Three-way heat exchange module having uniform fluid distribution

Abstract

An HVAC system includes a refrigerant sub-system and an air treatment sub-system. The air treatment sub-system includes a three-way heat exchanger. The HVAC system is operable to circulate heat transfer fluid between the heat exchanger and the refrigerant sub-system. The heat exchanger includes panel assemblies, heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet manifolds, and a heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet. Each panel assembly includes a heat transfer fluid channel and a desiccant channel separated from the heat transfer fluid channel. The inlet and outlet manifolds are connected to the heat transfer fluid channel of each panel assembly, and each extend between lateral sides of the heat exchanger. The inlet manifold is closed at a first lateral side and connected to the inlet at a second lateral side, and the outlet manifold is closed at the second lateral side and connected to the outlet at the first lateral side.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
 a refrigerant sub-system; and   at least one air treatment sub-system comprising a three-way heat exchanger for transferring heat between a heat transfer fluid, a liquid desiccant, and air, the HVAC system operable to circulate the heat transfer fluid between the three-way heat exchanger and the refrigerant sub-system;   wherein the three-way heat exchanger defines mutually perpendicular lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions, the three-way heat exchanger comprising:
 panel assemblies arranged in succession in the lateral direction, airflow gaps being defined between adjacent panel assemblies to allow the air to flow through the three-way heat exchanger, each panel assembly comprising a frame defining a heat transfer fluid channel and at least one vapor-permeable membrane disposed on a lateral face of the frame, at least one desiccant channel being defined between the at least one membrane and the frame, the at least one desiccant channel being separated from the heat transfer fluid channel; 
 a heat transfer fluid inlet manifold and a heat transfer fluid outlet manifold, the heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet manifolds being connected to the heat transfer fluid channel of each panel assembly, the heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet manifolds each extending between first and second lateral sides of the three-way heat exchanger, the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold being closed at the first lateral side and the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold being closed at the second lateral side; and 
 a heat transfer fluid inlet connected to the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold at the second lateral side and a heat transfer fluid outlet connected to the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold at the first lateral side. 
   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the three-way heat exchanger has first and second longitudinal sides and first and second vertical sides, and wherein the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the second longitudinal side and the second vertical side and the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the first longitudinal side and the first vertical side. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 2 , wherein the first longitudinal side of the three-way heat exchanger defines an airflow inlet and the second longitudinal side of the three-way heat exchanger defines an airflow outlet, and wherein the airflow gaps defined between adjacent panel assemblies are in communication with the airflow inlet and outlet to allow the air to flow through the three-way heat exchanger in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat transfer fluid inlet and the heat transfer fluid outlet are located at the second longitudinal side of the three-way heat exchanger, the heat transfer fluid inlet being connected to the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold by a first longitudinally-extending conduit and the heat transfer fluid outlet being connected to the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold by a second longitudinally-extending conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the three-way heat exchanger further comprises:
 a liquid desiccant inlet manifold and a liquid desiccant outlet manifold, the liquid desiccant inlet and outlet manifolds being connected to the at least one desiccant channel of each panel assembly, the liquid desiccant inlet and outlet manifolds each extending between the first and second lateral sides of the three-way heat exchanger, the liquid desiccant inlet manifold being closed at the second lateral side and the liquid desiccant outlet manifold being closed at the first lateral side; and   a liquid desiccant inlet connected to the liquid desiccant inlet manifold at the first lateral side and a liquid desiccant outlet connected to the liquid desiccant outlet manifold at the second lateral side.   
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 5 , wherein the three-way heat exchanger has first and second longitudinal sides and first and second vertical sides, wherein the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the second longitudinal side and the second vertical side, the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the first longitudinal side and the first vertical side, the liquid desiccant inlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the second longitudinal side and the first vertical side, and the liquid desiccant outlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the first longitudinal side and the second vertical side. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the three-way heat exchanger comprises an insert disposed within the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold, the insert configured to direct a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold towards the first lateral side. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system of  claim 7 , wherein the insert reduces a cross-sectional area of the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold towards the first lateral side to direct the flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold towards the first lateral side. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein, for each panel assembly, the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold is connected to the heat transfer fluid channel by at least one heat transfer fluid inlet aperture, and wherein the heat transfer fluid inlet apertures of the panel assemblies have different dimensions to direct a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold towards the first lateral side. 
     
     
         10 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
 a refrigerant sub-system;   a conditioner sub-system comprising a first three-way heat exchanger for transferring heat between a conditioner heat transfer fluid, a liquid desiccant, and a first air stream, the HVAC system operable to circulate the conditioner heat transfer fluid between the first three-way heat exchanger and the refrigerant sub-system; and   a regenerator sub-system comprising a second three-way heat exchanger for transferring heat between a regenerator heat transfer fluid, the liquid desiccant, and a second air stream, the HVAC system operable to circulate the regenerator heat transfer fluid between the second three-way heat exchanger and the refrigerant sub-system;   wherein the first and second three-way heat exchangers each define mutually perpendicular lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions, each three-way heat exchanger comprising:
 panel assemblies arranged in succession in the lateral direction, airflow gaps being defined between adjacent panel assemblies to allow the respective air stream to flow through the three-way heat exchanger, each panel assembly comprising a frame defining a heat transfer fluid channel and at least one vapor-permeable membrane disposed on a lateral face of the frame, at least one desiccant channel being defined between the at least one membrane and the frame, the at least one desiccant channel being separated from the heat transfer fluid channel; 
 a heat transfer fluid inlet manifold and a heat transfer fluid outlet manifold, the heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet manifolds being connected to the heat transfer fluid channel of each panel assembly, the heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet manifolds each extending between first and second lateral sides of the three-way heat exchanger, the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold being closed at the first lateral side and the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold being closed at the second lateral side; and 
 a heat transfer fluid inlet connected to the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold at the second lateral side and a heat transfer fluid outlet connected to the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold at the first lateral side. 
   
