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a secondary evaporator operable to receive an inlet airflow and output a first airflow, the first airflow comprising cooler air than the inlet airflow, the first airflow generated by transferring heat from the inlet airflow to a flow of refrigerant as the inlet airflow passes through the secondary evaporator;   a primary evaporator operable to receive the first airflow and output a second airflow, the second airflow comprising cooler air than the first airflow, the second airflow generated by transferring heat from the first airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the first airflow passes through the primary evaporator;   a secondary condenser operable to receive the second airflow and output a third airflow, the third airflow comprising warmer and less humid air than the second airflow, the third airflow generated by transferring heat from the flow of refrigerant to the third airflow as the second airflow passes through the secondary condenser;   a modulating valve operable to:
 receive the flow of refrigerant from a compressor; 
 direct the flow of refrigerant to a primary condenser in response to a first temperature condition; 
 direct at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant to the alternate condenser and direct a remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser in response to a second temperature condition; and 
 direct the at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant back to the primary condenser in response to the second temperature condition changing to the first temperature condition if; 
   the primary condenser operable to:
 receive the flow of refrigerant from the modulating valve in response to the first temperature condition; 
 in response to the second temperature condition, receive the remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant; and 
 output a dehumidified airflow, the dehumidified airflow generated by transferring heat away from the flow of refrigerant; and 
   the alternate condenser operable to:
 receive the at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant from the modulating valve in response to the second temperature condition; and 
 transfer heat from the flow of refrigerant to a flow of fluid as the alternate condenser receives the at least a portion of flow of refrigerant and the flow of fluid. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a heat exchanger operable to:
 receive the flow of fluid from the alternate condenser; and   transfer heat from the flow of fluid to a first outdoor airflow as the first outdoor airflow flows into the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is a cooling tower operable to:
 dispense the fluid within the cooling tower, wherein the fluid directly contacts the first outdoor airflow as the fluid flows through the cooling tower and transfers heat to the first outdoor airflow;   evaporate a portion of the fluid as the heat transfers from the fluid to the first outdoor airflow; and   collect a remaining portion of the fluid after transferring heat to the first outdoor airflow, wherein the remaining portion of the fluid is at a lower temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is a dry cooler operable to:
 induce the first outdoor airflow to flow through the dry cooler; and   provide the flow of fluid to an external source, wherein the fluid is discharged at a lower temperature than the temperature of the fluid received by the dry cooler.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an external source configured to provide the flow of fluid, wherein the external source is selected from a group consisting of a ground reservoir, a natatorium, an outdoor body of water, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a first pump operable to cycle the flow of fluid towards and away from the alternate condenser 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid is water or a mixture of water and glycol. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system is operable to cause the refrigerant to evaporate twice and condense twice in one refrigeration cycle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a sub-cooling coil operable to:
 receive the flow of refrigerant from the alternate condenser or the primary condenser;   output the flow of refrigerant to a primary metering device; and   receive the third airflow and output a fourth airflow, the fourth airflow generated by transferring heat from the flow of refrigerant to the fourth airflow as the third airflow passes through the sub-cooling coil.