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Multiple Panel Heat Exchanger

a heat exchanger and multi-panel technology, applied in indirect heat exchangers, lighting and heating apparatus, separation processes, etc., can solve the problems of high energy cost, low energy efficiency, unsafe drinking water produced as a byproduct of chilling air for other reasons than water production, etc., and achieve versatile and scalable effects

Inactive Publication Date: 2013-11-28
MAX MICHAEL D
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes an invention that simplifies and improves the control of temperature in an atmospheric water harvester. It uses pre-cooling, multiple air paths, and multiple heat exchanger apparatus to achieve better results. The invention is versatile and scalable, with the evaporator being available in different sizes and used in portable or fixed installations.

Problems solved by technology

Water condensation is well known as a byproduct of chilling air for other purposes, but water produced as a byproduct of chilling air for reasons other than water production is generally unsafe for drinking.
When significantly chilling air or removing a maximum amount of water from air through condensation, energy efficiency is usually low.
If the evaporator is operated at very low temperatures, there is a higher energy cost because increasing sensible heat must be removed along with latent heat.
Although very high chilling potential has the potential to remove proportionally more water from the air, as would be desirable in a dehumidifier in which drying the air is the objective, as temperature is decreased the energy cost per volume of water is increased.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

embodiment 300

[0049]Turning now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternative evaporator embodiment 300 of evaporator 200. In evaporator 300, the upstream panel 303 is connected to the downstream panel 305 by a valve 321 that is operable to restrict refrigerant flow between the panels. Despite panels 303 and 305 being connected by valve 321, evaporator 300 is still a considered to be a single unit because the valve must not be entirely closed for operation of the vapor-compression refrigeration system. As in evaporator 200, evaporator 300 is illustrated having only two interconnected panels for the purpose of simplicity. Refrigerant inlet 316, refrigerant outlet 319, and the valve connection 321 are placed so as to promote the greatest traverse by the gaseous refrigerant of the interiors of the panels to maximize the chilling potential.

[0050]Operation of valve 321 to restrict refrigerant flow rate between panels 305 and 303 can result in a temperature different...

embodiment 400

[0051]With reference now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a diagrammatic perspective of an evaporator embodiment 400 that is similar to evaporator 300 that is shown in FIG. 3 with the exception of the upstream panel 405 and downstream panel 403 are of different size. Specifically, upstream panel 405 is smaller than downstream panel 403 which has the effect of reduced pre-cooling on airflow 402. In the representatively illustrated embodiment, upstream panel 405 has a vertical length that is about half of the vertical length of the downstream panel 403, and a horizontal length this about the same. Evaporator 400 is not limited to this arrangement, and relative dimensions between the upstream panel 405 and the downstream panel 403 may be configured as desired based upon required pre-cooling. Inlet 416, outlet 419, and valve 421 are similarly placed to those shown in FIG. 3. This embodiment can be used when little pre-cooling load is anticipated and in which the capital cost of the parts...

embodiment 500

[0052]With reference now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a diagrammatic side elevation of an evaporator embodiment 500 that is similar to evaporator 300 that is shown in FIG. 3 with the exception of the upstream panel 505 and downstream panel 503 are of different thickness. Specifically, upstream panel 505 has a thickness x that is less than the thickness y of downstream panel 503. Reducing thickness of upstream panel 505 relative to the downstream panel 503 lowers the refrigeration or cooling capacity of the upstream panel 505 relative to the downstream panel 503, and thus provides a reduce pre-cooling of air 518.

[0053]The construction of evaporator 500 differs from that of evaporator 400 by causing air incident upon the upstream panel 503 to be first be entirely incident upon the downstream panel 505. Whereas in evaporator 400, a first portion of air incident upon the upstream panel 403 was first caused to be incident upon the downstream panel 405, and a second portion of air inci...

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Abstract

A multiple panel heat exchanger and atmospheric water harvester using the same is provided. The multiple panel heat exchanger includes two or more heat exchange panels arranged in side-by-side series with their major cross sectional areas normal to airflow across the heat exchanger. The heat exchange panels are fluidically connected in series and with a first heat exchange panel in the series having a heat exchange fluid inlet into the heat exchanger and a last heat exchange panel in the series having a heat exchange fluid outlet from the heat exchanger. The multiple panel heat exchanger is suited for a heat exchanger in a refrigeration circuit, such as an evaporator in a vapor-compression refrigeration circuit. An atmospheric water harvester including the multiple panel heat exchanger is also provided.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to heat exchangers and improvements in heat exchanger performance. In particular, and in a representatively illustrated embodiment, the present invention relates to a specially designed heat exchanger operative to generally remove sensible heat before removing latent heat from a single direction air flow across the heat exchanger. Although the invention has potential for other uses, a preferred use is for the energy efficient condensation of water from moist air.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Heat exchange for the purpose of cooling air applies to many purposes, including air conditioning, space refrigeration, and dehumidification. A vapor-compression refrigeration system is conventionally used for these and other air cooling purposes. Vapor-compression refrigeration systems are well known, and are a principal technology used for condensing water from air, such as, for example in an atmospheric water harvesting un...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): F25B39/02F25B1/00F28F27/00F28D15/00
CPCB01D5/0015E03B3/28F25B39/02F28D1/05333F28D1/05383F28D2021/0038F28D2021/0071Y02A20/00
Inventor MAX, MICHAEL D.
Owner MAX MICHAEL D
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