     
     
         11 . The HVAC system of  claim 10 , wherein, for each three-way heat exchanger:
 the three-way heat exchanger has first and second longitudinal sides and first and second vertical sides;   the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the second longitudinal side and the second vertical side and the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the first longitudinal side and the first vertical side;   the first longitudinal side of the three-way heat exchanger defines an airflow inlet and the second longitudinal side of the three-way heat exchanger defines an airflow outlet, and wherein the airflow gaps defined between adjacent panel assemblies are in communication with the airflow inlet and outlet to allow the respective air stream to flow through the three-way heat exchanger in the longitudinal direction; and   the heat transfer fluid inlet and the heat transfer fluid outlet are located at the second longitudinal side of the three-way heat exchanger, the heat transfer fluid inlet being connected to the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold by a first longitudinally-extending conduit and the heat transfer fluid outlet being connected to the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold by a second longitudinally-extending conduit.   
     
     
         12 . The HVAC system of  claim 10 , wherein each three-way heat exchanger further comprises:
 a liquid desiccant inlet manifold and a liquid desiccant outlet manifold, the liquid desiccant inlet and outlet manifolds being connected to the at least one desiccant channel of each panel assembly, the liquid desiccant inlet and outlet manifolds each extending between the first and second lateral sides of the three-way heat exchanger, the liquid desiccant inlet manifold being closed at the second lateral side and the liquid desiccant outlet manifold being closed at the first lateral side; and   a liquid desiccant inlet connected to the liquid desiccant inlet manifold at the first lateral side and a liquid desiccant outlet connected to the liquid desiccant outlet manifold at the second lateral side.   
     
     
         13 . The HVAC system of  claim 10 , wherein each three-way heat exchanger comprises an insert disposed within the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold, the insert configured to direct a flow of the respective heat transfer fluid through the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold towards the first lateral side. 
     
     
         14 . The HVAC system of  claim 10 , wherein, for each panel assembly of each three-way heat exchanger, the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold is connected to the heat transfer fluid channel by at least one heat transfer fluid inlet aperture, and wherein the heat transfer fluid inlet apertures of the panel assemblies have different dimensions to direct a flow of the respective heat transfer fluid through the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold towards the first lateral side. 
     
     
         15 . A three-way heat exchanger for use in an air treatment sub-system of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the three-way heat exchanger operable to transfer heat between a heat transfer fluid, a liquid desiccant, and air, the three-way heat exchanger defining mutually perpendicular lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions, the three-way heat exchanger comprising:
 panel assemblies arranged in succession in the lateral direction, airflow gaps being defined between adjacent panel assemblies to allow the air to flow through the three-way heat exchanger, each panel assembly comprising a frame defining a heat transfer fluid channel and at least one vapor-permeable membrane disposed on a lateral face of the frame, at least one desiccant channel being defined between the at least one membrane and the frame, the at least one desiccant channel being separated from the heat transfer fluid channel;   a heat transfer fluid inlet manifold and a heat transfer fluid outlet manifold, the heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet manifolds being connected to the heat transfer fluid channel of each panel assembly, the heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet manifolds each extending between first and second lateral sides of the three-way heat exchanger, the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold being closed at the first lateral side and the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold being closed at the second lateral side; and   a heat transfer fluid inlet connected to the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold at the second lateral side and a heat transfer fluid outlet connected to the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold at the first lateral side.   
     
     
         16 . The three-way heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold extends laterally proximate to a second longitudinal side of the three-way heat exchanger and a second vertical side of the three-way heat exchanger and the heat transfer fluid outlet manifold extends laterally proximate to a first longitudinal side of the three-way heat exchanger and a first vertical side of the three-way heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The three-way heat exchanger of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a liquid desiccant inlet manifold and a liquid desiccant outlet manifold, the liquid desiccant inlet and outlet manifolds being connected to the at least one desiccant channel of each panel assembly, the liquid desiccant inlet and outlet manifolds each extending between the first and second lateral sides of the three-way heat exchanger, the liquid desiccant inlet manifold being closed at the second lateral side and the liquid desiccant outlet manifold being closed at the first lateral side; and   a liquid desiccant inlet connected to the liquid desiccant inlet manifold at the first lateral side and a liquid desiccant outlet connected to the liquid desiccant outlet manifold at the second lateral side.   
     
     
         18 . The three-way heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid desiccant inlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the second longitudinal side and the first vertical side, and the liquid desiccant outlet manifold extends laterally proximate to the first longitudinal side and the second vertical side. 
     
     
         19 . The three-way heat exchanger of  claim 15 , further comprising an insert disposed within the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold, the insert configured to direct a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold towards the first lateral side. 
     
     
         20 . The three-way heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein, for each panel assembly, the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold is connected to the heat transfer fluid channel by at least one heat transfer fluid inlet aperture, and wherein the heat transfer fluid inlet apertures of the panel assemblies have different dimensions to direct a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat transfer fluid inlet manifold towards the first lateral side.