A data center includes heat producing components and an air handling system that provides reduced relative humidity air to cool the heat producing components. The air handling system includes a thermal storage unit that removes thermal energy from incoming air under a given set of ambient air conditions and releases thermal energy into incoming air under another set of ambient air conditions. Under the given set of ambient air conditions, the thermal storage unit cools the incoming air and causes water vapor to condense out of the incoming air. Under the other set of ambient air conditions, the thermal storage unit releases thermal energy into the incoming air, thus heating the incoming air.

A concentration processor for a liquid desiccant air conditioning system (LDAC). The LDAC has a level tank with a level sensor fluidly coupled to the basin (or basins) of the LDAC to provide a height of the liquid desiccant. A pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the basin (or basins) of the LDAC to provide a mass or weight of the liquid desiccant. Optionally, a temperature sensor fluidly coupled to the basin (or basins) to provide the temperature of the desiccant solution. The concentration processor uses the known geometry of the basin (or basins) to calculate the density or concentration of the liquid desiccant. The concentration of the liquid desiccant is determinable in real time and as a result may be used to automatically adjust and/or maintain the concentration to a desired level in order to optimize overall system performance, store concentrated desiccant as a means to store energy, and to operate the overall systems in a way that minimizes energy use.

In one embodiment, a method (236) of harvesting thermal energy and water from air, the method comprising: receiving a flow of water vapor containing air over a first heat exchanging contactor contained in a chamber in a non-sealed state, the first heat exchanging contactor coated with an adsorbent material that adsorbs water vapor (238); desorbing water vapor from a second adsorbent-coated heat exchanging contactor contained in a chamber in a sealed state under a partial vacuum (240); exchanging thermal energy between the first heat exchanging contactor and the second heat exchanging contactor, wherein heat gained by heat of adsorption in the first heat exchanging contactor transferred to heat the second heat exchanging contactor to aid desorption, wherein heat lost due to the heat of desorption in the second heat exchanging contactor is transferred to cool the first heat exchanging contactor to aid adsorption (242); drawing a vacuum in the sealed chamber to pull air out and desorb, compress, and heat the water vapor (244); condensing water vapor in a condenser under a partial vacuum (246); recovering heat of condensation and liquid condensate from the water vapor in the condenser (248); and repeating the method with the first heat exchanging contactor used for desorbing in a sealed-state and the second heat exchanging contactor used for adsorbing in a non-sealed state (250).

A solar powered absorption cooling system employing refrigerant-absorbent solutions such as water and lithium bromide and hybrid storage capabilities, and a method of employing the system in refrigeration and air conditioning units. The system includes a first temperature control valve and second temperature control valve that together regulate the flow of solar heating fluid into the generator and substantially reduce absorbent crystal formation.

A solid desiccant cooling system comprising a common intake delivering air (19) to a first pathway (21) for air to be conditioned, and a second pathway (31) for regeneration air and structure (24) retaining a mass of solid desiccant for cyclic movement between a first location (24a), in which the solid desiccant lies in the first pathway (21) for dehumidifying the air to be cooled by adsorption of moisture to the desiccant, and a second location (24b) in which the solid desiccant lies in the second pathway (31) for the regeneration air to take up moisture therein as water vapor. The second pathway has an air heater arrangement (35) upstream of the second location (24b) for heating the regeneration air and the first pathway (21) has an air cooler arrangement (25) independent of the air heater arrangement (35) downstream of the first location (24a). An air delivery device (40) is coupled to both of the first and second pathways (21, 31) and adapted or configured to deliver pressurized air along both the first and second pathways (21, 31). A control strategy is also provided to change the flow path of air from the common intake based on the need to satisfy alternative heating or cooling needs at different times of the day and season.

A system for providing cooling to a building includes a cooling tower for transferring waste heat from the building to the atmosphere and a liquid desiccant system for dehumidifying an air stream entering the cooling tower to increase cooling efficiency of the cooling tower. The liquid desiccant system includes a conditioner and a regenerator. The conditioner utilizes a liquid desiccant for dehumidifying the air stream entering the cooling tower. The regenerator is connected to the conditioner for receiving dilute liquid desiccant from the conditioner, concentrating the dilute liquid desiccant using waste heat from the building, and returning concentrated liquid desiccant to the conditioner.

An air-conditioning system includes a pump that sends, to an evaporator, a cooling fluid that exchanges heat with a refrigerant at the evaporator, and a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between ambient air and the cooling fluid that has undergone the heat exchange at the evaporator. A sensible heat exchange cycle is formed by annularly connecting the evaporator, the heat exchanger, and the pump by using a pipe. This system is also includes an air-sending unit that sends air to a second heat exchanger, moisture absorbing-and-desorbing devices that are provided at a passage of the air sent by the air-sending unit and that are disposed in front of and behind the first heat exchanger, and an air-path switching device that reverses a passing direction of air passing through the moisture absorbing-and-desorbing device, the first heat exchanger, and the moisture absorbing-and-desorbing device.

Water removal from humidified air and other water-laden gases may be complicated due to the need for large and expensive capital equipment or use of powder-form desiccants that may lead to pressure drops, poor throughput and energy-intensive recovery of water. Reversible water-absorbing constructs may alleviate these difficulties and comprise: a phase change polymer exhibiting a reversible hydrophilic-hydrophobic phase transition, and at least one additional material in contact with the phase change polymer, such as a water-sorptive material. The phase change polymer and the at least one additional material are formed as a plurality of filaments. Filaments formed from the phase change polymer may be generated through an electrospinning process, which may be arranged in various higher level constructs, such as in fibers, fabrics and non-woven filament mats capable of absorbing water from humidified air or other water-laden gases.

A system (S) for regulating temperature and humidity in an enclosure (20), including: a thermal storage (5), a desiccant fluid (F), a second fluid (F) consisting at least partially of water, wherein the second fluid (F) includes an equilibrium humidity above the liquid desiccant, and a first and a second trickle element (1, 2), wherein the system (S) includes a first cycle (3), which is configured to supply the desiccant fluid (F) to an inlet (I) of the first trickle element (1), to let the desiccant fluid (F) pass a surface of a heat exchanger (6) for transferring heat between said first cycle (3) and a second fluid cycle (4) containing said second fluid (F), and to pass back the desiccant fluid (F) to the inlet (I) of the first trickle element (1), wherein in said second cycle (4) the second fluid (F) is supplied to an inlet (I) of the second trickle element (2) and a run back (R) is connected to the inlet (I) of the second trickle element (2) after passing the surface of the heat exchanger (6), wherein the second trickle element (2) is designed to allow for evaporation of aqueous constituents out of the second fluid cycle (4), wherein said second fluid (F) having a reduced temperature is returned to the surface of the heat exchanger (6), and wherein the first and/or second trickle element (1, 2) is configured for exchanging heat and aqueous constituents between air and the desiccant fluid (F).

A dehumidification system includes a first dehumidification unit having an outdoor air cooling heat exchanger, a second dehumidification unit using two adsorption heat exchangers such that an air passage is switched, and a third dehumidification unit having an adsorption rotor. Low-temperature low-humidity air cooled and dehumidified in the second dehumidification unit is supplied to the third dehumidification unit to reduce energy for recovery of the third dehumidification unit and to realize energy conservation in the dehumidification system and reduction in cost of the dehumidification system.