Method For Cooling an Airflow

Abstract

A method of cooling a first airstream employs the steps of dehumidifying a second airstream, injecting water into the dehumidified airstream so as to cool the second airstream, and passing the first and the cooled second airstream through a heat exchanger so as to cool the first airstream. In so doing, the condensate recovered during the dehumidification of the second and/or first airstream is used in the injection step.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for cooling and dehumidifying a first air stream, the method comprising the steps:
 A) passing a second air stream through a first coarse particle filter and a first electro-filter for cleaning the second air stream and through a first cavity of an air-dehumidifying apparatus, which is separated by a water vapor permeable structure from a second cavity of the air-dehumidifying apparatus, for dehumidifying the cleaned second air stream and obtaining water as condensate;   B) injecting water into the dehumidified second air stream for cooling the second air stream,   C) passing the first air stream through a second coarse particle filter and a second electro-filter for cleaning the first air stream; and   D) passing the first air stream cleaned in step C and the second air stream cleaned, dehumidified and cooled with the steps A and B through a heat exchanger for cooling the first air stream, wherein   water obtained when dehumidifying the second air stream in step A is used in step B for injecting.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first air stream cleaned and cooled with steps C and D is passed through a first cavity of a further air-dehumidifying apparatus, which first cavity is separated by a water vapor permeable structure from a second cavity of the further air-dehumidifying apparatus, for dehumidifying the cleaned and cooled first air stream and for obtaining water as condensate, and wherein also the water obtained in doing so is used in step B for injecting. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein free ambient air is dehumidified in order to obtain further water as condensate for step B. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein free ambient air is dehumidified in order to obtain further water as condensate for step B. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for cooling a first air stream, comprising a first coarse particle filter and a first electro-filter for cleaning the first air stream, a second coarse particle filter and a second electro-filter for cleaning a second air stream, an air-dehumidifying apparatus for the cleaned second air stream, having a first cavity and a second cavity, which are separated from each other by a water vapor permeable structure, wherein the second air stream may flow through the first cavity, a condensation water separator, which is connected via a manifold with the second cavity of the air-dehumidifying apparatus for the second air stream, pump means arranged in the manifold, a cooling system, through which the dehumidified second air stream may flow, a conduit and a pressure booster pump arranged in the conduit for feeding water obtained in the condensation water separator to the cooling system, and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the cleaned first air stream and the cleaned, dehumidified and cooled second air stream. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising an additional air-dehumidifying apparatus for the first air stream, having a first cavity and a second cavity, which are separated from each other by a water vapor permeable structure, wherein the first air stream may flow through the first cavity, wherein the second cavity of the air-dehumidifying apparatus for the first air stream is connected with the manifold. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising an additional air-dehumidifying apparatus for obtaining further water from ambient air and supplying to the cooling system. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an additional air-dehumidifying apparatus for obtaining further water from ambient air and supplying to the cooling system. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising an additional air-dehumidifying apparatus for the second air stream, having a first cavity and a second cavity, which are separated from each other by a water vapor permeable structure, wherein the second air stream may flow through the first cavity, an additional cooling system for the second air stream, an additional heat exchanger for the exchange of heat between the first air stream and the second air stream. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an additional air-dehumidifying apparatus for the second air stream, having a first cavity and a second cavity, which are separated from each other by a water vapor permeable structure, wherein the second air stream may flow through the first cavity, an additional cooling system for the second air stream, an additional heat exchanger for the exchange of heat between the first air stream and the second air stream. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising an additional air-dehumidifying apparatus for the second air stream, having a first cavity and a second cavity, which are separated from each other by a water vapor permeable structure, wherein the second air stream may flow through the first cavity, an additional cooling system for the second air stream, an additional heat exchanger for the exchange of heat between the first air stream and the second air stream. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising an additional air-dehumidifying apparatus for the second air stream, having a first cavity and a second cavity, which are separated from each other by a water vapor permeable structure, wherein the second air stream may flow through the first cavity, an additional cooling system for the second air stream, an additional heat exchanger for the exchange of heat between the first air stream and the second air stream. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising an additional air-dehumidifying apparatus for the first air stream, with a first cavity and a second cavity, which are separated from each other by a water vapor permeable structure, wherein the first air stream may flow through the first cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising an additional air-dehumidifying apparatus for the first air stream, with a first cavity and a second cavity, which are separated from each other by a water vapor permeable structure, wherein the first air stream may flow through the first cavity. 
     
     
         24 . Vehicle comprising an apparatus according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         25 . Vehicle comprising an apparatus according to  claim 17 . 
     
     
         26 . Vehicle of  claim 24 , wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle or a trailer of a motor vehicle or a dormobile or a caravan or a lorry or a trailer or a ship or an aircraft. 
     
     
         27 . Vehicle of  claim 25 , wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle or a trailer of a motor vehicle or a dormobile or a caravan or a lorry or a trailer or a ship or an aircraft.