ES2933748B2 - Ultra-compact, high-efficiency heat exchanger for simultaneous treatment of air temperature and humidity - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Ultra-compact, high-efficiency exchanger for the simultaneous treatment of air temperature and humidity

TECHNIQUE SECTOR

The present invention refers to an ultra-compact and high-efficiency exchanger for the simultaneous treatment of temperature and humidity of air, specially designed to be used in all types of air conditioning systems, whether in residential or industrial buildings, means of transport, etc.

The object of the invention is to obtain a large number of conditions of the treated air at the outlet of the exchanger. This is possible thanks to the fact that the proposed system produces simultaneous treatment of the temperature and humidity of the air, that is, the cooling and dehumidification of the air that passes through the system occurs simultaneously. This novelty is due to the design of the exchanger and its compactness.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a system with low environmental impact, high efficiency, which can be manufactured with polymer-based materials, including recycled/recyclable ones, capable of being integrated into networks based on renewable energy, with a high quality of the treated air. .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current air treatment systems for dehumidification and air cooling use refrigerant gases that have a high environmental impact. Furthermore, the energy consumption of these equipment is very high, due to the compressor. Current air conditioning systems depend mainly on electrical energy and the use of materials used in the manufacture of this equipment has a high environmental impact.

One way to reduce the environmental impact of air conditioning systems is to develop systems that do not use refrigerant gases, and that use low-impact materials. environmentally friendly made of recycled and/or recyclable polymeric materials.

In parallel, and to date, air treatment systems are used separately for air temperature and humidity treatment. That is, the air treatment processes occur in series: first temperature and then humidity or vice versa. This is due to the type of equipment used, which forces the processes to be separated and, as a consequence, leads to greater expenditure on materials, more volume of equipment and a limitation to adjust the air treatment processes.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The Exchanger for the simultaneous treatment of temperature and humidity of the air completely satisfactorily solves the problem described above.

To this end, the exchanger of the invention is made up of ultra-compact equipment with very high efficiency for the combined treatment of air temperature and humidity.

More specifically, the equipment is constituted from an exchange of heat and mass using plates manufactured with additive manufacturing techniques.

The air to be treated enters each of the channels defined between the plates, in which a combined treatment of temperature and humidity occurs. These channels are called primary air channels.

The air to be treated circulates through the primary channels or process channels, reducing the absolute humidity and temperature of the air. A fraction of this treated air flow is propelled into the space to be treated and another fraction is conducted through secondary channels, where a direct evaporative cooling process occurs. Once it has circulated through the secondary channel, this fraction of air is expelled outside. In the secondary channel, the cooling effect is produced by direct evaporation of water in the air that circulates through these channels. As a consequence, the cooled air cools the wall that separates the secondary channel from the primary channel. Consequently, the air circulating through the primary channel is cooled indirectly.

The most important novelty of the proposed system is that the temperature and humidity treatment of the air is carried out simultaneously in the primary channels, given that the internal wall is covered with desiccant material and the same wall is adjacent to the evaporative process, so It has a cooling effect and reduces the temperature of the air to be treated simultaneously with the desiccant process.

The channel length, number of primary and secondary channels, amount of desiccant material, amount of evaporative material allows the intensity of the cooling and dehumidification process to be regulated independently.

The system requires that the desiccant material be thermally activated cyclically (system regeneration process). The regeneration cycle occurs progressively in the system, so that while one part of the system drives treated (cooled and dehumidified) air, another part of the system carries out the thermal regeneration process of the desiccant material found in the primary air channels. The delivery of treated air is not conditioned by the regeneration cycle that occurs cyclically.

During the regeneration cycle, the part of the system to be regenerated is subjected to air heating, by introducing hot air. Hot air circulates through the primary air channels, thermally regenerating the desiccant material. Next, 100% of this hot air is conducted through the secondary channels and is finally expelled outside. In this way, the primary channels are ready to begin a new process cycle to dehumidify and cool the supply air.

The alternation of process and regeneration cycles is carried out by means of gates at the entrance and exit of the ultra-compact exchanger. The continuous supply of process air is guaranteed, alternating the process and regeneration cycles in several exchange modules.

The proposed system uses 100% outside air. The system does not recirculate the air inside the space to be treated at any time. This feature ensures optimal indoor air quality by controlling the CO2 concentration (indoor air quality) of the indoor air.

The proposed system uses mainly thermal energy in the form of hot water from district networks from renewable energies for its operation.

The system can be adapted to other renewable thermal energy sources directly, such as biomass, geothermal, solar thermal energy or waste heat. In this way, the system promotes the promotion of renewable energies and energy efficiency for sustainable construction.

The proposed system integrates perfectly into district networks, connecting to the hot water network. From this hot water supply the system produces cold, dehumidified air.

