Temperature and humidity control methods, systems, and devices

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices provided in accordance with various embodiments are generally related to the field of thermal management systems for buildings (or volumes in general), such as cold storage, food processing, or other buildings that have areas that are kept below freezing. Embodiments generally pertain to the management of temperature and humidity within these spaces. Some embodiments include system for the management of moisture and temperature inside cold spaces. Some embodiments include a heat and mass transfer exchanger, such as a direct constant gas liquid heat and mass transfer exchanger. Examples of such heat and mass transfer exchangers generally include wet scrubbers. Embodiments also generally include a series of ducts, pipes, heat exchangers, dampers, and/or valves that may allow the system to provide useful temperature and relative humidity levels to one or more spaces or volumes.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a first volume;   a heat and mass transfer exchanger configured to receive air from the first volume and to decrease a temperature and a moisture content of the air from the first volume; and   a second volume configured to receive at least a portion of the air from the first volume after passing the air from the first volume through the heat and mass transfer exchanger, wherein a temperature of the first volume is greater than a temperature of the second volume.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an interconnection configured to allow air to flow from the second volume to the first volume. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the heat and mass transfer exchanger includes a wet scrubber. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the wet scrubber flows a brine counter to a flow of the air from the first volume, wherein a temperature of the brine is lower than a temperature of the air from the first volume. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a distribution plenum that distributes at least the portion of the air from the first volume within the second volume. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising an interconnection configured to introduce ambient air into the first volume. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a recuperator configured to receive at least the portion of the air from the first volume. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the recuperator is configured to receive at least the portion of the air from the first volume such that the temperature of at least the portion of the air from the first volume increases through passing through the recuperator. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a recuperator coupled with the wet scrubber such that at least a portion of the brine from the wet scrubber and at least the portion of the air from the first volume pass through the recuperator to decrease the temperature of the brine and to increase a temperature of at least the portion of the air from the first volume. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the recuperator is configured to receive the air from the first volume before the air from the first volume passes through the heat and mass transfer exchanger such that the temperature of the air from the first volume decreases through passing through the recuperator. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the recuperator configured to receive at least the portion of the air from the first volume increases the temperature of at least the portion of the air from the first volume after the air from the first volume passes through the heat and mass transfer exchanger. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a mixer configured to combine the air from the first volume with air from the second volume prior to passing the air from the first volume through the heat and mass transfer exchanger. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the mixer is configured to combine ambient air with at least the air from the first volume or the air from the second volume prior to passing at least the air from the first volume, the air from the second volume, or the ambient air through the heat and mass transfer exchanger. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the interconnection configured to allow air to flow from the second volume to the first volume includes a blast freezer positioned between the first volume and the second volume. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the blast freezer is configured such that a product moves through the blast freezer counter to the air from the second volume flowing to the first volume. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising a mixer configured to combine the air from the first volume with air from the second volume prior to passing the air from the first volume through the heat and mass transfer exchanger. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising a blast freezer positioned between the first volume and the second volume such that air from the second volume flows through the blast freezer to the first volume. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a mixer configured to combine the air from the first volume with air from the second volume prior to passing the air from the first volume through the heat and mass transfer exchanger. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the mixer is further configured to prevent an airflow from the first volume to the heat and mass transfer exchanger and to direct an airflow from the second volume to the heat and mass transfer exchanger. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , further comprising a recuperator configured to receive at least a portion of the airflow from the second volume after the airflow from the second volume passes through the heat and mass transfer exchanger. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a suction plenum that removes the air from the first volume.