U.S. patent application number 11/161808 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-05 for water-cooled air conditioning system using condenser water regeneration for precise air reheat in dehumidifying mode.
Invention is credited to Daniel L. Ellis, Laxmikant N. Nerurkar.
Application Number | 20060218949 11/161808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37068720 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060218949 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ellis; Daniel L. ; et
al. |
October 5, 2006 |
WATER-COOLED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM USING CONDENSER WATER
REGENERATION FOR PRECISE AIR REHEAT IN DEHUMIDIFYING MODE
Abstract
A water-cooled air conditioning system using a regenerative
condenser water circuit to reheat the supply air during a
dehumidification mode. The air conditioning system may be any type
of water-cooled system, including a water source heat pump or
water-cooled air conditioner. The reheat circuit circulates water
leaving the condenser through the reheat heat exchanger and then
returns the water to the condenser inlet. Thus, the reheat circuit
ensures that water leaving the condenser is warm enough to provide
sufficient reheating for the supply air, regardless of the water
source temperature. In addition, a modulation assembly controls the
amount of water flowing through the reheat circuit, and thereby its
temperature, so that the temperature of the reheated supply air can
be maintained within a narrow range.
Inventors: |
Ellis; Daniel L.; (Edmond,
OK) ; Nerurkar; Laxmikant N.; (Edmond, OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARY M LEE, P.C.
1300 E. NINTH STREET
SUITE 4
EDMOND
OK
73034-5760
US
|
Family ID: |
37068720 |
Appl. No.: |
11/161808 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60522124 |
Aug 18, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 3/153 20130101;
F25B 2700/21173 20130101; F25B 2339/047 20130101; F25B 2700/2103
20130101; Y02B 30/52 20130101; F25B 13/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/173 |
International
Class: |
F25B 29/00 20060101
F25B029/00 |
Claims
1. A water-cooled air conditioning system for conditioning air in
an enclosed space, the system associated with a water source, the
system comprising: a condenser adapted to conduct heat from a
refrigerant to water, the condenser having a water inlet and a
water outlet; an evaporator adapted to conduct heat from air to
refrigerant; a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and an
expansion device and adapted to circulate refrigerant between the
condenser and evaporator; a condenser water circuit comprising a
supply conduit adapted to circulate water from the water source to
the water inlet of the condenser and a return conduit adapted to
circulate water from water outlet of the condenser to the water
source; an air circuit adapted to receive return air from the
space, to circulate the air through the evaporator, and to direct
conditioned supply air to the space; a reheat heat exchanger
adapted to conduct heat from water to air, the reheat heat
exchanger disposed in the air circuit downstream of the evaporator
and having a water inlet and a water outlet; a regenerative
condenser water reheat circuit including a pump and adapted to
circulate water from the return conduit of the condenser water
circuit to the water inlet of the reheat heat exchanger and from
the water outlet of the reheat heat exchanger to the supply conduit
of the condenser water circuit; and a control assembly comprising a
temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the supply air
entering the space and adapted to control the operation of the
reheat circuit in response thereto.
2. The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the control
assembly comprises a flow modulation assembly adapted to vary the
amount of water that is circulated through the condenser water
reheat circuit to maintain the supply air near a selected
temperature.
3. The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the flow
modulation assembly comprises a diverting valve.
4. The air conditioning system of claim 3 wherein the diverting
valve is located at the junction of the reheat circuit and the
return conduit from the condenser.
5. The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the flow
modulation assembly comprises a mixing valve.
6. The air conditioning system of claim 5 wherein the mixing valve
is located at the junction of the reheat circuit and the supply
conduit to the condenser.
7. The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the flow
modulation assembly comprises a variable speed pump controller
operatively connected to the pump of the condenser water reheat
circuit.
8. The air conditioning system of claim 7 wherein the flow
modulation assembly further comprises a check valve in the reheat
circuit to prevent backflow of water from the water source through
the condenser water reheat circuit.
9. The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the pump in the
reheat circuit is located in the condenser water circuit between
the condenser and the junction of the reheat circuit with the
condenser water circuit.
