Humidity control utilizing heat pump concept

Abstract

A vapor compression system for allowing humidity control includes a plurality of vapor compression circuits including at least one cooling circuit and at least one heat pump operable circuit; the plurality of circuits being adapted to act upon a stream of air whereby a first portion is cooled by the at least one cooling circuit and a second portion is heated by the heat pump operable circuit whereby the stream of air can be dehumidified while maintaining a desired air stream temperature. As a result, such a system can have three modes of operation; cooling, heating and dehumidification with low sensible capacity as well as multiple steps of unloading. Furthermore, system reliability and complexity are improved and operation and control functions are enhanced.

1 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one heat pump operable circuit is selectively operable as a cooling circuit and as a heat pump circuit, whereby said system can be operated in at least three modes of operation including a cooling mode wherein said plurality of circuits are operated as cooling circuits, a low sensible dehumidification mode wherein said at least one cooling circuit is operated to cool said first portion and said at least one heat pump operable circuit is operated to heat said second portion, and a heating mode wherein said at least one heat pump operable circuit is operated as a heat pump and said at least one cooling circuit is inactive.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said circuits have internal unloading capability whereby temperature and humidity of said stream of air can be controlled.  
     
     
         4 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         5 . A vapor compression system for allowing temperature and humidity control, comprising: 
 a plurality of vapor compression circuits including at least one cooling circuit and at least one heat pump operable circuit;    said plurality of circuits being adapted to act upon a stream of air whereby a first portion is cooled by said at least one cooling circuit and a second portion is heated by said heat pump operable circuit whereby said stream of air can be dehumidified while maintaining a desired air stream temperature, wherein said circuits are arranged to treat said first portion and said second portion in parallel.    
     
     
         6 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         7 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         8 . A method for controlling temperature and humidity of a stream of air, comprising the steps of:. 
 providing a stream of air to be treated;    providing a vapor compression system comprising a plurality of vapor compression circuits including at least one cooling circuit and at least one heat pump operable circuit;    feeding a first portion of said stream of air to said at least one cooling circuit so as to provide a cooled and dehumidified stream; and    feeding a second portion of said stream of air to said at least one heat pump operable circuit so as to provide a heated stream, whereby said stream of air can be dehumidified while maintaining a desired air temperature, wherein said first portion and said second portion are treated separately and then combined to provide a combined air stream.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising selectively controlling flow rate in said first portion and said second portion whereby temperature and humidity of said combined air stream can be controlled.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said stream of air is fed as said first portion to said at least one cooling circuit and sequentially fed as said second portion to said at least one heat pump operable circuit.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising treating said stream of air in a combination of sequential and parallel portions including said first portion and said second portion.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising mixing an untreated stream of air with at least one of said first portion and said second portion.