Patent ID: 6751964
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: F24F

Abstract:
An apparatus for dehumidifying air supplied to an enclosed space by an air conditioning system, the apparatus comprising:a) a housing having an interior; b) a partition separating the interior of the housing into a supply portion for containing a supply air stream and a regeneration portion for containing a regeneration air stream, wherein the supply portion has an inlet for receiving supply air from the air conditioning system and an outlet for supplying air to the enclosed space, and wherein the regeneration portion has an inlet for receiving regeneration air and an outlet for discharging regeneration air; c) a fan in air flow communication with the regeneration portion for creating the regeneration air stream; d) a rotatable desiccant wheel positioned such that a portion of the wheel extends into the supply portion and a portion of the wheel extends into the regeneration portion, so that the wheel can rotate through the supply air stream and the regeneration air stream to dehumidify the supply air stream; and e) a heat source capable of heating the regeneration air stream as necessary to regenerate the desiccant wheel as it rotates through the regeneration air stream.