Split system dehumidifier

• US 20080173035A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel D. Thayer, David E. Beal
• Original Assignee: Daniel D. Thayer, David E. Beal
• Inventors: Thayer, Daniel D., Beal, David E.
• Application Number:
  US11/656,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20080173035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/173
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/153 with subsequent heating, i.e. with the air, given the required humidity in the central station, passing a heating element to achieve the required temperature

Abstract

Mini, split-system dehumidifier that provides three modes of operation: heating and dehumidification, cooling and dehumidification, and dehumidification only. The dehumidifier maintains a set temperature of the supply air by controlling the amount of heat of rejection at the primary condenser that is cycled back into the supply air.

Claims

1. :

Dehumidification apparatus comprising;

an indoor section including an evaporator, a reheat condenser, and a supply-air fan;

a condensing unit that includes a compressor, a primary condenser, and a fluid pump that provides a flow of heat-exchange medium over said primary condenser;

a refrigeration circuit containing refrigerant that flows through said indoor section and said condensing unit, wherein said refrigerant selectively flows through said primary condenser and/or said reheat condenser;

a first process control for selectively enabling three modes of operation, said modes of operation including a dehumidification-and-heating mode, a dehumidification-and-cooling mode, and a dehumidification-only mode;

a second process control for directly adjusting a rate of flow of said heat-exchange medium, based on a property of said refrigerant at said primary condenser;

wherein, in said dehumidification-only mode, said second process control apportions heat of rejection to said reheat condenser and said primary condenser as required to maintain a temperature of supply air to said indoor space.

2. :

The dehumidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein said property of said refrigerant is head pressure and wherein said second process control includes a head-pressure sensor for measuring said head pressure and a controller for adjusting said rate of flow of said heat-exchange medium, based on said head pressure.

3. :

The dehumidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein said property of said refrigerant is temperature and wherein said second process control includes a temperature sensor for measuring said temperature and a controller for adjusting said rate of flow of said heat-exchange medium, based on said temperature.

4. :

The dehumidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat-exchange medium is air and said fluid pump is a condenser fan.

5. :

The dehumidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat-exchange medium is liquid and said fluid pump is variable-speed pump that drives fluid in a liquid circulation loop over said primary condenser.

6. :

The dehumidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat-exchange medium is liquid and said liquid circulation loop incorporates a modulating valve to regulate the rate of flow of said heat-exchange medium over said primary condenser.

7. :

The dehumidification apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary heating element for providing a second stage of heating.

8. :

The dehumidification apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heating priority switch which energizes said compressor on a call for heating, without a call for dehumidification.