Enthalpy-exchanging unit for reducing the influence of surface tension, enthalpy exchanger and method for producing an enthalpy-exchanging unit

Abstract

Enthalpy-exchanging unit comprising at least one plate along whose at least one contact side a first flowable medium and a second medium can travel while exchanging enthalpy, and which enthalpy-exchanging unit comprises at least one hygroscopic material layer, which connects to at least one contact side, in contact with the first flowable medium, of the plate, wherein the mutual orientation of the plate and the material layer is such that a liquid film of the first medium can form between the plate and the material layer, wherein the liquid film is in enthalpy-exchanging contact with both the plate and the material layer, characterized in that the material layer is fastened to the plate with a plurality of seams, which extend substantially parallel to one another and are continuous, such that a plurality of channels separated from one another by the seams are formed over the contact side of the plate, with the aim of increasing the degree of spread of the first flowable medium over the contact side of the plate, and thus, on the one hand, reducing the influence of cohesion between the liquid molecules and the accompanying surface tension and, on the other hand, increasing the influence of the adhesion between the flowable medium and the plate, wherein an more even liquid supply without the use of nozzles is secured, by on the top side a supply unit provided with a porous, absorbent bed.

1 . An enthalpy-exchanging unit, comprising:
 at least one plate along whose at least one contact side a first flowable medium and a second medium can travel while exchanging enthalpy, and   at least one hygroscopic material layer, which connects to at least one contact side, in contact with the first flowable medium, of the plate,   wherein the mutual orientation of the plate and the material layer is such that a liquid film of the first medium can form between the plate and the material layer, wherein the liquid film is in enthalpy-exchanging contact with both the plate and the material layer, and wherein   the material layer is fastened to the plate with a plurality of seams, which extend substantially parallel to one another, are continuous, and are arranged at a centre-to-centre distance apart, such that a plurality of channels separated from one another by the seams are formed over the contact side of the plate.   
     
     
         2 . The enthalpy-exchanging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a peripheral margin whereto the seams extend in the longitudinal direction at at least one end. 
     
     
         3 . The enthalpy-exchanging unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the seams extend in the longitudinal direction at one end up to a certain distance away from the peripheral margin of the plate, wherein the distance preferably conforms to the centre-to-centre distance between the seams. 
     
     
         4 . The enthalpy-exchanging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the seams bind merely the surface of the plate-facing side of the material layer to the plate, wherein the seams only partially penetrate the material layer. 
     
     
         5 . The enthalpy-exchanging unit according to  claim 1  wherein the plate is made of a plastic, preferably a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The enthalpy-exchanging unit according to  claim 1  wherein the centre-to-centre distance between the seams is between 30 and 80 mm and preferably between 40 and 60 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The enthalpy-exchanging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the centre-to-centre distance between the seams is between 30 and 80 mm and preferably between 30 and 50 mm, wherein the centre-to-centre distance between the seams for seam pairs which during use succeed one another in the gravitational direction decreases. 
     
     
         8 . The enthalpy-exchanging unit according to  claim 1  wherein the seams in the longitudinal direction, and preferably in the middle between their respective ends, comprise at least one interruption, wherein the total interruption is appreciably smaller than the total length of the seam. 
     
     
         9 . The enthalpy-exchanging unit according to  claim 1  further comprising seams extending at right angles to one another. 
     
     
         10 . Enthalpy exchanger comprising at least one enthalpy-exchanging unit according  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The enthalpy exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein above a side, defined in correct usage as the top side, of the at least one enthalpy-exchanging unit is arranged a liquid supply unit for supplying the first flowable medium between the plate and the material layer under the effect of gravity. 
     
     
         12 . The enthalpy exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the liquid supply unit comprises a porous, absorbent bed made of a plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The enthalpy exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the seams extend in the longitudinal direction at one end to a part, facing the liquid supply unit, of the peripheral margin of the plate. 
     
     
         14 . The enthalpy exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein the seams extend substantially in the gravitational direction, such that the first flowable medium, under the effect of gravity, can travel downwards through the plurality of channels separated from one another by the seams. 
     
     
         15 . The enthalpy exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the seams extend, in correct usage of the enthalpy exchanger, in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
         16 . The enthalpy exchanger according to  claim 15 , wherein the seams extend in the longitudinal direction at a first end, in turns, to a first side of the peripheral margin of the plate, or a second side opposite the first side of the peripheral margin of the plate, wherein the seams extend in the longitudinal direction at a second end opposite the first end up to a certain distance from the peripheral margin of the plate. 
     
     
         17 . The enthalpy exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one enthalpy-exchanging unit at least partially delimits at least one passage for the feed-through of the second medium. 
     
     
         18 . The enthalpy exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one passage is at least partially delimited by that side of the enthalpy-exchanging unit which lies opposite the contact side in contact with the flowable medium. 
     
     
         19 . The enthalpy exchanger according to  claim 18 , wherein a fraction of the second medium, having passed through the at least one passage, is conducted along the hygroscopic material layer. 
     
     
         20 . A method for producing an enthalpy-exchanging unit according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 A) the positioning of at least one hygroscopic material layer relative to at least one plate,   B) the connection of the at least one hygroscopic material layer and the at least one plate through the simultaneous arrangement of continuous seams, extending substantially parallel to one another, between the at least one hygroscopic material layer and the at least one plate.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the seams are formed by a connection technique chosen from the group comprising welding, gluing or stitching. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein, during step B), the seams are merely connected to the surface of the plate-facing side of the material layer, wherein the seams only partially penetrate the material layer.