The present invention relates to a dehumidification system and method and, in particular, to a system and method for controlling the humidity of air in a process or location using a desiccant-coated fluid-air heat exchanger. The desiccant material adsorbs water at or above ambient temperatures during an adsorption cycle, and the resultant air stream is of a reduced humidity compared with the humidity of the supply air. The desiccant material may then be dried during a regeneration cycle through addition of heating fluid through the heat exchanger, driving water back into the vapour state with addition of latent energy of vaporization. The desiccant material may be cooled, during the adsorption cycle, through addition of cooling fluid through the heat exchanger to maintain the temperature within a range sufficient for water vapour to be removed from the stream of air.

A vapor separator in an embodiment is arranged between a first space and a second space, and is used to allow vapor existing in the first space to permeate in the second space by making a vapor pressure in the second space lower than a vapor pressure in the first space. The vapor separator in the embodiment includes: a porous body including a first face in contact with the first space and having a convexo-concave structure, a second face in contact with the second space, and fine pores passing to the second face from at least wall of the first face which constitutes the convexo-concave structure; and water existing in the fine pores of the porous body.

An energy recovery wheel assembly includes a support frame, a motor, and a wheel rotor. The support frame at least partially defines an air-supply section that supplies outdoor air into a building and an air-exhaust section that removes indoor air from the building. The motor is coupled to the support frame. The wheel rotor is coupled to the support frame and driven in rotation about an axis relative to the support frame by the motor.

A system passively cools, regulates humidity and/or rectifies diffusive transport of water vapor in an interior area within a structure. The system includes a membrane assembly covering a portion of the structure, wherein the membrane has an interior side facing the interior area and an exterior side. The membrane assembly defines a plurality of pores. When cooling, a supply of fluid is provided to the membrane assembly so that capillary action of the pores redistributes the fluid to create evaporation and, in turn, the desired heat flow. The membrane assembly can include an architectural membrane coated with a porous matrix coating to form the pores. A pump can provide the fluid to the interior side of the membrane assembly. Preferably, the architectural membrane is woven PTFE-coated fiberglass and the porous matrix coating is titanium dioxide, zeolites and/or silica gel.

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.

Disclosed is a control method of a ventilation apparatus, the method including: a determination step in which measured outdoor temperature and humidity and the measured indoor temperature and humidity are equal to or greater than a set temperature and a set humidity; and a drying operation step in which, when the outdoor temperature and humidity and the indoor temperature and humidity, reach the set temperature and the set humidity, a first desiccant heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger operate in a dry mode, wherein the first desiccant heat exchanger is provided in a first common passage, through which indoor space air or outdoor space air flows, to absorb or desorb moisture, and the second desiccant heat exchanger is provided in a second common passage, which is separate from the first common passage, and through which indoor air or outdoor air flows, to absorb or desorb moisture in air.

A low-humidity air supply device which supplies low-humidity air into a dry room includes an intake portion that is connected to an inside of the dry room and through which air in the dry room is taken in, a cooling unit that cools the air taken in through the intake portion, a dehumidification unit that dehumidifies the air cooled by the cooling unit, and a supply unit that is connected to the inside of the dry room and through which the air dehumidified by the dehumidification unit is supplied into the dry room, in which at least one of the intake portion, the cooling unit, the dehumidification unit, and the supply unit is composed of a duct having a box shape through which the air is able to pass, and the duct is a portion of a casing that constitutes an outermost layer of the low-humidity air supply device.

Air flows across an air-liquid interface such that liquid desiccant flowing through the interface absorbs water from the air and is thereby diluted to form an output stream. The output stream is circulated through an electrodialytic stack having a central ionic exchange membrane and first and second outer ionic exchange membranes. A redox shuttle loop circulates around the first and second outer ionic exchange membranes. A voltage is applied across the electrodialytic stack, which regenerates the liquid desiccant.

An apparatus for capturing a water content from a water containing gas, the apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet into which the water containing gas can flow; a water adsorbent located in the housing, the water adsorbent comprising at least one water adsorbent metal organic framework composite capable of adsorbing a water content from the water containing gas; and a water desorption arrangement in contact with and/or surrounding the water adsorbent, the water desorption arrangement being selectively operable between (i) a deactivated state, and (ii) an activated state in which the arrangement is configured to apply heat, a reduced pressure or a combination thereof to the water adsorbent to desorb a water content from the water adsorbent.

A humidity management device and a potable water generation system and method using such a device are provided. The humidity management device includes a chamber having an air inlet disposed adjacent a first end and an air outlet disposed adjacent a second end, and a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a moisture-regulating substance into a space between the first and second ends. The dispensing mechanism includes a liquid inlet disposed adjacent the second end for supplying a flow of the moisture-regulating substance into the chamber toward the first end and a conveyor configured to transport a portion of the moisture-regulating substance collected adjacent the first end and re-distribute said moisture-regulating substance into the space between the first and second ends. The conveyor includes an Archimedes' screw at least partially enclosed in an elongated sleeve.