System for regulating the temperature and humidity in an enclosure

Abstract

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).

Claims

1. A System for regulating temperature and humidity in an enclosure, comprising: a thermal storage, a desiccant fluid, a second fluid consisting at least partially of water, wherein particularly the second fluid comprises an equilibrium humidity above the liquid desiccant, and a first and a second trickle element, wherein the system comprises a first cycle, which is configured to supply the desiccant fluid to an inlet of the first trickle element, to let the desiccant fluid pass a surface of a heat exchanger for transferring heat between said first cycle and a second fluid cycle containing said second fluid, and to pass back the desiccant fluid to the inlet of the first trickle element, wherein in said second cycle the second fluid is supplied to an inlet of the second trickle element and a run back is connected to the inlet of the second trickle element after passing the surface of the heat exchanger, wherein the second trickle element is designed to allow for evaporation of aqueous constituents out of the second fluid cycle, wherein said second fluid having a reduced temperature is returned to the surface of the heat exchanger, wherein the first and/or second trickle element is configured for exchanging heat and aqueous constituents between air and the desiccant fluid, a thermal storage having a fluid outlet and a fluid inlet being connected with the first or the second fluid cycle, wherein the thermal storage is configured for direct thermal loading from the connected fluid cycle and indirect thermal loading from the other fluid cycle via the heat exchanger, wherein the first trickle element is placed within an associated first air duct and the second trickle element is placed within an associated second air duct, wherein each air duct comprises a bottom and a top, wherein the system is configured to feed air from the respective bottom to the respective top in counter-flow to the respective fluid, and wherein the first air duct comprises an air inlet at the top for supplying supply air to the first air duct, and an air outlet at the bottom for passing said air from the first air duct to the enclosure, and wherein the second air duct comprises an air inlet at the bottom for passing air from the enclosure to the second air duct, and an air outlet at the top for passing said air from the second air duct to an environment surrounding the enclosure or back to the enclosure.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to dilute the desiccant fluid in a first phase of air dehumidification by absorbing water vapor from air into the desiccant fluid in the first or the second trickle element, wherein the system is particularly configured to transfer heat to the thermal storage through the first cycle.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to concentrate the desiccant fluid in a second phase of desiccant regeneration in the first or the second trickle element by desorbing aqueous constituents from the desiccant fluid into exhaust air from the enclosure being passed to the air inlet of the respective trickle element using particularly at least one of the following energy sources: heat from the thermal storage, heat from the thermal mass of the enclosure, heat from a ground, heat from at least one pipe being a part of the first cycle, and/or heat from a duct leading air through the ground to the air inlet of the first trickle element.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first or the second trickle element is configured to alternately conduct two of the following processes: absorption of humidity from air into the desiccant fluid, desorption of water from the desiccant fluid to air, and of evaporation of water out of the second fluid cycle.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to transport the desiccant fluid and/or the second fluid by means of at least one fluid pump, and wherein particularly the system is configured to transport air out of the air ducts by means of ventilators.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the trickle elements is placed directly on an inner surface of its surrounding air duct.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the air ducts is exposed to the environment surrounding the enclosure, so as to allow for direct exchange of heat between a surface of the respective air duct and the environment.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second air duct is designed as a double-walled air duct comprising an inner wall and an outer wall encompassing the inner wall, and wherein the second trickle element is placed on an inner surface of the outer wall and on an outer surface of the inner wall, wherein particularly the second air duct is configured such that supply air that is to be passed into the enclosure is firstly directed through the first air duct being connected to an inner volume of the second air duct, which inner volume is delimited by the inner wall, then through said inner volume into the enclosure, particularly in the form of a building, wherein the system is further configured to direct exhaust air through an outer volume of the second air duct into the environment of the enclosure, which outer volume is delimited by the inner wall and the outer wall.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third air duct is provided that is designed to be disposed towards solar radiation, wherein the first cycle extends from the heat exchanger to the inlet of the first trickle element and from an outlet of the first trickle element to an inlet of a third trickle element placed on an inner surface of the third air duct, and from an outlet of the third trickle element back to the heat exchanger.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to direct exhaust air of the enclosure to the second trickle element, and supply air through the first trickle element and through a further first trickle element, particularly of the same design as said first trickle element, wherein the two first trickle elements are spatially separated.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal storage is at least partially filled with a phase change material, preferably designed as encapsulated partial volumes, wherein particularly the phase change material is separated from the partial volume of the second fluid by at least one phase change material container.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to direct supply air, particularly during a phase of daytime air dehumidification, to the enclosure through the first trickle element, which is configured to pass aqueous constituents and heat from said supply air to the desiccant fluid, and to transport heat through the heat exchanger from the first cycle to an upper hot area of the thermal storage, as well as to direct exhaust air through the second trickle element, which is configured to pass aqueous constituents from the second fluid cycle to said exhaust air, and to return second fluid of reduced temperature to a lower cold area of the thermal storage, wherein particularly the system is configured to direct supply air, particularly during a phase of night-time desiccant regeneration, to the enclosure through an adjustable opening, and to direct exhaust air through the first trickle element, so that the exhaust air receives aqueous constituents from the desiccant fluid, and wherein particularly the system is configured to direct air, particularly during a phase of night-time thermal regeneration, to the enclosure through an adjustable opening, and to direct exhaust air through the second trickle element, so that the exhaust air receives aqueous constituents from the second fluid, and to return second fluid of reduced temperature to the thermal storage.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system comprises a desiccant storage for storing concentrated desiccant fluid, wherein particularly the system is configured to transport said desiccant fluid from said desiccant storage to the first trickle element in periods with higher heat and/or humidity load in the exhaust air from the enclosure, and wherein particularly the desiccant storage comprises a connection to an external source of desiccant fluid for exchanging diluted desiccant fluid and concentrated desiccant fluid.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to direct supply air through a ground heat exchanger and from there via a controllable flap to the second trickle element, so that said air takes up aqueous constituents from the desiccant fluid, and to release said air from there without entering the enclosure back to the environment of the enclosure, wherein particularly the controllable flap can be connected to the air inlet of the first trickle element.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to direct supply air through the second trickle fill element, so that said air takes up aqueous constituents from the desiccant fluid, and to release said air from there without entering the enclosure to a duct leading back to the environment surrounding the enclosure, and to pump the desiccant fluid in the first cycle connecting the second trickle element to a ground heat exchanger.