10. A regenerative condenser water reheat assembly for use with a
water-cooled air conditioning system for conditioning air in an
enclosed space and that is associated with a water source, the air
conditioning system comprising a condenser adapted to conduct heat
from a refrigerant to water and having a water inlet and a water
outlet, an evaporator to conduct heat from air to refrigerant, a
refrigerant circuit including a compressor and an expansion device
and adapted to circulate refrigerant between the condenser and
evaporator, a condenser water circuit including a supply conduit to
circulate water from the water source to the water inlet of the
condenser and a return conduit to circulate water from the water
outlet of the condenser to the water source, and an air circuit
adapted to receive return air from the space, to direct air through
the evaporator, and to direct conditioned supply air to the space,
the reheat assembly comprising: a reheat heat exchanger to conduct
heat from water to air and adapted to be installed in the air
circuit downstream of the evaporator, wherein the reheat heat
exchanger has a water inlet and a water outlet; a reheat
circulating pump for use with conduits to circulate water from the
return conduit of the condenser water circuit to the water inlet of
the reheat heat exchanger and from the water outlet of the reheat
heat exchanger to the supply conduit of the condenser water
circuit; and a control assembly comprising a temperature sensor for
detecting the temperature of the supply air entering the space and
adapted to control the operation of the reheat circuit in response
thereto.
11. The reheat assembly of claim 10 wherein the control assembly
comprises a flow modulation assembly adapted to vary the amount of
water circulated through the reheat circuit to maintain the supply
air near a selected temperature.
12. The reheat assembly system of claim 11 wherein the flow
modulation assembly comprises a diverting valve.
13. The reheat assembly of claim 12 wherein the diverting valve is
located at the junction of the reheat circuit and the return
conduit from the condenser.
14. The reheat assembly of claim 11 wherein the flow modulation
assembly comprises a mixing valve.
15. The reheat assembly of claim 14 wherein the mixing valve is
located at the junction of the reheat circuit and the supply
conduit to the condenser.
16. The reheat assembly of claim 11 wherein the flow modulation
assembly comprises a variable speed pump controller operatively
connected to the pump of the reheat circuit.
17. The reheat assembly of claim 16 wherein the flow modulation
assembly further comprises a check valve in the reheat circuit to
prevent backflow of water from the water source through the
condenser water reheat circuit.
18. The reheat assembly of claim 10 further comprising conduits
sufficient to form a regenerative condenser water reheat circuit
adapted to circulate water from the return conduit of the condenser
to the water inlet of the reheat heat exchanger and from the water
outlet of the heat exchanger to the supply conduit of the
condenser.
19. A method for reheating supply air in a water-cooled air
conditioning system for conditioning the air in an enclosed space
and that is associated with a water source, wherein the air
conditioning system comprises a condenser adapted to conduct heat
from a refrigerant to water and having a water inlet and a water
outlet, an evaporator adapted to conduct heat from air to
refrigerant, a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and an
expansion device and adapted to circulate refrigerant between the
condenser and evaporator, a condenser water circuit including a
supply conduit to circulate water from the water source to the
water inlet of the condenser and a return conduit to circulate
water from the water outlet of the condenser to the water source,
and an air circuit adapted to receive return air from the space, to
direct it through the evaporator, and to direct supply air into the
space, the method comprising: in response to the temperature of the
supply air leaving the air circuit, circulating condenser water
from the return conduit of the condenser water circuit in heat
exchange relation with air in the air circuit downstream of the
evaporator to adjust the temperature of the supply air towards a
target temperature and then returning the condenser water to the
supply conduit of the condenser water circuit.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising modulating the amount
of the condenser water return flow that is circulated in heat
exchange relation with the air to maintain the supply air near the
target temperature.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
provisional application Ser. No. 60/522,124, entitled "Condenser
Water Regenerative Reheat for Water-Cooled Air Conditioners and
Water-Source Heat Pumps," filed Aug. 18, 2005, the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to air conditioning
systems and, more particularly but without limitation, to
water-cooled air conditioning and water source heat pump systems
equipped with supply air reheat to provide dehumidification without
sensible cooling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Modern heating and cooling systems are increasingly required
to control indoor humidity levels in addition to the sensible air
temperature. One reason for this is the desire to provide ever
higher levels of occupant comfort. Improving indoor air quality
through dehumidification is important for health reasons as well,
because high humidity is associated with mold and mildew and other
unpleasant and hazardous conditions.
