Greenhouse Latent Moisture and Heat Exchanger

• US 20190320594A1
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
• Original Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
• Inventors: DeMonte, Todd R., Ebert, Sean Michael, Yu, Weizhong
• Granted Patent: US 10,932,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/18 Greenhouses for treating plants with carbon dioxide or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/246 Air-conditioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/80 Water
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/22 by diffusion manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 21/0015 Heat and mass exchangers, e.g. with permeable walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

A system includes a latent exchanger and first and second fans. The latent exchanger includes first and second chambers and one or more membranes separating the first chamber from the second chamber. The one or more membranes are gas-impervious. The first fan generates a greenhouse airflow that flows from a greenhouse, into the first chamber, and then back to the greenhouse. The second fan generates an outside airflow that flows from an outside environment, into the second chamber, and then back to the outside environment. The one or more membranes are configured to permit moisture to flow through the one or more membranes from the greenhouse airflow to the outside airflow through the one or more membranes and to prevent carbon dioxide from flowing through the one or more membranes from the greenhouse airflow to the outside airflow.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a latent exchanger comprising;

a first chamber comprising a first inlet and a first outlet;

a second chamber comprising a second inlet and a second outlet;

one or more membranes separating the first chamber from the second chamber, the one or more membranes being gas-impervious;

a first fan configured to generate a greenhouse airflow that flows from a greenhouse, through the first inlet into the first chamber, out of the first outlet of the first chamber, and then back to the greenhouse; and

a second fan configured to generate an outside airflow that flows from an outside environment, through the second inlet into the second chamber, out of the second outlet of the second chamber, and then back to the outside environment;

wherein the one or more membranes are configured to;

permit moisture to flow through the one or more membranes from the greenhouse airflow to the outside airflow through the membrane; and

prevent carbon dioxide from flowing through the one or more membranes from the greenhouse airflow to the outside airflow.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the latent exchanger is coupled to the greenhouse using one or more ducts; and

the greenhouse airflow flows into the latent exchanger via the one or more ducts.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the latent exchanger is coupled to a wall of the greenhouse.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the greenhouse airflow flows directly into the latent exchanger from the greenhouse in the absence of any ducts.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors located within the greenhouse, the one or more sensors operable to enable and disable the first and second fans.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a humidistat or a thermostat.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more membranes comprise a polymer.

8. A system, comprising:

an exchanger comprising;

a first chamber comprising a first inlet and a first outlet;

a second chamber comprising a second inlet and a second outlet;

one or more membranes separating the first chamber from the second chamber;

a first fan configured to generate a first airflow that flows from an un-ventilated enclosure, through the first inlet into the first chamber, out of the first outlet of the first chamber, and then back to the un-ventilated enclosure; and

a second fan configured to generate an outside airflow that flows from an outside environment, through the second inlet into the second chamber, out of the second outlet of the second chamber, and then back to the outside environment;

wherein the one or more membranes are configured to;

permit moisture to flow through the one or more membranes from the first airflow to the outside airflow; and

prevent carbon dioxide from flowing through the one or more membranes from the first airflow to the outside airflow.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the exchanger is coupled to the un-ventilated enclosure using one or more ducts; and

the first airflow flows into the exchanger via the one or more ducts.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the exchanger is coupled to a wall of the un-ventilated enclosure.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first airflow flows directly into the exchanger from the un-ventilated enclosure in the absence of any ducts.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising one or more sensors located within the un-ventilated enclosure, the one or more sensors operable to enable and disable the first and second fans.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a humidistat or a thermostat.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more membranes comprise a polymer.

15. A latent exchanger, comprising:

a first chamber comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, the first chamber configured to permit a first airflow to flow through the first chamber from the first inlet to the first outlet;

a second chamber comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, the second chamber configured to permit a second airflow to flow through the second chamber from the second inlet to the second outlet; and

one or more membranes separating the first chamber from the second chamber, the one or more membranes configured to;

permit moisture to flow through the one or more membranes from the first airflow to the second airflow; and

prevent the first airflow from completely mixing with the second airflow.

16. The latent exchanger of claim 15, wherein:

the latent exchanger is coupled to an un-ventilated enclosure using one or more ducts; and

the first airflow flows into the latent exchanger via the one or more ducts.

17. The latent exchanger of claim 15, wherein the latent exchanger is coupled to a wall of an un-ventilated enclosure.

18. The latent exchanger of claim 17, wherein the first airflow flows directly into the latent exchanger from the un-ventilated enclosure in the absence of any ducts.

19. The latent exchanger of claim 15, further comprising one or more sensors operable to enable and disable the first and second fans.

20. The latent exchanger of claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a humidistat or a thermostat.