16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system comprises a greenhouse forming a further enclosure, wherein the system is configured to let air from the greenhouse pass the first trickle element before leading it to the enclosure, and to lead air from the one enclosure back to the greenhouse through the second trickle element.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the system is configured to lead air from the greenhouse to one of the trickle elements and from there back to the greenhouse, and to direct heat released into the desiccant fluid from the respective trickle element to the thermal storage through the heat exchanger.

18. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wall of the second air duct is formed by an outer shell and a ground surface of a greenhouse, and the second trickle element is formed by a substrata of a vegetation in the greenhouse, wherein the system is configured to lead exhaust air from the greenhouse to the air inlet of the first trickle element and air coming out of this element to an air inlet to the greenhouse.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the system is configured to lead the second fluid, during daytime, to the substrata as irrigation water through an irrigation system, and to recollect it, during night, by installed gutters that are designed to collect condensed water dripping off an inner surface of a wall of the greenhouse, particularly after being intermediately absorbed in and desorbed from the first cycle via the first trickle element.

Description

(1) Further features and advantages of the invention shall be described by means of detailed descriptions of embodiments with reference to the Figures, wherein

(2) FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which a desiccant cycle connects a first trickle element with a heat exchanger placed in a thermal storage, and

(3) FIG. 2 shows the operation of heat recovery during a space heating period, and

(4) FIG. 3 shows an alternative configuration with the heat exchanger placed within the trickle elements, and