[0004] In the cooling mode, air conditioners typically provide
dehumidification only as a byproduct of the cooling process, with
20-30% of the total cooling capacity usually being apportioned to
latent cooling (dehumidification) and the balance to sensible
cooling (the measurable reduction in air temperature across the
cooling coil). In most applications, this proportionate level of
dehumidification is adequate during those periods when the cooling
system is operating on a nearly continuous basis. However, during
periods of low space cooling demand, the cooling system will not
operate long enough to remove the amount of moisture required to
control indoor humidity. There are also applications where
dehumidification is required during periods when sensible cooling
is not needed at all. Thus, there are situations where an air
conditioning system must provide dehumidification independent of
sensible cooling.
[0005] One means of providing a dehumidification mode in a cooling
system is referred to as a "reheat" process. In a reheat process,
the supply air is reheated to a comfortable level after being
cooled for adequate dehumidification. There are several known
techniques to perform the reheating process, such as electric
resistance heaters, desuperheating or condensing heat exchangers
connected to the cooling refrigerant system, and heat exchangers
connected to a boiler. The heat source in the preferred methods is
some form of waste heat generated in the system as a result of the
cooling process. This greatly improves the energy efficiency of the
dehumidification process, as no new energy is consumed for
reheat.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic of a first embodiment of the present
invention comprising a water-cooled air conditioning system with a
regenerative condenser water reheat circuit in which the flow
through the reheat circuit is controlled by means of a diverting
valve located in the return conduit of the condenser where the
reheat circuit connects.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic of a second embodiment of the present
invention comprising a water-cooled air conditioning system with a
regenerative condenser water reheat circuit in which the flow
through the reheat circuit is controlled by means of a mixing valve
located in the supply conduit of the condenser where the reheat
circuit connects.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic of a third embodiment of the present
invention comprising a water-cooled air conditioning system with a
regenerative condenser water reheat circuit in which the flow
through the reheat circuit is controlled by means of a variable
speed water pump.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] Referring now to the drawings in general and to FIG. 1 in
particular, there is shown therein and designated generally by the
reference number 10 an air conditioning system constructed in
accordance with the present invention. The air conditioning system
10 shown and described herein is a water source heat pump system
illustrated in the cooling mode. However, the present invention is
not so limited and can be implemented equally well in systems that
provides cooling only. Accordingly, as used herein, "air
conditioning system" refers to a system that conditions or adjusts
the temperature and humidity of the air in a structure or space,
and includes but is not limited to cooling-only systems as well as
systems that heat and cool the air.
[0010] The air conditioning system 10 of the present invention
comprises a water-cooled air conditioning system designed to
condition the air in an enclosed space (not shown in the drawings),
such as a building or other structure. As used herein,
"water-cooled air conditioning system" denotes a system that uses a
water source 12 as a heat sink or heat source, and includes
water-cooled air conditioners and water-source heat pumps, such as
the system illustrated in the drawings.
[0011] Typically, the water source 12 will be one of three basic
types: (1) liquid circulating in a temperature-controlled piping
loop with temperature control being mechanical, such as cooling
towers and boilers or similar devices; (2) ground water pumped from
a well, lake, river or stream; or, (3) liquid circulating through a
sub-surface heat exchange piping loop, which may be placed in
horizontal trenches or vertical bores, or submerged within a body
of surface water.
[0012] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the system 10 includes a
condenser 14 that comprises a refrigerant to water heat exchanger,
that is, it is adapted to conduct heat from a refrigerant to water.
The condenser 14 has a water inlet 16 and a water outlet 18. Also
included is an evaporator 20 comprising a refrigerant to air heat
exchanger, that is, it is adapted to transfer heat from air to a
refrigerant. The evaporator 20 and condenser 14 are connected
within a refrigerant circuit 22 with a compressor 24 and an
expansion device 26. The refrigerant circuit 22 also comprises
conduits 28 adapted to circulate refrigerant between the various
components of the refrigerant circuit. As used herein,
"refrigerant" denotes a suitable phase-changing heat exchange fluid
for use in a vapor-compression air conditioning or heat pump
system. The refrigerant circuit 22 may include a reversing valve 30
where the system comprises a heat pump.
