Desiccant air conditioner with thermal storage

Abstract

An air conditioning system with thermal storage that is suitable for using solar energy. A solar collector used energy from the sun to evaporate water from a desiccant fluid. The desiccant fluid is then flows into a mass transfer device, which removes moisture from an air stream. Calcium chloride is the preferred desiccant material and can serve as an energy-storage medium. Electric or fuel backup can be used with this system to regenerate the desiccant material. In some embodiments an indirect evaporative cooler is added to provide sensible cooling. A new desiccant cooling system that is specially designed to work with the properties of this desiccant and meet comfort requirements of conventional air conditioning.

1 ) A desiccant cooling system comprising: 
 a. A desiccant cooler capable of cooling a fluid to a temperature below the ambient wet-bulb temperature,    b. A quantity of desiccant liquid sufficient for providing at least about two hours of operation of said desiccant cooler at design capacity,    c. Means for regenerating said desiccant liquid,    d. Means for storing said desiccant liquid.    
     
     
         2 ) A desiccant cooling system of  claim 1  wherein said desiccant cooler comprises: 
 a. A desiccant-gas heat and mass exchanger which acts to cool and dehumidify said gas,  
 b. Means for cooling said desiccant liquid,  
 c. Means for circulating said desiccant liquid through said desiccant-gas heat and mass exchanger,  
 d. A water-gas heat and mass exchanger which humidifies said gas, and  
 e. Means of circulating gas that has been previously dehumidified by said desiccant-gas heat and mass exchanger to said water-gas heat and mass exchanger so as to cool said water below the ambient wet-bulb temperature.