Integrated systems comprising both i) heat and mass exchange systems and ii) electrolysis stacks are disclosed, together with related methods of use. The disclosed systems cool and/or dehumidify air using two streams of salt solutions as liquid desiccants.

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 dehumidification structure includes: a moisture absorbent which has temperature sensitivity for exhibiting hydrophobicity and releasing water at a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature and for exhibiting hydrophilicity and absorbing water at a temperature lower than the predetermined temperature; a moisture absorbent chamber in which the moisture absorbent is disposed; and a water draining mechanism configured to drain water released from the moisture absorbent and accumulated in the moisture absorbent chamber. The moisture absorbent is provided to allow reception of solar heat or heat from a heating body that is heated by sunlight. The water draining mechanism is configured to drain the water using weight of the water when an amount of water released by the moisture absorbent and accumulated in the moisture absorbent chamber reaches at least a predetermined amount.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system includes first and second fluids, a heat exchanger, a refrigerant sub-system, and at least one closed loop sub-system. The heat exchanger includes a membrane for channeling the first fluid through the heat exchanger and is disposed for heat transfer between the first fluid and the second fluid. The membrane defines an inlet having an inlet height relative to grade. The closed loop sub-system transfers heat from the heat exchanger to the refrigerant sub-system and includes an expansion tank containing the first fluid. A level of the first fluid within the expansion tank has a level height relative to grade. The expansion tank is positioned relative to the heat exchanger such that the inlet height is greater than the level height and the membrane is maintained in a collapsed configuration.

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.

The present invention relates to a device for absorbing water using a liquid desiccant and the regeneration of said liquid desiccant by evaporating the absorbed water. The device may further be used in an air cooler.

A liquid desiccant system for controlling a temperature inside an enclosure includes an evaporative cooler system configured to cool an air stream AA entering the enclosure during day time; a liquid desiccant night cooler (LDNC) system configured to cool down and dry an inside air stream AE of the enclosure by using a liquid desiccant during the night; and a controller configured to switch on the LDNC system during the night.

A liquid desiccant system for controlling a temperature inside an enclosure includes a liquid desiccant evaporative cooler (LDEC) system configured to cool down an incoming air stream (AA) entering the enclosure by using a first liquid desiccant; a liquid desiccant humidity pump (LDHR) system configured to remove humidity from a humid air stream (AD) that exists the enclosure by using a second liquid desiccant; and a storage system fluidly connected to the LDEC system and to the LDHR system and configured to separately store the first liquid desiccant and the second liquid desiccant. The humid air stream (AD) includes water vapors from the first liquid desiccant and from inside the enclosure.

Disclosed are various turbulent, corrosion-resistant heat exchangers used in desiccant air conditioning systems.