[0013] The system 10 also comprises a condenser water circuit 32.
The condenser water circuit 32 includes a supply conduit 34 adapted
to circulate water from the water source 12 to the water inlet 16
of the condenser 14 and a return conduit 36 adapted to circulate
water from the water outlet 18 of the condenser back to the water
source.
[0014] Still further, the system 10 includes an air circuit 38 for
circulating air in the space (not shown) through the system 10.
More specifically, the air circuit 38 is adapted to receive return
air from the space at an air inlet 40, to circulate the air through
the evaporator 20, and to direct the conditioned supply air leaving
the system 10 through an air outlet 42 back into the space. The air
circuit 38 usually will include one or more blowers 44 for moving
the air.
[0015] Referring still to FIG. 1, the system 10 comprises a reheat
heat exchanger 52 in the form of a water to air heat exchanger for
transferring heat from water to the supply air. The heat exchanger
52 is positioned in the air circuit 38 downstream of the evaporator
20. The heat exchanger 52 has a water inlet 54 and a water outlet
56.
[0016] To provide a heat source to the reheat heat exchanger 52,
the system 10 is equipped with a regenerative condenser water
reheat circuit 60 comprising conduits 62 and a water pump 64. The
reheat circuit 60 is adapted to circulate water from the return
conduit 36 of the condenser water circuit 32 to the water inlet 54
of the reheat heat exchanger 52, and from the water outlet 56 of
the reheat heat exchanger to the supply conduit 34 of the condenser
water circuit.
[0017] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the pump 64 is located in the
supply conduit 34 of the condenser water circuit 32 between the
water inlet 16 of the condenser 14 and the junction of the reheat
circuit 60 with the supply conduit. Alternately, the pump 64 may be
positioned in the return conduit 36 between the water outlet 18 of
the condenser 14 and the flow control device, which is described
below. In either of these positions, the pump 64 is in a portion of
the condenser water circuit 32 which is between the condenser 14
and the junction of the reheat circuit 60 with the condenser water
circuit 32. In either of these locations the pump 64 can support
condenser water circulation in other modes, such as cooling or
heating (if a heat pump). Where the pump 64 serves the single
purpose of circulating water through the reheat circuit 60, it can
be located anywhere within the reheat circuit.
[0018] As explained previously, the reheat function preferably is
activated only in the dehumidification mode when the space requires
little or no sensible cooling, but the humidity is still higher
than desired. During dehumidification mode, the reheat circuit
brings the cooled, dehumidified air leaving the evaporator back up
to within a comfortable target temperature range. Thus, as shown in
FIG. 1, to control the operation of the reheat circuit 60, the
system 10 also includes a reheat control assembly 70. Preferably,
the control assembly 70 includes a temperature sensor 72 for
detecting the temperature of the supply air leaving the air circuit
38 and entering the space through the air outlet 42. The control
assembly 70 also includes a controller 74 to receive the
temperature data from the sensor 72 along the data line 76 and, in
response to such data, to communicate by means of a data line 78
with a flow control device.
[0019] The flow control device of the control assembly 70 can be a
switch that simply activates the reheat circuit 60 in response to a
target temperature. However, in most instances, a simple on/off
control permits undesirably wide fluctuations in the supply air
temperature. Thus, in the preferred practice of this invention, the
flow control device has the capacity to vary the amount of flow
that is directed through the reheat circuit 60. In this first
preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the flow control device is a
diverter valve 80. In the system illustrated, the diverter valve 80
is located at the junction of the reheat circuit 60 and the return
conduit 36 from the condenser 14.
[0020] In this embodiment, where the flow control is a diverter
valve 80, the amount of condenser water circulated through the
reheat heat exchanger 52 can be varied or modulated. This enables
the system to maintain a relatively constant selected or target
temperature in the supply air. Thus, the control assembly 70 of
this embodiment serves also as a flow modulation assembly. For
example, if the target temperature selected is 72 degrees
Fahrenheit, the control assembly 70 will cause more or less
condenser water to flow through the reheat exchanger 52 to maintain
the temperature of the supply air at about 72 degrees
Fahrenheit.
