The Technology
Growing demand for air conditioning in recent years has caused a significant increase in demand for electrical energy. Electric utilities have their peak loads on hot summer days, and are often barely capable of meeting the demand, struggling with burn-out situations. With suitable technology, solar cooling systems can help alleviate, if not eliminate the problem. This is a good application for solar energy as the greatest demand for air conditioning occurs during times of peak solar radiation.
Liquid desiccant air-conditioning/dehumidification system is a good alternative to an electric-powered conventional cooling system. Liquid desiccant air-conditioning systems operate essentially as open-cycle absorption devices. Such systems are capable of using industrial waste heat or low-grade solar heat from low-cost flat plate collectors as their source of power, and have the potential to provide both cooling and dehumidification, as required by the load. The novel technology is a heat and mass exchanger for a liquid desiccant air conditioning/dehumidification system. The exchanger comprises an absorber solution section operably connected to the system’s absorber/dehumidification section and a desorber solution section operably connected to the system’s desorber/regeneration section. A partition separating those sections includes at least two interconnecting ports positioned to facilitate flow of relatively weak solution from the absorber solution section into the desorber solution section; and the flow of relatively strong solution from the desorber solution section into the absorber solution section—as well as allowing heat transfer therebetween. The technology is capable of using industrial waste heat or low-grade solar heat from low-cost flat plate collectors as their source of power, and have the potential to provide both cooling and dehumidification, as required by the load.
Advantages
- A good alternative to an electric-powered conventional cooling system, capable of using industrial waste heat or low-grade solar heat from low-cost flat plate collectors as their source of power
Applications and Opportunities
- Dehumidification / air-conditioning systems
Business Development Contacts