A cooling system utilizes an organic ionic salt composition for dehumidification of an airflow. The organic ionic salt composition absorbs moisture from an inlet airflow to produce an outlet airflow with a reduce moisture from that of the inlet airflow. The organic ionic salt composition may be regenerated, wherein the absorbed moisture is expelled by heating with a heating device. The heating device may be an electrochemical heating device, such as a fuel cell, an electrochemical metal hydride heating device, an electrochemical heat pump or compressor, or a condenser of a refrigerant cycle, which may utilize an electrochemical pump or compressor. The efficiency of the cooling system may be increased by utilization of the waste heat the cooling system. The organic ionic salt composition may circulate back and forth or in a loop between a conditioner, where it absorbs moisture, to a regenerator, where moisture is desorbed by heating.

A heat exchange system is disclosed which includes an air inlet, a membrane in fluid communication with the air inlet and adapted to have a partial vapor pressure difference across the membrane to thereby drive water vapor flux through the membrane, wherein the membrane is a selective membrane configured to allow passage of water vapor and block passage of air (O.sub.2/N.sub.2) through the membrane, where the membrane includes a thermally conductive side, a vacuum pump configured to generate the partial vapor pressure difference across the membrane, and a heat exchanger coupled to the thermally conductive side of the membrane configured to provide simultaneous mass and heat transfer.

A system includes an electrodialysis device with a salinate chamber through which a salinate stream flows. A desalinate chamber is separated from the salinate chamber by a central, ion-selective membrane. A desalinate stream flows through the desalinate chamber. An anolyte chamber and a catholyte chamber are on opposite outer sides of the salinate and desalinate chambers and separated therefrom by first and second ionic exchange membranes. A solvent exchange interface is in contact on a first side with the salinate stream and is in contact a media flow on a second side. The solvent exchange interface moves a solvent from the media flow to the salinate stream.

A method(s) (600, 1100) for changing concentration of a solute within a solution is disclosed. The method (600) includes receiving a first stream of the solution at a state D.sub.in by a first heat and mass exchanger HMX1 and a second stream of the solution by a second heat and 5 mass exchanger HMX2. The method (600) includes processing the first stream of the solution by the HMX1 to generate a first dilute stream of the solution at a state D.sub.out. Further, the method (600) includes processing the second stream of the solution by the HMX2 to generate a first concentrate stream of the solution at a state Rout. The method (600) includes directing, at the initial phase, the first dilute stream of the solution from the processing unit to a first heat and mass exchanger 0 HMX1-n of a successive processing unit. The method (600) also includes receiving a first stream of the solution at a state D.sub.in-n by a second heat and mass exchanger HMX2-n.

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 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 liquid desiccant system includes a liquid desiccant loop having an absorber unit in fluid communication with a desorber unit and liquid desiccant flowing between the absorber unit and the desorber unit. The liquid desiccant system includes a supply airflow path passing through the absorber unit and forming an absorber liquid/air interface within the absorber unit and a conditioned airflow exiting the absorber unit. The liquid desiccant system includes a regeneration airflow path passing through the desorber unit and forming a desorber liquid/air interface within the desorber unit and an exhaust airflow exiting the desorber unit. A heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the supply airflow path for removing heat from supply airflow upstream of the absorber unit. A heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the regeneration airflow path adding heat to regeneration airflow upstream of the desorber unit.

A drying storage according to the present invention can be carried or moved by a user or installed as a built-in in the user’s residence, and can maintain an object in a dried state after drying the object to be dried, so that the convenience of use can be improved, wherein a desiccant material with an equilibrium moisture content suitable for the temperature and humidity conditions in which the drying storage is used, is applied so that the inside air of the drying storage is inhaled during a dehumidification operation to allow sufficient dehumidification and the outside air of the drying storage is inhaled during a regeneration operation to enable sufficient regeneration of the desiccant material.

Air gap insulation is a common means of providing thermal insulation from the environment. In many cases the air gap is heated by direct or indirect solar radiation, so ventilating this gap has a cooling effect. The invention cools this gap by integrating moisture-absorption material units that harvest water from the air during the night and provide evaporative cooling during the day. Compared to the ambient air, the daily relative humidity fluctuations in the air gap are more extreme, allowing a significant cooling effect. Furthermore, during the night, humidity absorption on the absorption unit reduces the risk of condensation within the air gap. Additionally the absorption process generates heat, and by using a controller processes of heating, cooling and dehumidifying can be activated when possible and needed.

A liquid desiccant regenerator configured to produce a first output stream with a higher concentration of a liquid desiccant than a first input stream. The regenerator also produces a second output stream with a lower concentration of the liquid desiccant than a second input stream. Regeneration of the liquid desiccant in the liquid desiccant regenerator decreases a temperature of the liquid desiccant regenerator. The system includes an air contactor coupled to the first output stream and exposing an input air stream to the first output stream. The first output stream absorbs water from the input air stream to form at least one diluted output desiccant stream. A heat pump of the system is thermally coupled to move the heat from the first output stream to the liquid desiccant regenerator. The heat moved to the liquid desiccant regenerator increases an efficiency of the liquid desiccant regenerator.