Refrigeration cycle dehumidifier
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising a compression-based refrigeration cycle having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a refrigerant;
- wherein the improvement comprises;
a condenser refrigerant inlet section that is thermally distinct;
a baffle capable of selectively directing air that has bypassed the evaporator to the condenser refrigerant inlet section and selectively directing air from the evaporator to other parts of the condenser;
a condenser medial section that is thermally distinct,an evaporator refrigerant outlet section that is thermally distinct, anda baffle capable of selectively directing air from the evaporator refrigerant outlet section to the condenser medial section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus that improve the effectiveness of a compression-based refrigeration cycle dehumidifier by allocating thermally distinct sections of the condenser to different air flows are disclosed. A bypass opening and divider plate direct ambient air to the refrigerant inlet section of the condenser. Air that has been cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator is directed to the rest of the condenser, with the air from the refrigerant outlet section of the evaporator being preferentially directed downstream, in the refrigerant flow path sense, from that section of the condenser already allocated to the ambient air coming from the bypass opening. The flows of ambient air and dehumidified air can be adjusted to improve moisture removal rates and avoid blockage of the evaporator by freezing of the condensate onto the evaporator. The system may also be used to remove condensates other than water.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising a compression-based refrigeration cycle having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a refrigerant;
- wherein the improvement comprises;
a condenser refrigerant inlet section that is thermally distinct; a baffle capable of selectively directing air that has bypassed the evaporator to the condenser refrigerant inlet section and selectively directing air from the evaporator to other parts of the condenser; a condenser medial section that is thermally distinct, an evaporator refrigerant outlet section that is thermally distinct, and a baffle capable of selectively directing air from the evaporator refrigerant outlet section to the condenser medial section.
- wherein the improvement comprises;
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2. An apparatus comprising:
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a compression-based refrigeration cycle having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator; and a vapor phase refrigerant bypass path disposed to allow refrigerant vapor formed within the evaporator to selectively separate from the cycle and bypass a subsequent portion within the evaporator before the refrigerant vapor rejoins the cycle. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. An apparatus comprising:
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a compression-based refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator; a sensor capable of detecting impending or actual freezing of a condensate on the evaporator; and a control system adapted to automatically adjust air flow through the apparatus in response to detection of impending or actual freezing of condensate on the evaporator by the sensor, whereby freezing of condensate on the evaporator is prevented or reversed. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23)
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10. A method of operating an apparatus comprising a compression-based refrigeration cycle having a compressor, a condenser with a condenser refrigerant inlet section that is thermally distinct, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a refrigerant, wherein the apparatus further comprises a condenser medial section and an evaporator refrigerant outlet section that are thermally distinct;
- the method comprising;
selectively directing air that has bypassed the evaporator to the condenser refrigerant inlet section; selectively directing air from the evaporator to other parts of the condenser; and selectively directing air from the evaporator refrigerant outlet section to the condenser medial section.
- the method comprising;
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11. A method of operating an apparatus comprising a compression-based refrigeration cycle having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a refrigerant capable of absorbing heat as the refrigerant transitions from a liquid phase to a vapor phase, the method comprising:
selectively directing vapor phase refrigerant in the evaporator to separate from the cycle and bypass a subsequent portion of the evaporator, while selectively directing liquid phase refrigerant in the evaporator through the subsequent portion of the evaporator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of operating an apparatus comprising a compression-based refrigeration cycle having an expansion valve, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and a refrigerant capable of absorbing heat as the refrigerant transitions from a liquid phase to a vapor phase, comprising the steps of:
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detecting impending or actual freezing of a condensate on the evaporator; and modifying the air flow through the apparatus to prevent or reverse freezing of the condensate on the evaporator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26)
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19. A method for operating an apparatus comprising a compression-based refrigeration cycle having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a refrigerant capable of absorbing heat as it transitions from a liquid phase to a vapor phase, comprising the steps of:
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detecting an increase in superheating of the vapor phase in the evaporator; and reducing airflow through at least a portion of the evaporator in response to the increase in superheating, whereby superheating of the vapor phase of the refrigerant is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification