Air Cooling and Air Dehumidifying Module Comprising Capillary Tube Mats and Method of Using It

Abstract

The invention relates to an air cooling and air dehumidifying module comprising plastic capillary tube mats, which are formed by folding and/or winding into a compact assembly with a virtually cuboidal outer shape, which cools and dehumidifies the air stream passed through the mat assembly when cold water is conducted through the capillary tubes. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of operating the air cooling and air dehumidifying module in combination with cooling ceilings or suspended cooling panels. Such solutions serve for the decentralized cooling of rooms and for dehumidifying the air in a room.

1 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module for air-conditioning a room, the module comprising a plurality of plastic capillary tube mats, the capillary tube mats comprising distributor and collection tubes with flexible capillary tubes extending in between, through which water is circulated at a selectable temperature; wherein:
 the capillary tube mats are shaped to form a compact, dimensionally stable mat packet,
 the compact, dimensionally stable mat packet formed by layers of the tube mats; 
 the compact, dimensionally stable mat packet formed by winding the tube mats without an enlarged interior; or 
 the compact, dimensionally stable mat packet formed by winding the tube mats with a defined core region. 
   so as to obtain a body resembling a cuboid,   wherein one or more of the mat packets are disposed in a housing, the housing forming orifices so that a pressure chamber is created, to which a room air flow to be treated can be continuously fed by of one or more fans from the room to be air-conditioned into the pressure chamber, and   wherein, a mat packet air flow occurs out of the pressure chamber and through the one or more mat packets due to the pressure difference prevailing between the pressure chamber and the room.   
   
   
       2 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein one or more of the fans are connected on a side of the module adjacent to the pressure chamber, thereby creating a higher pressure in the pressure chamber than the air pressure in the room thereby causing air circulation through the one or more mat packets.   
   
   
       3 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the height of the cuboid body is at least twice the width of the cuboid body.   
   
   
       4 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein
 the height of the cuboid body is at least twice the width of the cuboid body, and   a plurality of sealing bodies attached to the mat packets seal the pressure chamber in order to prevent bypass flows of non-conditioned air.   
   
   
       5 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 wherein the orifices formed from the housing are slots, holes or perforations.   
   
   
       6 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 wherein each capillary tube comprises a capillary tube surface, wherein the mat packet air flow contacts the tube surface thereby causing a convective heat exchange and at a low water temperature in the capillary tube mats the air is also dried due to a formation of condensation water caused by a drop below the dew point at the capillary tube surface.   
   
   
       7 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 wherein each mat packet comprises (i) plastic binders or (ii) a thermal pre-treatment mat packet that provides permanent dimensional stability to the mat packet.   
   
   
       8 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in any of  claims 1 - 7 ,
 wherein a plurality of mat packets are connected in series or in parallel in the same mat packet air flow to improve the efficiency of the module, and the water flow is directed in counter-flow by providing a cold water inlet, a cold water connecting pipe, and a cold water outlet.   
   
   
       9 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the compact, dimensionally stable mat packet formed by winding the tube mats with a defined core region is positioned in the housing so that the defined core region of the compact, dimensionally stable mat packet assumes the function of the pressure chamber and is filled with room air by one or more fans, and the mat packet air flow is distributed to several sides in the room and contacts the capillary tube surface so that a counter-flow is achieved with the water inlet and the water outlet.   
   
   
       10 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pressure chamber has integrated fittings for distributing the air thereby ensuring an air discharge into the room that is uniform or selectively directed depending on usage conditions.   
   
   
       11 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  5 , further comprising a plug-in flange and/or roller fans with rotatable housings so that air intake of the room air can be flexibly designed depending on the disposition of the module in the room. 
   
   
       12 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is shaped to form air passage elements on the surfaces of the housing or the air passage elements are connected to the housing, the air passage elements comprising perforated plate arrangements, slotted passages or adjustable slat plates. 
   
   
       13 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mat packets with a defined core region can be fitted horizontally. 
   
   
       14 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module for air-conditioning a room, the module comprising a plurality of plastic capillary tube mats, the capillary tube mats comprising distributor and collection tubes with flexible capillary tubes extending in between, through which water is circulated at a selectable temperature; wherein, the capillary tube mats are shaped to form a compact, dimensionally stable mat packet, the compact, dimensionally stable mat packet formed by winding the tube mats with a defined core region, so as claimed in to obtain a body resembling a cuboid, and
 wherein the defined core region of the compact, dimensionally stable mat packet is closed by means of a closed blanking plate and by a blanking plate with an air intake orifice lying opposite.   
   
   
       15 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module for air system comprising a module as claimed in  claim 1 , and a plurality of fans disposed to fill the pressure chamber with room air flow. 
   
   
       16 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein shaped pieces are fitted between one or more of the fans and the pressure chamber in order to direct and deflect the mat packet air flow. 
   
   
       17 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mat packet is enclosed by a perforated foil, the perforations of which constitute the air passage orifices. 
   
   
       18 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein during the operation of the module a constant, automatically controllable or controllable external air flow is fed to the pressure chamber. 
   
   
       19 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the module is disposed in a room comprising windows or passive suspended cooling panels whereby the air circulates so that air is blown onto the surfaces of the windows or passive suspended cooling panels so that the surface temperature of the windows or passive suspended cooling panels is reduced. 
   
   
       20 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module disposed as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the surface temperature of the windows or passive suspended cooling panels is reduced by the Coandä effect. 
   
   
       21 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module disposed as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more air filters and/or air humidifiers integrated in the air path through the air cooling and air dehumidifying module. 
   
   
       22 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module disposed as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein power regulation of the air cooling and air dehumidifying module takes place on the basis of a variable water temperature, a variable water flow and/or a variable flow volume of air through the mat packet. 
   
   
       23 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module disposed as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the fans are connected on a side of the module adjacent to a suction end of pressure chamber, thereby creating lower pressure in the pressure chamber than the air pressure in the room, thereby causing air circulation through the mat packet. 
   
   
       24 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more mat packets are disposed in the housing so that the air circulation through the one or more mat packets is caused by density differences between the cooled air and the room air at reduced power. 
   
   
       25 . An air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the module is also able to assume a heating function by using water temperatures above the room air temperature. 
   
   
       26 . A method for air-conditioning a room, the method comprising
 providing a control unit comprising an air cooling and air dehumidifying module as claimed in  claim 1 , irrespective of a spatial location of the module, and a cooling ceiling, irrespective of a construction type of the ceiling;   controlling the power of the air cooling and air dehumidifying module so that the desired value of the room air humidity is preserved and   controlling the power of the cooling ceiling to achieve the desired room temperature.   
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising
 supplying the air cooling and air dehumidifying module and the cooling ceiling with cold water flows comprising varying initial temperatures in order to gain the advantage of a low exergy during operation, and   circulating a lower temperature water flow through the air cooling and dehumidifying module.   
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising
 providing the cooling ceiling, wherein the cooling ceiling is an open cooling ceiling or a suspended cooling panel, and   drawing room air from the ceiling gap by means of the air cooling and dehumidifying module.   
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claims 26 , further comprising
 connecting structurally the air cooling and dehumidifying module and the cooling ceiling or a suspended cooling panel to one another, and/or   forming a structural unit from the air cooling and dehumidifying module and the cooling ceiling or a suspended cooling panel.   
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising
 controlling the room temperature and/or the room air humidity for a defined room zone or for a group of rooms.   
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising
 deriving control variables comprising room temperature and room air humidity which are arithmetic or weighted mean values, from the signals of a plurality of measuring sensors.   
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising
 adapting the power of the air cooling and dehumidifying module and/or the cooling ceiling and/or a suspended cooling panel is on the basis of a time control system.   
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising
 operating the air cooling and dehumidifying module and/or the cooling ceiling and/or a suspended cooling panel as a function of predefined temperature and/or humidity threshold values which are exceeded or below which there is a drop.   
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising
 operating the air cooling and dehumidifying module and/or the cooling ceiling and/or a suspended cooling panel based on the premise of maintaining the room temperature, and   controlling the power of the air cooling and dehumidifying module and/or the cooling ceiling and/or a suspended cooling panel based on the premise of maintaining the room temperature.   
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising
 regulating or controlling automatically the dehumidifying power of the air cooling and dehumidifying module as a function of a signal of one or more humidity sensors and/or temperature sensors which are installed in conjunction with the cooling ceiling and/or a suspended cooling panel so that condensation is prevented on the cooling ceiling.   
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising
 operating the air cooling and dehumidifying module and/or the cooling ceiling and/or a suspended cooling panel as a function of a target function of achieving minimum exergy at optimum room air conditioning and/or thermal comfort, and   regulating the power of the air cooling and dehumidifying module and/or the cooling ceiling and/or a suspended cooling panel as a function of the target function of achieving minimum exergy at optimum room air conditioning and/or thermal comfort.   
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claims 26 , further comprising
 connecting the cooling ceiling and/or a suspended cooling panel downstream of the air cooling and dehumidifying module at a water end, and   corresponding a cold water return from the air cooling and dehumidifying module to a cold water intake for the cooling ceiling or for the suspended cooling panel.   
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claims 26 , further comprising
 operating the air cooling and dehumidifying module in combination with other room cooling surfaces, an output of which can be automatically regulated and/or controlled, for example flat room dividers or wall surfaces, in addition to or instead of cooling ceilings.