The proposed system can be manufactured completely using additive manufacturing techniques, taking advantage of the competitive advantages of said technology, such as: manufacturing of very complex and highly efficient designs that are impossible or difficult to manufacture using other technologies, possibility of the system itself user manufactures the product “in situ” in additive manufacturing equipment when required (“pull” manufacturing and not “push”), eliminating the need to manufacture to store, possibility of using recycled and/or easily recyclable materials at the end of the production useful life of the final product (for example thermoplastic-based materials). These characteristics contribute significantly to increasing the environmental benefits of the proposed air conditioning system, by significantly reducing the environmental impact of the proposed system with respect to conventional systems.

Consequently, from the described structuring, the following advantages are derived:

• The proposed system has a very high compactness, thanks to its design in the form of overlapping plates. In this way, the ratio of cooling power and dehumidification power versus volume occupied by the system is much greater than that of existing systems.

• The proposed system has a reduced weight, as it is manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques. The system can be manufactured completely using additive manufacturing techniques, taking advantage of the advantages of said techniques and the reduction of the associated environmental impact with respect to conventional systems. The complex design of the system is configurable depending on the type of air treatment and its manufacturing is feasible thanks to additive manufacturing technology, which allows high efficiencies to be achieved. The system can be manufactured entirely with polymer-based materials, including recycled and/or recyclable materials, with the consequent reduction of environmental impact.

• The proposed system can be scaled to any size to cover any type of application depending on the air flow to be treated, as well as the necessary cooling and dehumidifying powers. In addition, it adjusts to any combination of cooling and dehumidifying powers.

• The proposed system has a low manufacturing cost in relation to existing systems.

• The proposed system has a greater constructive simplicity than that of existing systems, so its reliability is much greater than that of existing systems.

• The proposed system has a low environmental impact due to its high energy efficiency and the use of recyclable polymeric materials used in its manufacturing.

• The proposed system has a low environmental impact because it does not use refrigerant gases or oils for its operation, it only uses water and air as working fluids.

• The proposed system can be manufactured “in situ” and “pull” system by the end user themselves, reducing the need for product storage, with the consequent reduction of associated environmental impact.

• The proposed system can be integrated with thermal renewable energy systems, such as solar thermal, geothermal, biomass, etc., or integrated into renewable energy-based district networks.

• The proposed system guarantees a very high quality of Indoor air since 100% of the treated air comes from outside, being able to control the CO2 concentration of the space to be treated by supplying cooled and dehumidified air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that will be made below and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of its practical implementation, a set of plans is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figures 1A and 1B.- Show opposite perspective views of an exchanger for the simultaneous treatment of temperature and humidity of the air carried out in accordance with the object of the present invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a perspective view of the exchanger, on which the air and water flows in the exchanger are represented with arrows.

Figure 3.- Shows a schematic detail of the primary and secondary channels that are defined inside the device, specifically in a variant of embodiment in which they are arranged counterflow with a single perforation, on which the air flows are represented. that occur within them.

Figure 4.- Shows a view similar to that of Figure 3, but corresponding to a variant of embodiment in which the channels have multi-perforations.

Figure 5.- Shows a view similar to that of Figures 3 and 4, but corresponding to a variant of embodiment in which the arrangement of cross flows between main and secondary channels.

Figure 6.- Shows a detail of the layers that make up each plate, as well as the flows of air, steam and heat that are generated when the system simultaneously treats temperature and humidity.

Figure 7.- Shows a view similar to that of figure 6, but corresponding to the regeneration process of the desiccant material.

Figure 8.- Shows a psychrometric diagram of the air treatment processes that would allow the ultra-compact exchanger to be carried out in accordance with a first embodiment variant for it.

Figure 9.- Shows a psychrometric diagram of the air treatment processes that would allow the ultra-compact exchanger to be carried out in accordance with a second embodiment variant for it.

Figure 10.- Shows a schematic drawing of the elements that make up the temperature and humidity treatment system, as well as the air and water flows that occur in it.

Figure 11.- Finally shows a view similar to that of Figure 10, but in which two temperature and humidity treatment modules participate in parallel.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures reviewed, and especially figures 1 and 2, it can be seen how the device of the invention is constituted from a main body (1) of compact configuration, acting as an exchanger, on which It has a water tank (2).

The main body (1) is obtained using additive manufacturing techniques, defining within it a series of primary and secondary channels. Within the primary channels, the treatment of temperature and humidity of the air occurs simultaneously.

The tank (2) stores water from the network, to later distribute it through the channels secondary where the direct evaporative process occurs.

More specifically, and according to what is shown in Figure 2, the inlet air (3) to be treated enters the ultra-compact exchanger of very high efficiency. The walls of the primary channels are lined with desiccant material. This material, upon contact with the air that circulates through the primary channels, produces dehumidification of the primary air.