[0021] Having described a first preferred embodiment of the air
conditioning system 10 of the present invention, its operation now
will be explained. In the cooling mode, the evaporator 20 removes
heat from the return air and the refrigerant circuit returns the
heated refrigerant to the condenser 14 into which the heat is
rejected. In the condenser 14, the heat is transferred to the
condenser water circulating through the condenser by means of the
condenser water circuit 32. In addition to the heat absorbed from
the air being cooled, the heat rejected into the condenser also
includes the heat generated by the electrical input of the
compressor 24.
[0022] During the cooling mode, the control assembly 70 deactivates
the reheat circuit 60. That is, the diverting valve 80 is
positioned to direct all flow from its inlet 80a to the outlet path
80c feeding the condenser water return conduit 36, thus causing the
water flow in the condenser water circuit 32 to completely bypass
reheat circuit 60. The condenser water flows from the water source
12 to the condenser 14 and then directly back to the water
source.
[0023] During times when the sensible space temperature is at or
below the desired level so that sensible cooling is not required,
but the space humidity level is higher than desired, the system 10
may be operated in a non-cooling dehumidification mode. During this
mode, the refrigerant circuit 22 continues to operate in cooling
mode.
[0024] As the temperature of the supply air drops below a selected
target temperature, the controller 74 activates the reheat circuit
60. More specifically, depending on the temperature reading of the
sensor 72, the diverting valve 80 is modulated by the controller 74
to divide the outlet flow; a selected portion of the condenser
water supply is caused to flow through the reheat circuit 60 and
the remainder of the condenser water continues back to the water
source 12. The controller 74 continues to adjust the diverting
valve 80, as necessary, to maintain the supply air temperature at
the desired set point or target temperature, such as 72 degrees
Fahrenheit.
[0025] Now it will be seen that the reheat circuit 60 forms a
condenser water regeneration loop or circuit: water from the outlet
18 of the condenser 14 is circulated by the diverter valve 80
through the reheat heat exchanger 52 and then returned to the
supply conduit 34 where it reenters the inlet 16 of the condenser
through the pump 64.
[0026] The condenser water contains all of the heat removed from
the air by the evaporator 20, both sensible and latent, and also
the heat generated by the electricity operating the compressor 24.
Consequently, there is more heat in the condenser water than is
required to provide complete sensible reheating of the air. The
diverter valve 80 operates to divide its incoming flow at 80a
between the outlet 80b supplying reheat heat exchanger 52 and the
outlet 80c returning the water to the water source 12. The valve
80, in response to the controller 74, allocates to the reheat heat
exchanger 52 only that portion of the condenser heat required for
reheating and rejects the balance back to the water source 12.
[0027] The temperature of the water in the water source 12 can vary
widely, typically ranging from 40 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When
the temperature of incoming water from the water source 12 is near
or below the target supply air temperature, the temperature of the
water leaving the condenser 14 will be insufficient to provide
adequate reheating of the supply air. With the condenser water
regeneration feature of the present invention, the diverter valve
80 reduces the relative amount of input from the cold incoming
water source in favor of input from the reheat circuit 60. In this
way, the reheat circuit water temperature can reach an equilibrium
that is higher than that of the incoming water source temperature,
as needed, to achieve the target supply air temperature. Thus, even
when the water from the water source 12 is cold, condenser water
regeneration ensures that the reheat heat exchanger 52 can reheat
the cooled air sufficiently to maintain the target supply air
temperature setting.
[0028] It will be apparent that the complete system 10 can be
implemented in its entirety at new installations. However, the
present invention also can be employed by modifying existing
water-cooled systems by retrofitting them with a combination of the
reheat circuit 60, the control assembly 70, and the reheat heat
exchanger 52, together forming a reheat assembly designated
generally herein by the reference numeral 86.
[0029] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown therein a second
embodiment of the present invention designated generally by the
reference numeral 10A. The system 10A of FIG. 2 is similar to the
system 10 of FIG. 1, and like reference numerals indicate like
elements. More specifically, the system 10A comprises a condenser
14, an evaporator 20, a refrigeration circuit 22, and water
condenser circuit 32. A similar air circuit 38 also is
included.
