Desiccant air conditioner

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 heat exchange device comprising: 
 a. A first enclosure that is made of a flexible mater and contains a quantity of a first fluid,    b. A surrounding fluid that is immiscible with the first fluid,    c. A first flow path formed inside the enclosure that allows flow of liquid,    d. An opening at one side of the enclosure that allows contact between the two fluids as the first fluid moves through said flow channel so that the pressure of the first fluid is approximately the same as that of the surrounding fluid at the surface between the two fluids and fluid forces that act to inflate said first enclosure.    
     
     
         2 ) The heat exchange device of  claim 1  wherein said first fluid is a liquid and said surrounding fluid is air and said opening is near the top of said first enclosure.  
     
     
         3 ) The heat exchange device of  claim 2  wherein said fluid forces are hydrostatic forces that result from the relative density of the first fluid and the surrounding fluid.  
     
     
         4 ) The heat exchange device of  claim 3  further comprising a second enclosure that contains a second fluid that comprises a second liquid that surrounds a portion of said first enclosure and a second path in said second enclosure that allows flow of said second liquid.  
     
     
         5 ) The heat exchanger of  claim 4  wherein said second enclosure is made of a flexible material that is inflated by hydrostatic forces.  
     
     
         6 ) The heat exchange device of  claim 5  wherein the flow of the liquids is approximately counterflow.  
     
     
         7 ) The heat exchange device of  claim 6  further comprising means for circulating air over said second enclosure.  
     
     
         8 ) The heat exchange device of  claim 7  wherein said airflow is approximately counterflow to flow of said second liquid.