Dehumidification systems and methods for extracting moisture from water damaged structures

• US 8,122,729 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legend Brands, Inc. (RPM International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Dri-Eaz Products Incorporated (RPM International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bruders, William E., Burton, Brandon, Schnelle, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US12/075,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20080223050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 62/93, 622/72, 622/77
• US Class Current: 62/93
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/001 Drying-air generating units, e.g. movable, independent of drying enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/086 by condensing the moisture in the drying medium, which may be recycled, e.g. using a heat pump cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 23/005 using a closed cycle heat pump system with recycling of drying medium F26B21/086; using a heat pipe system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/52 Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working

Abstract

A dehumidification system for removing moisture from the air within a structure comprises a refrigerant system and a heat transfer system. The refrigerant system comprises a condenser section and an evaporator section. The heat transfer system comprises a first coil and a second coil. A primary air path extends through the first coil, the evaporator section, and the second coil. A secondary air path extends through the condenser section.

Claims

1. A dehumidification system for removing moisture from the air within a structure, comprising:

a refrigerant system comprising a condenser section and an evaporator section;

a heat transfer system comprising a first coil and a second coil;

a primary air path extending through the first coil, the evaporator section, and the second coil; and

a secondary air path extending through the condenser section, wherein;

an inlet and an outlet of the secondary air path are connected to the structure; and

a pump circulates heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil.

2. A dehumidification system for removing moisture from the air within a structure, comprising:

a refrigerant system comprising a condenser section and an evaporator section;

a heat transfer system comprising a first coil and a second coil;

a primary air path extending through the first coil, the evaporator section, and the second coil; and

a secondary air path extending through the condenser section, wherein;

an inlet and an outlet of the secondary air path are connected to ambient air; and

a pump circulates heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil.

3. A dehumidification system for removing moisture from the air within a structure, comprising:

a refrigerant system comprising a condenser section and an evaporator section;

a heat transfer system comprising a first coil and a second coil;

a primary air path extending through the first coil, the evaporator section, and the second coil; and

a secondary air path extending through the condenser section, wherein;

an inlet of the secondary path is connected to ambient air;

an outlet of the secondary path is connected to the structure; and

a pump circulates heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil.

4. A dehumidification system for removing moisture from the air within a structure, comprising:

a refrigerant system comprising a condenser section and an evaporator section;

a heat transfer system comprising a first coil and a second coil;

a primary air path extending through the first coil, the evaporator section, and the second coil; and

a secondary air path extending through the condenser section, wherein;

an inlet of the secondary path is connected to ambient air; and

an outlet of the secondary path is connected to the structure.

5. A dehumidification system for removing moisture from the air within a structure, comprising:

a refrigerant system comprising a condenser section and an evaporator section;

a heat transfer system comprising a first coil and a second coil;

a primary air path extending through the first coil, the evaporator section, and the second coil; and

a secondary air path extending through the condenser section, wherein the dehumidification system operates in;

a first configuration in which an inlet and an outlet of the secondary air path are connected to the structure and a pump circulates heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil;

a second configuration in which an inlet and an outlet of the secondary air path are connected to ambient air and a pump circulates heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil;

a third configuration in which an inlet of the secondary air path is connected to ambient air, an outlet of the secondary air path is connected to the structure, and a pump circulates heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil; and

a fourth configuration in which an inlet of the secondary air path is connected to ambient air and an outlet of the secondary air path is connected to the structure.

6. A method of removing moisture from the air within a structure, comprising:

providing a refrigerant system comprising a condenser section and an evaporator section;

providing a heat transfer system comprising a first coil and a second coil;

forming a primary air path extending through the first coil, the evaporator section, and the second coil; and

forming a secondary air path extending through the condenser section.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

connecting an inlet and an outlet of the secondary path to the structure; and

circulating heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

connecting an inlet and an outlet of the secondary path to ambient air; and

circulating heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil.

9. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

connecting an inlet of the secondary air path to ambient air;

connecting an inlet of the secondary air path to the structure; and

circulating heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil.

10. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising the step of:

connecting an inlet of the secondary air path to ambient air; and

connecting an inlet of the secondary air path to the structure.

11. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising the steps of forming:

a first configuration by

connecting an inlet and an outlet of the secondary path to the structure, and

circulating heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil;

a second configuration by

connecting an inlet and an outlet of the secondary path to ambient air, and

circulating heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil;

a third configuration by

connecting an inlet of the secondary air path to ambient air,

connecting an inlet of the secondary air path to the structure, and

circulating heat transfer fluid between the first coil and the second coil; and

a fourth configuration by

connecting an inlet of the secondary air path to ambient air; and

connecting an inlet of the secondary air path to the structure.

12. A dehumidification system for removing moisture from the air within a structure, comprising:

a refrigerant system comprising a condenser section and an evaporator section,

where refrigerant fluid is circulated between the condenser section and the evaporator section;

a heat transfer system comprising a first coil, a second coil, and a pump, where

when the pump is on, heat transfer fluid is circulated between the first and second coils, and

when the pump is off, heat transfer fluid is not circulated between the first and second coils;

a primary air path defining a primary inlet and a primary outlet, where

the primary air path extends through the first coil, the evaporator section, and the second coil, and

air is displaced along the primary path from the primary inlet to the primary outlet; and

a secondary air path defining a secondary inlet and a secondary outlet, where

the secondary air path extends through the condenser section, and

air is displaced along the secondary path from the secondary inlet to the secondary outlet;

whereby

the primary inlet and the primary outlet are connected to the structure.

13. A dehumidification system as recited in claim 12, where the dehumidification system operates in a first configuration in which:

the secondary inlet and the secondary outlet are connected to the structure; and

the pump is on.

14. A dehumidification system as recited in claim 12, where the dehumidification system operates in a second configuration in which:

the secondary inlet and the secondary outlet are connected to ambient air; and

the pump is on.

15. A dehumidification system as recited in claim 12, where the dehumidification system operates in a third configuration in which:

the secondary inlet is connected to ambient air;

the secondary outlet is connected to the structure; and

the pump is on.

16. A dehumidification system as recited in claim 12, where the dehumidification system operates in a fourth configuration in which:

the secondary inlet is connected to ambient air;

the secondary outlet is connected to the structure; and

the pump is off.

17. A dehumidification system as recited in claim 12, where the dehumidification system operates in:

a first configuration in which

the secondary inlet and the secondary outlet are connected to the structure, and

the pump is on; and

a second configuration in which

the secondary inlet and the secondary outlet are connected to ambient air, and

the pump is on;

a third configuration in which

the secondary inlet is connected to ambient air,

the secondary outlet is connected to the structure, and the pump is on;

a fourth configuration in which

the secondary inlet is connected to ambient air,

the secondary outlet is connected to the structure, and the pump is off.