Patent ID: 7563306

Claim:
An air-dehumidifier for conditioning air, comprising: (a) a desiccant rotor comprising one or more process chambers and one or more reactivation chambers, through which chambers air can flow; wherein said process chambers are adapted to heat and dehumidify a process air stream to form a post-process air stream for removing moisture from a moisture-laden space or structure; (b) at least one shielded radiant burner assembly comprising a radiant burner having a directional shield, a combustion blower, and a combustion air plenum adapted to supply a suitable amount of fuel and air to said radiant burner to allow for combustion and emission of radiant heat when ignited; wherein said shielded radiant burner assembly is adapted to regenerate said desiccant rotor by removing moisture from said one or more reactivation chambers by projecting a suitable amount of radiant heat onto said desiccant rotor and by transferring a suitable amount of radiant heat from said radiant burner to a pre-reactivation air stream flowing near said directional shield; wherein said directional shield is sized and shaped to minimize the potential for the pre-reactivation air stream to interrupt the combustion of air and fuel by said radiant burner; and wherein said combustion blower is adapted to eject a mixture of fuel and air through said radiant burner; and (c) a control system having a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the pre-reactivation air, wherein said control system is adapted to control the temperature of the pre-reactivation air stream by modulating the gas pressure and combustion airflow to adjust the amount of radiant heat generated by said radiant burner.