Patent ID: 7028492

Claim:
A hybrid dehumidification system, comprising: a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator connected for flow of working fluid through a circuit; a reheat coil positioned relative to the evaporator for heating at least a portion of a stream of air passing through the evaporator; a condenser bypass circuit connected between the working fluid circuit upstream of the condenser and the working fluid circuit downstream of the condenser; and working fluid directing means for flowing working fluid in at least two modes of operation selected from a group of modes consisting of: a cooling mode wherein working fluid flows sequentially from the compressor to the condenser, from the condenser to the expansion device, from the expansion device to the evaporator and from the evaporator to the compressor; a cooling and enhanced dehumidification mode wherein working fluid flows sequentially from the compressor to the condenser, from the condenser to the reheat coil, from the reheat coil to the expansion device, from the expansion device to the evaporator and from the evaporator to the compressor; a dehumidification without substantial sensible capacity mode wherein working fluid flows sequentially from the compressor to the reheat coil, from the reheat coil to the condenser, from the condenser to the expansion device, from the expansion device to the evaporator and from the evaporator to the compressor; a heating and dehumidification mode wherein working fluid flows sequentially from the compressor to the reheat coil, from the reheat coil to the expansion device, from the expansion device to the evaporator and from the evaporator to the compressor; and a dehumidification with variable sensible capacity mode wherein working fluid flows sequentially from the compressor in a first portion to the condenser and in a second portion through the condenser bypass circuit around the condenser, the first and second portions then flow to the reheat coil, from the reheat coil to the expansion device, from the expansion device to the evaporator and from the evaporator to the compressor.