Liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger

Abstract

An energy exchanger is provided. The exchanger includes a housing having a front and a back. A plurality of panels forming desiccant channels extend from the front to the back of the housing. Air channels are formed between adjacent panels. The air channels are configured to direct an air stream in a direction from the front of the housing to the back of the housing. A desiccant inlet is provided in flow communication with the desiccant channels. A desiccant outlet is provided in flow communication with the desiccant channels. The desiccant channels are configured to channel desiccant from the desiccant inlet to the desiccant outlet in at least one of a counter-flow or cross-flow direction with respect to the direction of the air stream.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An energy exchanger comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of panels forming liquid channels and air channels separated by at least one semi-permeable membrane, the air channels configured to direct an air stream through the housing;   a liquid inlet in flow communication with the liquid channels; and   a liquid outlet in flow communication with the liquid channels, the liquid channels configured to channel liquid from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet in at least one of a counter-flow or cross-flow direction with respect to the direction of the air stream to facilitate heat and water vapor transfer between the liquid in the liquid channels and the air stream in the air channels;   wherein the liquid inlet has an inlet length and the liquid channels each have a channel length, and wherein the inlet length and the channel length are selected to provide a predetermined ratio.   
     
     
         3 . The energy exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid channels are configured to channel the liquid from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet in the counter-flow direction with respect to the direction of the air stream. 
     
     
         4 . The energy exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined ratio is between 0.02 and 0.2. 
     
     
         5 . The energy exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid channels are configured to channel the liquid from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet in the cross-flow direction with respect to the direction of the air stream. 
     
     
         6 . The energy exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined ratio is between 0.5 and 1.0. 
     
     
         7 . The energy exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid inlet is offset from the liquid outlet along a direction of the air stream. 
     
     
         8 . The energy exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid flow channels are configured to direct the liquid along a flow path having a cross segment and a counter segment, the cross segment extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of the air stream, the counter segment extending in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of the air stream. 
     
     
         9 . The energy exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid flow channels are configured to direct the liquid along a flow path in a direction upstream with respect to a direction of the air stream. 
     
     
         10 . The energy exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid outlet has an outlet length equal to the inlet length. 
     
     
         11 . The energy exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid inlet extends through a bottom support of each of the plurality of panels, and wherein the liquid outlet extends through a top support of each of the plurality of panels, and wherein the liquid channels extend from a first side support to a second support, and wherein the top support, the bottom support, and the first and the second side supports are configured to retain the at least semi-permeable membrane. 
     
     
         12 . An energy exchanger comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of panels that extend from a base support to a top support and from a first side support to a second side support, and wherein the plurality of panels each form liquid channels and air channels separated by at least one semi-permeable membrane, the air channels configured to direct an air stream through the housing,   a liquid inlet that extends through the bottom support and is in flow communication with the liquid channels; and   a liquid outlet that extends through the top support and is in flow communication with the liquid channels, the liquid channels configured to channel liquid from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet in at least one of a counter-flow or cross-flow direction with respect to the direction of the air stream to facilitate heat and water vapor transfer between the liquid in the liquid channels and the air stream in the air channels;   wherein the liquid inlet has an inlet length and each of the plurality of panels have a panel length, and wherein the inlet length and the panel length are selected to provide a predetermined ratio.   
     
     
         13 . The energy exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid channels are configured to channel the liquid from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet in the counter-flow direction with respect to the direction of the air stream. 
     
     
         14 . The energy exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined ratio is between 0.02 and 0.2. 
     
     
         15 . The energy exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid channels are configured to channel the liquid from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet in the cross-flow direction with respect to the direction of the air stream. 
     
     
         16 . The energy exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined ratio is between 0.5 and 1.0. 
     
     
         17 . The energy exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid inlet is offset from the liquid outlet along a direction of the air stream. 
     
     
         18 . The energy exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid flows through the liquid channels along a non-linear flow path between the inlet and outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The energy exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid channels have an approximately constant liquid channel width through the housing and the air channels have an approximately constant air channel width through the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The energy exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid outlet has an outlet length equal to the inlet length. 
     
     
         21 . The energy exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the top support, the bottom support, and the first and the second side supports are configured to retain the at least one semi-permeable membrane.