A device for energy transfer and for energy storage in a liquid reservoir includes a water heat exchanger and an air heat exchanger arranged above the water heat exchanger, wherein the water heat exchanger is arranged in a liquid reservoir, and wherein the device includes an outdoor air inlet from which an outdoor air flow can be induced to an air outlet through the air heat exchanger, includes a heat exchanger which is designed to direct exhaust air flowing in from an exhaust air inlet for energy transfer via the liquid reservoir (FR) into a peripheral area of the heat exchanger, from which the exhaust air can be supplied as an extract air flow to the air heat exchanger, in which the outdoor air flow and the extract air flow mix.

A liquid panel assembly configured to be used with an energy exchanger may include a support frame having one or more fluid circuits and at least one membrane secured to the support frame. Each of the fluid circuits may include an inlet channel connected to an outlet channel through one or more flow passages. A liquid is configured to flow through the fluid circuits and contact interior surfaces of the membrane(s). The fluid circuits are configured to at least partially offset liquid hydrostatic pressure with friction loss of the liquid flowing within the fluid circuits to minimize, eliminate, or otherwise reduce pressure within the liquid panel assembly.

Certain embodiments provide an energy exchange system that includes a supply air flow path, an exhaust air flow path, an energy recovery device disposed within the supply and exhaust air flow paths, and a supply conditioning unit disposed within the supply air flow path. The supply conditioning unit may be downstream from the energy recovery device. Certain embodiments provide a method of conditioning air including introducing outside air as supply air into a supply air flow path, pre-conditioning the supply air with an energy recovery device, and fully-conditioning the supply air with a supply conditioning unit that is downstream from the energy recovery device.

An energy exchanger is provided. The exchanger includes a housing having a front and a back. A plurality of panels forming desiccant channels extend from the front to the back of the housing. Air channels are formed between adjacent panels. The air channels are configured to direct an air stream in a direction from the front of the housing to the back of the housing. A desiccant inlet is provided in flow communication with the desiccant channels. A desiccant outlet is provided in flow communication with the desiccant channels. The desiccant channels are configured to channel desiccant from the desiccant inlet to the desiccant outlet in at least one of a counter-flow or cross-flow direction with respect to the direction of the air stream.

Conditioning systems and methods for providing cooling to a heat load can include an evaporative cooler arranged in a scavenger plenum with a pre-cooler upstream and a recovery coil downstream of the evaporative cooler. Outdoor or scavenger air can be conditioned in the evaporative cooler such that the conditioned scavenger air can provide cooling to a cooling fluid circulating through the recovery coil. The reduced-temperature cooling fluid can provide liquid cooling or air cooling for an enclosed space (for example, a data center) or for one or more devices that are enclosed or open to the atmosphere. Given the design and arrangement of the pre-cooler, evaporative cooler and recovery coil in the plenum, the system can operate in multiple modes. The pre-cooler can be configured to circulate a cooling fluid to condition the scavenger air. The pre-cooler fluid circuit can be coupled or decoupled from a process cooling fluid circuit.

Systems and methods for providing dehumidification to an enclosed space can include a dehumidification unit in a supply air plenum that receives return air and a regeneration unit in a scavenger air plenum that receives outdoor air. The system can operate in a wet mode and a dry mode, depending on outdoor air conditions and a relative humidity setpoint for the enclosed space. The dehumidification unit and regeneration unit are both operational in the wet mode to dehumidify the return air and regenerate dilute desiccant. In the dry mode, the dehumidification unit and regeneration unit are not needed, and dry outdoor air can be supplied to the enclosed space. A heat recovery system utilizes waste heat from either return air or scavenger air, depending on the operating mode, to heat the outdoor air before it is supplied to the enclosed space or before it is used for regenerating desiccant.

An air-conditioning apparatus using a heat pipe is provided, where the state of the outside air is compared with the state of set supply air. The heat exchange and mixed supply of outside air and ventilation air are effectively performed by changing the passage of the ventilation air and the outside air through the selective opening/shutting of dampers, cooling the outside air through latent heat by spraying mist, and by controlling supply air in a set state through the cooling and humidification of the supply air. Accordingly, energy efficiency can be improved and the energy necessary for the air-conditioning apparatus can be reduced using the evaporation latent heat of water. Furthermore, operation costs can be reduced and financial gains can be obtained because an efficient operation can be performed in response to the state of a measured outside air.

A hybrid system and method for conditioning air for an enclosed space can include a direct cooling system in combination with an indirect cooling system. The hybrid system can use direct cooling when ambient temperature and humidity levels are such that 100% outdoor air can be delivered to the enclosed space. The hybrid system can use indirect cooling when 100% of the return air can be conditioned using an external cooling unit and then returned to the enclosed space as supply air. The external cooling unit can include an evaporative cooler and operate in a dry mode and a wet mode. The external cooling unit can produce a reduced temperature cooling fluid and provide liquid cooling to the air when the system is operating in the indirect mode, and in some cases, in the direct mode. The hybrid system can operate in a mixed mode in which the external cooling unit is off and a mix of return air and outdoor air can be delivered to the enclosed space.

A kitchen air-conditioning system comprises a air-conditioning assembly and a range hood assembly; the air-conditioning assembly comprising a compressor, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger which are connected with each other through a plurality of refrigerating medium pipes; and the air-conditioning assembly has a fresh air inlet and a fresh air outlet, the fresh air coming from the fresh air inlet is divided into two paths; the fresh air entering the first heat exchanger flows into the kitchen through the fresh air outlet, and the fresh air entering the air intake area cools the third heat exchanger in the range hood assembly and is then exhausted to the outside through the range hood, which is helpful to reduce the intake-air temperature of the second heat exchanger, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the air conditioner.

Systems and methods for controlling conditions in an enclosed space, such as a data center, or for providing cooling to a device, can include using a Liquid-to-Air Membrane Energy Exchanger (LAMEE) as an evaporative cooler. The LAMEE or exchanger can cool water to the outdoor air wet bulb temperature in a cooling system disposed outside of the enclosed space or device. The reduced-temperature water can be delivered to the enclosed space or device or can cool a coolant that is delivered to the enclosed space or device. The air in the enclosed space, or one or more components in the enclosed space, can be cooled by delivering the reduced-temperature water or coolant to the enclosed space, rather than moving the supply air from the enclosed space to the cooling system. In an example, the cooling system can include one or more cooling coils, upstream or downstream of the LAMEE.