(5) FIG. 4 shows another alternative configuration for climate control in a greenhouse, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows an example with trickle elements placed directly on the inner surface of the surrounding air ducts.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which a desiccant cycle (first cycle) 3 connects a first trickle element 1 with a heat exchanger 6 placed in a thermal storage 5. Supply air A to the enclosure 20 is dehumidified and cooled by the desiccant cycle 3 that takes cool from the cold area 5b of the storage 5 to the trickle element 1 and returns heat to the hot area 5a of the storage 5 by passing the heat exchanger 6. Heat accumulation in the storage 5 for improved desiccant regeneration capacity can be enhanced by a secondary heat source, preferably a solar collector 39, transferring heat directly or indirectly through a heat exchanger to the desiccant cycle 3 between the outlet O of the first trickle element 1 and an inlet of the heat exchanger 6. Exhaust air A from the building (enclosure) 20 is led through the second trickle element 2 and takes up water vapor from the second fluid cycle 4 leading from the thermal storage 5 into the trickle element 2 and returning to the cold area 5b of the storage 5. During the night, in a regeneration phase, supply air is led directly into the enclosure through a controllable opening 32, is heated up by the thermal mass of the enclosure 20 and then, as exhaust air A, directed further through the first trickle element 1, where aqueous constituents are evaporated out of the desiccant F using heat from the thermal storage 5, thus regenerating the hygroscopic property of the desiccant (fluid) F. During a later phase in the night, when at least parts of the storage volume drops below temperatures needed for desiccant regeneration, exhaust air A is led through the second trickle element 2 and takes up water vapor from the second fluid cycle 4 that is pumped out of an area with intermediate or warm temperature 5a of the storage 5, is then passing the second trickle element 2, and is finally returned to the cold area 5b of the storage 5, thus accumulating cool for the next daytime cooling phase. The process can be optimized by using a heat pump 15 that allows further temperature stratification between the hot and cool areas of the storage 5a, 5b through a heat exchanger 14, further heating the desiccant cycle 3 before the entry of the heat exchanger 6 integrated in the storage unit and further cooling the second fluid cycle 4 before the entry of the cool area 5b of the storage 5, optimizing both the regeneration process using heat and the space cooling process using cold. Optionally, desiccant fluid F stored in a desiccant storage 11a can be replaced through a connection 41 by either diluted or concentrated desiccant fluid 42 in case of a non-equalized water balance in the system.

(8) FIG. 2 shows the operation of heat recovery during a space heating period. In the default configuration, the desiccant cycle (first cycle) 3 first passes the second trickle element 2, taking up humidity and heat from the exhaust air A of the enclosure 20, and is then led to the first trickle element 1, where absorbed heat and humidity are passed back to the fresh air A to the enclosure 20. In case of temporary high heat or humidity loads in the building, the warm desiccant F can be passed from the second trickle element 2 through the heat exchanger 6 in the thermal storage 5 and from there to the first trickle element 1, thus storing heat that can be delivered back to the supply air A into the enclosure 20 with delay, according to the given heating demand within the enclosure 20. A heat pump 15 increases the function of exhaust air heat recuperation by bringing a colder desiccant F in contact with the exhaust air through the heat pump cold cycle heat exchanger 14, while achieving a higher desiccant temperature for heating the supply air through the heat pump hot cycle heat exchanger 13. For further regeneration of the desiccant F, supply air A optionally preheated by a ground heat exchanger 34 is led through the second trickle element 2 where it is in contact with the desiccant F, optionally preheated by a ground heat exchanger 35, and the air, after being humidified by the desiccant, is transported to a channel 33 leading back to the environment.

(9) Optionally, instead of providing fresh air A from the environment, all or part of the exhaust air can be led to a greenhouse 30, where CO.sub.2 from the enclosure is transferred into oxygen by the vegetation's photosynthetic activity, and where the air is humidified further and then led back into the enclosure through the first trickle element, where the desiccant F can take up the humidity as a source of solar energy.

(10) FIG. 3 shows an alternative configuration, wherein the desiccant F circulates through the first trickle element 1 and water F (second fluid) circulates through the second trickle element 2, and heat transfer between the trickle elements 1, 2 and the storage 5 is managed by a closed storage fluid cycle 4b, passing at least one of the heat exchangers 15a, 15b installed within the trickle elements 1, 2.

