Flexible heat and moisture transfer system

Abstract

A heat and moisture transfer system may include a flexible heat and moisture exchanger in fluid communication with an environment control unit and an enclosed space. The flexible heat and moisture exchanger may include at least one flexible water vapor-permeable membrane, and may be configured to pass air streams simultaneously in different directions in adjacent subchannels formed by the membrane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of exchanging heat and moisture between a human-occupied enclosure and an external environment, comprising:
 providing a flexible heat and moisture exchanger including:
 a flexible shell enclosing an interior channel; and 
 a flexible, water vapor-permeable barrier disposed within the interior channel, the barrier partitioning the interior channel into first and second subchannels; 
   laying the heat and moisture exchanger over the enclosure so that the exchanger conforms to a top surface of the enclosure;   drawing supply air from the external environment into the first subchannel;   transporting the supply air through the first subchannel toward an air conditioning unit;   conditioning the supply air with the air conditioning unit by cooling and dehumidifying the supply air;   pumping the conditioned supply air into the enclosure;   expelling exhaust air from the enclosure into the second subchannel; and   transporting the exhaust air through the second subchannel toward the external environment, such that heat and moisture are transferred to the exhaust air from the supply air through the barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the enclosure is non-planar. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is a tent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is a portable shelter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is a house. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure has a curved roof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure has a peaked roof. 
     
     
         8 . A method of exchanging heat and moisture between an equipment shed and an external environment, comprising:
 providing a flexible heat and moisture exchanger including:
 a flexible shell enclosing an interior channel; and 
 a flexible barrier disposed within the interior channel, the barrier partitioning the interior channel into first and second subchannels; 
   laying the heat and moisture exchanger over the equipment shed so that the exchanger conforms to a top surface of the shed;   drawing supply air from the external environment into the first subchannel;   transporting the supply air through the first subchannel toward an air conditioning unit;   conditioning the supply air with the air conditioning unit by cooling and dehumidifying the supply air;   pumping the conditioned supply air into the shed;   expelling exhaust air from the shed into the second subchannel; and   transporting the exhaust air through the second subchannel toward the external environment, such that heat and moisture are transferred to the exhaust air from the supply air through the barrier.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the shed contains electronic equipment in a cooled environment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the shed contains vehicles. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the shed is collapsible and portable. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the barrier is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to principal constituent gases of air. 
     
     
         13 . A method of cooling a portable shelter, comprising:
 providing a flexible heat exchanger including:
 a flexible shell enclosing an interior channel; and 
 a flexible barrier, substantially impermeable to principal constituent gases of air, disposed within the interior channel, the barrier partitioning the interior channel into first and second subchannels; 
   laying the heat exchanger over the shelter so that the exchanger conforms to a top surface of the shelter;   drawing supply air from an external environment into the first subchannel;   transporting the supply air through the first subchannel toward an air conditioning unit;   cooling the supply air with the air conditioning unit;   pumping the supply air from the air conditioning unit into the shelter;   expelling exhaust air from the shelter into the second subchannel; and   transporting the exhaust air through the second subchannel toward the external environment, such that heat is transferred to the exhaust air from the supply air through the barrier.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the portable shelter is a tent. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the portable shelter is a shed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the portable shelter is human-occupied. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the portable shelter houses equipment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the barrier is permeable to water vapor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the top surface of the shelter is non-planar. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising assembling the exchanger from a portable collapsed configuration into an operational configuration.