Dehumidifying mechanism for auto air conditioner with improved space utilization and thermal efficiency

Abstract

An improved dehumidification system for automotive use includes a rotating, wheel like heat exchanger with axially open cells that carry a water adsorbing material. Opposed ambient air and heated air flows, covering opposite halves of the wheel, continually adsorb water on one side and are recharged on the other side. Alternating radially closed cells between the axially open cells carry no desiccant material, but receive a cross cooling flow, on the water adsorbing side of the wheel only, to remove the heat released during the water adsorption process. The desiccant recharging process on the other side of the wheel is not disturbed by the cross cooling flow.

It is claimed:  
     
       1. For use in a vehicle heating and air conditioning system in which outside air at ambient humidity and temperature is forcibly drawn in and blown over an evaporator core, a system for dehumidifying and cooling the outside air before it reaches said evaporator core, comprising: 
       a generally cylindrical wheel having a central axis and bounded by an envelope having an inner cylindrical tunnel centered on said axis, a concentric outer cylindrical wall, and axially spaced, annular end faces, said wheel having a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope to define a plurality of individual cells, with a first set including every other one of said cells which are axially open at both annular faces, but radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls, and with a second set including those cells located between the cells of said first set and which are axially blocked at both annular faces, but radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls;  
       desiccant coated, heat conductive, axially open first fins closely engaged between the leaves of each of said first set of cells;  
       non-desiccant coated, heat conductive, radially open second fins closely engaged between the leaves of said second set of cells;  
       means for rotating said wheel about said central axis;  
       an outside air feed duct through which outside air at ambient temperature to be dehumidified is axially forced, said outside air feed duct being sealingly engaged with one annular face of said rotating wheel so as to be axially open only to those cells of said first set of cells that are, at any point time, located in a first sub volume of said envelope constituting approximately half the volume thereof, so that outside air flows through those cells and is dried by said desiccant coated first fins, which first fins then conduct the released latent heat of adsorption through said leaves to adjacent cells of said second set of cells;  
       a regeneration air duct through which heated air at substantially higher than ambient temperature is axially forced, said regeneration air feed duct being sealingly engaged with one annular face of said rotating wheel so as to be axially open only to those cells of said first set of cells that are, at any point time, located in a second sub volume of said envelope constituting the remaining approximately half volume thereof, so that the desiccant in those cells is regenerated by said heated air before they rotate back into said first sub volume;  
       a cross flow feed manifold sealingly engaged with the outer cylindrical wall of said envelope within said first sub volume only, through which ambient temperature air is forced radially into those cells of said second set of cells located in said first sub volume only, thereby removing the released latent heat of adsorption, through said second fins, and through the leaves shared with said adjacent first cells located in said first sub volume; and,  
       a cross flow exhaust duct sealingly engaged with said wheel tunnel so as to be radially open to the those cells of the second set of cells that are located in said first sub volume but radially blocked from those cells of the second set of cells that are located in said second sub volume as well as axially blocked from the first set of cells in said first sub volume, said exhaust duct also extending axially away from one end face of said wheel so that radial cross flow air and the removed latent heat of adsorption can be discharged from said wheel.  
     
     
       2. For use in a vehicle heating and air conditioning system in which outside air at ambient humidity and temperature is forcibly drawn in and blown over an evaporator core, a system for dehumidifying and cooling the outside air before it reaches said evaporator core, comprising: 
       a generally cylindrical wheel having a central axis and bounded by an envelope having an inner cylindrical tunnel centered on said axis, a concentric outer cylindrical wall, and axially spaced, annular end faces, said wheel having a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope to define a plurality of individual cells, with a first set including every other one of said cells which are axially open at both annular faces, but radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls, and with a second set including those cells located between the cells of said first set and which are axially blocked at both annular faces, but radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls;  
       desiccant coated, heat conductive, axially open first fins closely engaged between the leaves of each of said first set of cells;  
       non-desiccant coated, heat conductive, radially open second fins closely engaged between the leaves of said second set of cells;  
       means for rotating said wheel about said central axis;  
       an outside air feed duct through which outside air at ambient temperature to be dehumidified is axially forced, said outside air feed duct being sealingly engaged with one annular face of said rotating wheel so as to be axially open only to those cells of said first set of cells that are, at any point time, located in a first sub volume of said envelope constituting approximately half the volume thereof, so that outside air flows through those cells and is dried by said desiccant coated first fins, which first fins then conduct the released latent heat of adsorption through said leaves to adjacent cells of said second set of cells;  
       a cross flow feed manifold sealingly engaged with the outer cylindrical wall of said envelope within said first sub volume only, through which ambient temperature air is forced radially into those cells of said second set of cells located in said first sub volume only, thereby removing the released latent heat of adsorption, through said second fins, and through the leaves shared with said adjacent first cells located in said first sub volume;  
       a cross flow exhaust duct sealingly engaged with said wheel tunnel so as to be radially open to the those cells of the second set of cells that are located in said first sub volume but radially blocked from those cells of the second set of cells that are located in said second sub volume as well as axially blocked from the first set of cells in said first sub volume, said cross flow exhaust duct also extending axially away from one end face of said wheel so that radial cross flow air and the removed latent heat of adsorption can be discharged from said wheel;  
       a regeneration heater in said cross flow exhaust duct sufficient to raise the temperature of said discharged cross flow air substantially above ambient temperature; and,  
       a regeneration air duct that receives said heated cross flow air and which is sealingly engaged with one annular face of said rotating wheel so as to be axially open only to those cells of said first set of cells that are, at any point time, located in a second sub volume of said envelope constituting the remaining approximately half volume thereof, so that the desiccant in those cells is regenerated by said heated air before they rotate back into said first sub volume.  
     