(11) FIG. 4 shows an alternative configuration, wherein the air duct 10 containing the second trickle element 2 is built by the outer walls and the ground surface of a greenhouse 30a, thus forming the enclosure. The desiccant cycle 3 feeds the first trickle element 1, in which the greenhouse air A is led into and dehumidified. Heat gained from the phase change process is transported by the desiccant cycle 3 into the thermal storage 5. The second trickle element 2c is built by the surface of the substrata, and is further extended by the leaf surface of the greenhouse plants. The second fluid cycle 4 passes water to the irrigation system 4a, thus allowing for evaporation and resulting cooling of the greenhouse air. The volume of the enclosure 20 is separated preferably with an internal foil 21 forming a hot upper 20b and a cold lower partial air volume 20a (such a separation may also be achieved without a foil by stratification of the air by thermal layers), and exhaust air A from the first air duct 9, heated through the absorption process, is led to the upper hot area 20b of the air volume, releasing heat through the outer cover of the enclosure, and then passed back to the lower zone 20a, which is cooled by the evaporative activity of the second trickle element 2, comprised of the wet substrata and vegetation growing in the substrata. During the night, heat from the storage 5 is used for desiccant regeneration in the first trickle element 1, and hot and humid air is passed to the upper zone 20b, where air humidity is condensed on the cold inside surface of the enclosure 10 and can be collected by installed gutters 31. Solar absorbing elements 26 installed in the upper zone 20b can further increase temperature stratification between the hot and cold zone 20a, 20b by shading the vegetation surface in the lower zone 20a and further heating of the air in the hot zone 20b. The solar absorbing elements 26 are preferably hollow and connect a heat conducting fluid cycle, passing heat from the solar absorbing elements to the desiccant cycle using a further heat exchanger 28. The solar absorbing elements ideally receive further radiation of the infrared spectrum (of the radiation of the sun 36) using reflectors 25, particularly coated NIRreflectors 25, below the solar absorbing elements 26, allowing photo synthetically active radiation from UV and visible light to pass on to the vegetation while reflecting and preferably concentrating infrared light onto the solar absorbing elements by using a photo selective coating. The reflectors 25 may be designed to be movable, to follow the radiation 36. Optionally, the heat gained in the heat conducting fluid cycle can be used to run a further thermal consumer 29 such as a steam turbine, and the consumer's cooling water is cycled between the consumer and the heat exchanger 28, passing waste heat from the consumer process to the desiccant cycle. In this way, concurring needs, like the generation of cool for greenhouse climate control, the generation and storage of heat for the desiccant regeneration and the need of light for photosynthetic activity are satisfied.

(12) FIG. 5 shows an example with trickle elements 1, 2 placed directly on the inner surface of the surrounding air ducts 9, 10a, 10b. This allows direct heat transfer through the walls of the duct, as they are in direct contact with the fluids F, F. The first air duct 9 containing the first trickle element 1a is placed on an outer wall of the enclosure 20, preferably not exposed to the sunlight. Incoming humid and hot air A (through air inlet 16) from the environment is dehumidified and cooled by the cool desiccant F with cool provided by the thermal storage 5, while the heat generated by the phase change is partially emitted to the environment through the walls of the duct 9 and partially transported with the flow of the desiccant cycle 3 and partially transported by the passing air. The second trickle element 2a, 2b is placed in a double-walled tube, and the supply air A to the enclosure 20 is led from the air outlet 17 of the first trickle element 1a through the inner tube 10b of the double-walled air duct into the enclosure 20. The exhaust air A from the enclosure 20 is led to the second trickle element 2a, 2b through its air inlets 18, which is placed on the surfaces of the inner wall of the outer tube 10a and on the outer wall of the inner tube 10b. The second fluid F is transported from the thermal storage 5 to the second trickle element surfaces 2a, 2b and back to the cold area 5b of the thermal storage 5, thus allowing to accumulate cool from the evaporation process in the thermal storage 5. The walls of the tubes are cooled by evaporation of water to the exhaust air A. In this way, the incoming air A and the air volume in the enclosure 20 are cooled as they are in direct contact with the related cooled walls of the tube. Depending on given climate conditions in the environment, air from the environment can optionally be led through a third air tube (air duct) 38, containing a third trickle element 37 on the inner walls which then receives the desiccant F (via its inlet I) from the outlet O of the first trickle element 1. The tube 38 is preferably installed on the sun-exposed side of the enclosure 20 and receives solar radiation 36 heating up the tube 38, and thus allows to further evaporate aqueous constituents out of the desiccant F and regeneration of the desiccant F is achieved. The desiccant cycle 3, in this case is extended to this third trickle element 37 and passes from the outlet O of the third trickle element 37 through the heat exchanger 6 in the thermal storage 5 transferring remaining heat from the desiccant cycle 3 to the storage fluid, and then returns to the (inlet I of the) first trickle element 1a, thus closing the cycle.