[0030] The reheat assembly 86A differs from the reheat assembly 86
of FIG. 1 in that instead of the diverting valve 80 in the first
embodiment, the control assembly 70 comprises a mixing valve 90.
The mixing valve 90 is positioned in the supply conduit 34 of the
condenser water circuit 32 at the junction of the reheat circuit 60
with the supply conduit. The control assembly 70 is similarly
provided with a supply air temperature sensor 72 by which the
controller 74 regulates the reheat circuit operation through the
mixing valve 90. The mixing valve 90 serves the same function of
proportioning or modulating the condenser water flow between the
reheat circuit 60 and the water source 12. As in the reheat
assembly 86 of FIG. 1, the pump 64 of the reheat assembly 86A of
FIG. 2 can be repositioned to support condenser water flow in other
modes, or to provide flow only for the reheat circuit 60, as may be
desired.
[0031] A third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated
in FIG. 3, to which attention now is directed. The system 10B of
FIG. 3 is similar to the systems 10 of FIG. 1 and 10A of FIG. 2,
and like reference numerals indicate like elements. More
specifically, the system 10B comprises a condenser 14, an
evaporator 20, a refrigeration circuit 22, and water condenser
circuit 32. A similar air circuit 38 also is included.
[0032] The reheat assembly 86B differs from the reheat assembly 86
of FIG. 1 and the reheat assembly 86A of FIG. 2 in that instead of
the diverting valve 80 or the mixing valve 90, the control assembly
70 comprises a variable speed water pump control 92 connected to
the pump 64. The pump 64 and pump control 92 are positioned in the
reheat circuit 60 between the outlet 56 of the reheat heat
exchanger 52 and the junction of the reheat circuit with the supply
conduit 34 to the condenser 14. A check valve 94 is included in the
reheat circuit 60 to prevent the water source supply water from
flowing in a reverse direction through the reheat circuit 60 when
the pump 64 is inactive.
[0033] The control assembly 70 is similarly provided with supply
air temperature data by the sensor 72, and the controller 74
regulates the reheat circuit operation by regulating the pump flow
through the pump control 92. Thus, the pump flow control 92
modulates the speed of the pump 64, thereby serving the same
function of proportioning or modulating the condenser water flow
between the reheat circuit 60 and the water source 12. The pump 64
and the check valve 94 may be positioned elsewhere within the
reheat circuit 60 between the reheat heat exchanger inlet 54 and
the condenser water return conduit 36. In the embodiment of FIG. 3,
the water pump 64 provides flow only for the reheat circuit 60.
[0034] In accordance with the method of the present invention, a
condenser water regeneration circuit is employed to reheat supply
air in a water-cooled air conditioning system. In response to the
temperature of the supply air leaving the air circuit, condenser
water from the return conduit of the condenser water circuit is
circulated in heat exchange relation with air in the air circuit
downstream of the evaporator. Thereby, the temperature of the
supply air is adjusted towards a selected target temperature and
then directed into the space. The condenser water then is returned
to the supply conduit of the condenser water circuit. Preferably,
the method includes modulating the amount of the condenser water
return flow that is circulated in heat exchange relation with the
air to maintain the supply air near a selected target temperature
or set point.
[0035] Now it will be appreciated that the condenser water
regeneration reheat circuit of the present invention provides
several advantages. The reheat assembly provides an air
conditioning system in which complete and precise air reheating is
possible, regardless of the condenser water supply temperature. The
modulating nature of the reheat assembly also compensates for
variations in return air temperature. Thus, the supply air
temperature delivered to the space can be maintained at any
reasonable target temperature or set point during the
dehumidification mode, greatly improving comfort in the space.
Moreover, while this reheat system is ideal for dehumidification
applications, it is suitable for use in other applications where
precise temperature control of the supply air is desired.
[0036] The reheat energy source of the present invention is waste
heat generated by the cooling and dehumidifying process, which is
highly preferred from an energy efficiency standpoint. Still
further, this is accomplished in a simple design and without
modifying or complicating the refrigerant circuit.
[0037] Changes can be made in the combination and arrangement of
the various parts and steps described herein without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following
claims.
* * * * *