A fraction (4) of the primary air leaves the exchanger and a second fraction (5) is recirculated through the secondary channels.

The walls of the secondary channels have a coating of wetting material that remains moist. The air circulating through the secondary channel is cooled by the evaporative effect when it comes into contact with the humidified material that covers the walls of the secondary channel. In this way, the air that circulates through the secondary channel reduces its temperature and increases its humidity before being expelled through an outlet (6) to the outside.

This evaporative process between the water and the air circulating through the secondary channel in turn cools the plate that separates the secondary channel from the primary channel. Since the air circulating through the primary channel is in contact with this cooled plate, cooling occurs simultaneously with the desiccant process, so the air circulating through the primary channel is treated simultaneously to reduce its temperature and humidity. , up to the desired output conditions.

The upper tank (2) stores water from the network, which enters (7) into the module, producing humidification of the humectant material that covers the walls of the secondary channels.

As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, primary channels (8) and secondary channels (9) are defined within the main body (1) of the exchanger.

Within the primary channels, the desiccant and cooling processes occur simultaneously. The desiccant process takes place when air comes into contact with the walls of the primary channel (8), which is internally coated with desiccant material.

Since the same wall of the channel separates it from the secondary channel (9), where evaporative cooling occurs, the wall of the primary channel is cooled by the secondary channel. In this way, the air, while reducing humidity through contact with the desiccant material, cools. The internal walls of the secondary channels (9) are covered with wetting material.

Thus, and as has been repeatedly said, the air treatment process in the ultra-compact, very high-efficiency exchanger is based on simultaneous treatment of air temperature and humidity. The inlet air (3) circulates through the primary channels (8), covered with desiccant material, so the primary air is dehumidified and cooled simultaneously. A fraction (4) of this air flow that leaves the primary channel is propelled to the area to be treated and a second fraction (5) is recirculated through the secondary channels (9).

In order to recirculate the air from the primary channels, at the end of the primary channels there are one or more perforations or holes (11) that connect the primary (8) and secondary channels (9). The air circulating through the secondary channels (9) comes into direct contact with the wet walls that are covered with wetting material.

These walls of the secondary channels are kept moistened with network water from the upper tank (2). Finally, the air from the secondary channels is expelled to the outside.

In a variant embodiment, instead of the counterflow arrangement between the primary and secondary channels described above, the secondary channels (9) can be arranged with cross flows with respect to the primary channels (8), as shown in Figure 5.

Regarding the structuring of the intermediate walls that determine said primary and secondary channels, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the walls will have an intermediate core (12), which in correspondence with its face that delimits the primary channel ( 8) has a layer of desiccant material (13), while the face that delimits the secondary channel (9) includes a layer of wetting material (14) through which a flow of water (15) coming from the tank (2).

Thus, the air flow (3) that enters the primary channels is humid air. Due to the differences in partial vapor pressure between the humid air and the desiccant material, an adsorption process occurs (16), dehumidifying the air.

As previously mentioned, a fraction (4) of the air flow that circulates through the primary channels (8) is driven and a second fraction (5) proportion is recirculated through the secondary channels (9). The air that is recirculated through the secondary channels is in direct contact with water, so direct evaporative cooling occurs, where water vapor (17) passes from the water layer to the recirculation air (producing a heat exchange and mass).

The heat and mass exchange caused in the secondary channels produces a heat exchange (18) between the flow that circulates through the primary channels and the walls of the system, cooling the air in the primary channels. Therefore, the composition and arrangement of the exchanger layers allows the air to be treated to be dehumidified and cooled simultaneously.

Figure 7 shows the process or mode of regeneration of the desiccant material (13), in which case hot air is introduced from a thermal heat source. The hot air (15), when in contact with the desiccant material (13), produces a process of desorption of water vapor (16) from the desiccant material to the air, humidifying the air flow that circulates through the primary channels.

When the system is regenerating the desiccant material, air is not pushed into the space to be treated, but rather 100% of the air flow (3) is recirculated through the secondary channels and is subsequently expelled outside.

Figure 8 shows the inlet conditions of the inlet air (3) to be treated versus the psychrometric outlet conditions of the supply air (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f), which will vary depending on the composition of the desiccant material, the composition of the wetting material, the arrangement and physical dimensions of the primary channels and secondary channels, as well as the fraction of air that is recirculated between the primary and secondary channels.

The primary channels may be designed to achieve the desired delivery conditions, from (2a) with enthalpy equal to the inlet air (3), to (2f), driving air at dew point temperature. That is, the construction and operating characteristics of the ultra-compact, very high-efficiency exchanger can be adapted to a wide variety of combinations of simultaneous cooling and dehumidification treatment.

If the evaporative cooling process is not carried out in the secondary channels, the air treatment process will be from (3) to (2a), with constant enthalpy. By regulating the amount of water and the fraction of air that recirculates through the secondary channels, the dehumidification and cooling capacity of the system will also be modified. The system would also allow air to be dehumidified isothermally, from (3) to (2c).