     
       3. For use in a vehicle heating and air conditioning system in which outside air at ambient humidity and temperature is forcibly drawn in and blown over an evaporator core, a system for dehumidifying and cooling the outside air before it reaches said evaporator core, comprising: 
       a generally cylindrical wheel having a central axis and bounded by an envelope having an inner cylindrical tunnel centered on said axis, a concentric outer cylindrical wall, and axially spaced, annular end faces, said wheel having a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope to define a plurality of individual cells, with a first set including every other one of said cells which are axially open at both annular faces, but radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls, and with a second set including those cells located between the cells of said first set and which are axially blocked at both annular faces, but radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls, said wheel inner further being axially blocked at said front face;  
       desiccant coated, heat conductive, axially open first fins closely engaged between the leaves of each of said first set of cells;  
       non-desiccant coated, heat conductive, radially open second fins closely engaged between the leaves of said second set of cells;  
       means for rotating said wheel about said central axis;  
       an outside air feed duct through which outside air at ambient temperature to be dehumidified is axially forced, said outside air feed duct being sealingly engaged with the front annular face of said rotating wheel so as to be axially open only to those cells of said first set of cells that are, at any point time, located in a first sub volume of said envelope constituting approximately half the volume thereof, so that outside air flows through those cells and is dried by said desiccant coated first fins, which first fins then conduct the released latent heat of adsorption through said leaves to adjacent cells of said second set of cells;  
       a cross flow feed manifold sealingly engaged with the outer cylindrical wall of said envelope within said first sub volume only, through which ambient temperature air is forced radially into those cells of said second set of cells located in said first sub volume only, thereby removing the released latent heat of adsorption, through said second fins, and through the leaves shared with said adjacent first cells located in said first sub volume;  
       a seal member within the wheel central tunnel radially blocking those cells of the second set located within said second sub volume, whereby cross flow air heated within said first sub volume and exiting into said central tunnel is axially forced out of said tunnel toward the back face of said wheel;  
       a regeneration heater mounted concentrically to said tunnel at said wheel back face, so that heated cross flow air from said central tunnel is discharged therethrough, said auxiliary heater being sufficient to raise the temperature of said discharged cross flow air substantially above ambient temperature; and,  
       a regeneration air duct that receives said heated cross flow air and which is sealingly engaged with one annular face of said rotating wheel so as to be axially open only to those cells of said first set of cells that are, at any point in time, located in a second sub volume of said envelope constituting the remaining approximately half volume thereof, so that the desiccant in those cells is regenerated by said heated air before they rotate back into said first sub volume.  
     
     
       4. A system, comprising: 
       
         a generally cylindrical wheel having a central axis and being bounded by an envelope having an inner cylindrical tunnel and a concentric outer cylindrical centered on said axis, said generally cylindrical wheel having axially spaced, annular end faces and a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope to define a plurality of individual cells, with a first set including every other one of said cells which are axially open at both annular faces, but radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls, and with a second set including those cells located between the cells of said first set and which are axially blocked at both annular faces, but radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls;  
       
       
         heat conductive, axially open first fins closely engaged between the leaves of each of said first set of cells; and,  
       
       
         heat conductive, radially open second fins closely engaged between the leaves of said second set of cells. 
       
     
     
       5. An apparatus for treating fluid, comprising: 
       
         a generally cylindrical wheel having a central axis and being bounded by an envelope having an inner cylindrical tunnel and a concentric outer cylindrical wall centered on said axis, said cylindrical wheel having axially spaced, annular end faces and a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope;  
       
       
         a first set of cells defined by said leaves and being axially open at both annular faces and radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls; and  
       
       
         a second set cells defined by said leaves and being axially blocked at both annular faces and radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls. 
       
