Patent ID: 9146040
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: B01D,F24F,Y02B

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a heat pump for pumping a quantity of heat from a first side of the heat pump to a second side of the heat pump or from the second side of the heat pump to the first side of the heat pump; a first passive heat transfer device, wherein the first passive heat transfer device is physically and thermally connected to the first side of the heat pump, the first passive heat transfer device having an exposed surface area for adsorbing and radiating heat; a second passive heat transfer device, wherein the second passive heat transfer device is physically and thermally connected to the second side of the heat pump, the second passive heat transfer device having an exposed surface area for adsorbing and radiating heat; a desiccant material coating the exposed surfaces of both the first passive heat transfer device and the second passive heat transfer device, for removing moisture from a process air stream and adding moisture to a regenerative air stream; and a control system further comprising a controller, control baffles and communication lines for directing the process air stream and the regenerative air stream to flow past the exposed surface of the first and second passive heat transfer devices, and causing the heat pump to pump the quantity of heat from one side of the heat pump to the other side of the heat pump, to thereby control the humidity of the air streams, the temperature of the air streams, or both; the controller operating the system in a first mode in which the heat pump conveys heat in a first direction and process air stream enters through a process air stream entrance, traverses the first passive heat transfer device and exits a process air stream exit and the regenerative air stream enters through a regenerative air stream entrance, traverses the second passive heat transfer device and exits a regenerative air stream exit and, upon saturation of the desiccant material on the first passive heat transfer device, operating the system in a second mode in which the heat pump conveys heat in a second direction opposite the first direction and the process air stream enters through a process air stream entrance, traverses the second passive heat transfer device and exits the process air stream exit and the regenerative air stream enters through a regenerative air stream entrance, traverses the first passive heat transfer device and exits the regenerative air stream exit to regenerate the desiccant material on the first passive heat transfer device.