The dimensions of the channels, the number of channels, the amount of desiccant material and the amount of wetting material allow the intensity of the cooling and dehumidification process to be regulated independently. However, the cooling and dehumidification of the air will always occur simultaneously.

Figure 9 shows another example of the air treatment process that the ultra-compact exchanger could carry out, treating temperature and humidity simultaneously, but deciding the cooling capacity and dehumidification capacity.

According to what is shown in Figure 10, the exchanger described would be integrated into an installation in which a gate participates for the entry of the air to be treated (19), a gate for the entry of hot air (20) from a source of heat (for the regeneration of the desiccant material), a ventilation module (21) composed of a box and a fan, the exchanger itself referenced in said figure with (22) and a damper for regulating the supply air and supply air. recirculation (23).

The hot air inlet damper (20) allows regulating the regeneration air inlet to thermally activate the desiccant material. Both inlet gates work open/closed, so when one is open, the other is closed, and vice versa.

The damper for regulating the supply air and recirculation air (23) works proportionally, making it possible to decide the percentage of air that is driven and that which is returned through the exchange module. When the system is dehumidifying and cooling the air to be treated (that is, damper (19) open and damper (20) closed), the damper (22) will have a percentage of opening, to allow the inlet air to be divided into supply air. and recirculation air. The gate (22) generates an overpressure of air between this gate and the exchange module. This overpressure allows a fraction of the inlet air to recirculate through the secondary channels.

When the system is regenerating the desiccant material (i.e., gate (19) closed and gate (20) open), the gate (22) will be completely closed, recirculating 100% of the inlet air and not allowing air to be blown. This way, hot and humid air will not be blown into the space to be treated.

The air treatment of a space with this system will be cyclical, so that when the regeneration process is active no air will be pumped.

Finally, say that, with the objective that the temperature and humidity treatment system is constant, instead of a cyclic treatment, the system may be composed of two modules, as shown in Figure 11, identical with a parallel arrangement. .

The air treatment process is similar to that described in figure 10. Since this system is composed of two equal modules, the air treatment of a space is constant. One module is used to treat and drive air and the other module is used to regenerate the desiccant material. In this way a continuous supply of supply air is guaranteed.

For this case, the upper module is being used to cool, dehumidify and drive air, and the lower module is being regenerated to thermally activate the desiccant material.

After completing the regeneration cycle of the lower module, it will be used to dehumidify, cool and drive air, and the upper module will be regenerated to thermally activate the desiccant material. In this way a continuous supply of supply air is guaranteed.

Claims (5)

1§.- High-efficiency ultra-compact exchanger for the simultaneous treatment of temperature and humidity of the air, characterized in that it is made up of a main body (1) acting as an exchanger, linked to a water tank (2), body main (1), within which a plurality of primary channels (8) are defined through which the inlet air (3) to be treated in temperature and humidity simultaneously and a plurality of secondary channels (9) are introduced. that communicate with the primary channels (8) through one or more perforations or holes (11) that communicate the primary channels (8) and secondary channels (9), defining an outlet for a fraction (4) of the treated air, while that a second fraction (5) of the inlet air is recirculated through the secondary channels (9), which lead said fraction of air to an exterior outlet (6); having foreseen that the walls that delimit the primary channels (8) and secondary channels (9) are obtained through an intermediate core (12), which in correspondence with its face that delimits the primary channel (8) presents a layer of desiccant material. (13), while the face that delimits the secondary channel (9) includes a layer of wetting material (14) through which a flow of water (15) from the tank (2) circulates. 2§.- High-efficiency ultra-compact exchanger for the simultaneous treatment of temperature and humidity of the air, according to claim 1§, characterized in that the secondary channels are linked to the primary channels so that a counter-flow of the circulating air is generated. through both channels. 3§.- High-efficiency ultra-compact exchanger for the simultaneous treatment of temperature and humidity of the air, according to claim 1§, characterized in that the secondary channels are linked to the primary channels so that a cross flow of the circulating air is generated through from both channels. 4§.- High-efficiency ultra-compact exchanger for the simultaneous treatment of temperature and humidity of the air, according to claim 1§, characterized in that it is integrated into an installation in which a gate participates for the entry of the air to be treated (19), a damper for the entry of hot air (20) from a heat source, a ventilation module (21) composed of a drawer and a fan connected to the inlet of the exchanger and a damper for regulating the supply air and recirculation air (23). 5§.- High-efficiency ultra-compact exchanger for the simultaneous treatment of temperature and humidity of the air, according to claims 1§ and 4§, characterized in that the installation is capable of being multiplied forming two or more parallel modules, so that they work in a parallel manner. alternately treating the inlet air and/or regenerating the desiccant material (13).