IP Library Granted Patent US 10,955,148
Granted Patent B2
US 10,955,148 · App. 16/234,052 · Granted Mar 23, 2021

Split dehumidification system with secondary evaporator and condenser coils

Inventors: Steven S. Dingle (Madison, WI); Scott E. Sloan (Sun Prairie, WI); Weizhong Yu (Cottage Grove, WI); Grant M. Lorang (Lake Mills, WI); Todd R. DeMonte (Cottage Grove, WI); Timothy S. O'Brien (DeForest, WI)
Assignee: Therma-Stor, LLC
F24F3/153F24F1/0063F24F1/0083F24F3/1405F25B5/04F25B6/04F25B13/00F24F1/005F24F2003/1452F25B40/02F25B2341/0662
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,955,148
App. No.
16/234,052
Granted
Mar 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, and a secondary condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser.

Claims (31)

1. A dehumidification system comprising:

a dehumidification unit comprising:

a primary metering device;

a secondary metering device;

a secondary evaporator operable to:

receive a flow of refrigerant from the primary metering device; and

receive an inlet airflow and output a first airflow, the first airflow comprising cooler air than the inlet airflow, the first airflow generated by transferring heat from the inlet airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the inlet airflow passes through the secondary evaporator;

a primary evaporator operable to:

receive the flow of refrigerant from the secondary metering device; and

receive the first airflow and output a second airflow, the second airflow comprising cooler air than the first airflow, the second airflow generated by transferring heat from the first airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the first airflow passes through the primary evaporator;

a secondary condenser operable to:

receive the flow of refrigerant from the secondary evaporator; and

receive the second airflow and output a dehumidified airflow, the dehumidified airflow comprising warmer air with a lower relative humidity than the second airflow, the dehumidified airflow generated by transferring heat from the flow of refrigerant to the dehumidified airflow as the second airflow passes through the secondary condenser; and

a first fan operable to generate the inlet, first, second, and dehumidified airflows; and

a condenser unit comprising a second fan, a sub-cooling coil, a primary condenser, and a compressor:

the second fan operable to generate a third airflow;

the sub-cooling coil operable to:

receive the flow of refrigerant from the primary condenser;

output the flow of refrigerant to the primary metering device; and

transfer heat from the flow of refrigerant to the third airflow as the third airflow contacts the sub-cooling coil;

the primary condenser operable to:

receive the flow of refrigerant from the compressor; and

transfer heat from the flow of refrigerant to the third airflow as the third airflow contacts the primary condenser; and

the compressor operable to receive the flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provide the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser, the flow of refrigerant provided to the primary condenser comprising a higher pressure than the flow of refrigerant received at the compressor.

2. The dehumidification system of claim 1 , wherein the sub-cooling coil and primary condenser are combined in a single coil unit.

3. The dehumidification system of claim 1 , wherein two or more members selected from the group consisting of the secondary evaporator, the primary evaporator, and the secondary condenser are combined in a single coil pack.

4. The dehumidification system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the primary evaporator and the secondary evaporator comprises two or more circuits for flow of refrigerant.

5. The dehumidification system of claim 4 , comprising at least one of passive and active metering devices operable to provide subdivided flow of refrigerant to at least one of the primary evaporator and the secondary evaporator.

6. The dehumidification system of claim 4 , wherein the primary metering device and the secondary metering device are operable to provide subdivided flow of refrigerant to the primary evaporator and the secondary evaporator.

7. The dehumidification system of claim 1 , wherein the second fan is operable to generate the third airflow at an airflow flow rate of between about 2 to about 5 times an airflow rate of the first airflow generated by the first fan.

8. The dehumidification system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary metering device is operated in a substantially open state.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056647/0868 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056650/0303 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2020
From: THERMA-STOR LLC
To: CIBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 053775/0394 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2019
From: THERMA-STOR LLC
To: CIBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 048387/0693 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2018
From: DINGLE, STEVEN S.; SLOAN, SCOTT E.; YU, WEIZHONG; LORANG, GRANT M.; DEMONTE, TODD R.; O'BRIEN, TIMOTHY S.
To: THERMA-STOR LLC
Reel/Frame 047862/0435 →