     
     
       6. An apparatus for treating fluid, comprising: 
       
         a generally cylindrical wheel having a central axis, a concentric outer cylindrical wall, and axially spaced, annular end faces, said wheel having a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope, said conductive leaves being in a spiral shape with a generally constant distance between said conductive leaves;  
       
       
         a first set of cells defined by said leaves and being axially open at both annular faces and radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls; and  
       
       
         a second set cells defined by said leaves and being axially blocked at both annular faces and radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls. 
       
     
     
       7. A system for treating a first fluid flow, comprising: 
       
         a generally cylindrical wheel having a central axis and being bounded by an envelope having an inner cylindrical tunnel centered on said axis, a concentric outer cylindrical wall, and axially spaced, annular end faces, said wheel having a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope to define a plurality of individual cells, with a first set including every other one of said cells which are axially open at both annular faces, but radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls, and with a second set including those cells located between the cells of said first set and which are axially blocked at both annular faces, but radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls;  
       
       
         heat conductive, axially open first fins closely engaged between the leaves of each of said first set of cells;  
       
       
         heat conductive, radially open second fins closely engaged between the leaves of said second set of cells;  
       
       
         means for rotating said wheel about said central axis;  
       
       
         an outside feed duct through which said first fluid flow is axially forced, said outside air feed duct being sealingly engaged with one annular face of said rotating wheel so as to be axially open only to those cells of said first set of cells that are, at any point time, located in a first sub volume of said envelope constituting approximately half the volume thereof, so that outside air flows through those cells and is treated by said coated first fins;  
       
       
         a cross flow feed manifold sealingly engaged with the outer cylindrical wall of said envelope within said first sub volume only, through which a second fluid flow is forced radially into those cells of said second set of cells located in said first sub volume only, thereby removing the released latent heat of adsorption, through said second fins, and through the leaves shared with said adjacent first cells located in said first sub volume; and,  
       
       
         a cross flow exhaust duct sealingly engaged with said wheel tunnel so as to be radially open to the those cells of the second set of cells that are located in said first sub volume but radially blocked from those cells of the second set of cells that are located in said second sub volume as well as axially blocked from the first set of cells in said first sub volume, said exhaust duct also extending axially away from one end face of said wheel so that said second fluid flow can be discharged from said wheel. 
       
     
     
       8. A system, comprising: 
       
         a generally cylindrical wheel having a central axis and being bounded by an envelope having an inner cylindrical tunnel and a concentric outer cylindrical centered on said axis, said generally cylindrical wheel having axially spaced, annular end faces and a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope to define a plurality of individual cells, with a first set including every other one of said cells which are axially open at both annular faces, but radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls, and with a second set including those cells located between the cells of said first set and which are axially blocked at both annular faces, but radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls;  
       
       
         heat conductive, axially open first fins closely engaged between the leaves of each of said first set of cells; and,  
       
       
         heat conductive, radially open second fins closely engaged between the leaves of said second set of cells, wherein at least one of said first and second fins have corrugations of substantially equal height. 
       
     
     
       9. An apparatus for treating fluid, comprising: 
       
         a generally cylindrical wheel having a central axis and being bounded by an envelope having an inner cylindrical tunnel and a concentric outer cylindrical wall centered on said axis, said cylindrical wheel having axially spaced, annular end faces and a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope;  
       
       
         a first set of cells defined by said leaves and being axially open at both annular faces and radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls;  
       
       
         a second set cells defined by said leaves and being axially blocked at both annular faces and radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls;  
       
       
         heat conductive, fins closely engaged between the leaves of at least one of said first and second set of cells, wherein said fins have corrugations of substantially equal height. 
       
     
     
       10. A method for exchanging thermal energy between first and second fluid flows, comprising: 
       
         axially forcing said first fluid flow through a first set of cells in a wheel, said wheel having a central axis and being bounded by an envelope having an inner cylindrical tunnel and a concentric outer cylindrical wall centered on said axis, said cylindrical wheel having axially spaced, annular end faces and a basic structural framework comprised of a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, solid, heat conductive leaves that are axially and radially coextensive with said envelope, said first set of cells being defined by said leaves and being axially open at both annular faces and radially blocked at both inner and outer cylindrical walls;  
       
       
         radially forcing said second fluid flow through a second set of cells, said second set cells being defined by said leaves and being axially blocked at both annular faces and radially open at both inner and outer cylindrical walls.