Desiccant assembly, system provided with such an assembly, kit for assembling the same, and corresponding methods of manufacturing, assembling and operating associated thereto

Abstract

A desiccant assembly (1) for processing an air flow (3) of a ventilation system (201). The desiccant assembly (1) includes at least one desiccant panel (5) having a pair of first and second opposite processing surfaces (5a, 5b) disposed about a main containment body (5c), the containment body (5c) having a containment volume (5d) for receiving a plurality of inner desiccant elements (7), the plurality of inner desiccant elements (7) being contained inside the containment volume (5d) of the containment body (5c) of the at least one desiccant panel (5), and being positioned, shaped and sized inside the containment volume (5d) of the containment body (5c) of the at least one desiccant panel (5), for interacting with the air flow (3) of the ventilation system (201) to be processed, and allowed to pass through said inner desiccant elements (7) of the at least one desiccant panel (5).

1 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) for processing an air flow ( 3 ) of a ventilation system ( 201 ), the desiccant assembly ( 1 ) comprising:
 at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) having a pair of first and second opposite processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) disposed about a main containment body ( 5   c ), said containment body ( 5   c ) having a containment volume ( 5   d ) for receiving a plurality of inner desiccant elements ( 7 ), said plurality of inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) being contained inside the containment volume ( 5   d ) of the containment body ( 5   c ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ), and being positioned, shaped and sized inside the containment volume ( 5   d ) of the containment body ( 5   c ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ), for interacting with the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed, and allowed to pass through said inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ); and   a supporting component ( 9 ) for receiving and supporting the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ), and for operatively placing said at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) in a fluid passageway of the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed.   
     
     
         2 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first processing surface ( 5   a ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) has a surface area being substantially equivalent to a corresponding surface area of the second processing surface ( 5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 );
 wherein the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are substantially parallel to one another; and   wherein the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are substantially rectangular.   
     
     
         3 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are provided by corresponding constituting frontward and rearward plates of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 );
 wherein the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) is made of at least first and second shell components ( 51 ,  52 ) being assembled onto one another so as define the main containment body ( 5   c ) and associated containment volume ( 5   d ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) for receiving and containing the plurality of inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) therein; and   wherein the first and second shell components ( 51 ,  52 ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) include overlapping side tabs ( 5   e ) being assembled onto one another via corresponding fasteners.   
     
     
         4 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) is substantially V-shaped, and wherein the first and second shell components ( 51 ,  52 ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are respectively complementary outer and inner shell components of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ). 
     
     
         5 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) is in the form of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and wherein the first and second shell components ( 51 ,  52 ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are respectively opposite top and bottom shell components of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ). 
     
     
         6 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) include orifices ( 5   o ), so to as be perforated, for allowing the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed, to pass through corresponding orifices ( 5   o ) of said first and second perforated processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ). 
     
     
         7 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) has a total surface area being made up of both a perforated surface area and a closed-off surface area, and wherein the perforated surface area represents at least 20% approximately of the total surface area of each processing surface of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ). 
     
     
         8 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are placed at an operating angle (θ) with respect to an imaginary longitudinal axis of the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed, so as to expose the air flow ( 3 ) to an increased effective total processing surface area. 
     
     
         9 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are each provided by a substantially rigid sheet-material being part of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 );
 wherein the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are both provided by a same constituting material of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 );   wherein the first processing surface ( 5   a ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) is integral to the second processing surface ( 5   b ) of said at least one desiccant panel ( 5 );   wherein the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are made of a substantially metallic material; and   wherein the substantially metallic material includes a metallic component selected from a group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel and galvanized steel.   
     
     
         10 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , the desiccant assembly ( 1 ) includes at least one of the following:
 wherein the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) includes a plurality of desiccant panels ( 5 ), and wherein each corresponding desiccant panel ( 5 ) is placed at an operating angle (θ) with respect to a corresponding imaginary longitudinal axis of the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed, so as to expose the air flow ( 3 ) to an increased effective total processing surface area;   wherein the plurality of desiccant panels ( 5 ) form an arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ) with alternating operating angles with respect to different imaginary longitudinal axes of the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed;   wherein the alternating operating angles include operating angles that are substantially constant in nominal value within the arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ), from one alternating angle (θ) being defined between an imaginary longitudinal axis with respect to its associated desiccated panel ( 5 ), to another alternating angle (θ) being defined between another imaginary longitudinal axis with respect to its associated desiccated panel ( 5 ); and   wherein the alternating operating angles include operating angles (θ) that are substantially variable in nominal value within the arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ), from one alternating angle (θ) being defined between an imaginary longitudinal axis with respect to its associated desiccated panel ( 5 ), to another alternating angle (θ) being defined between another imaginary longitudinal axis with respect to its associated desiccated panel ( 5 ).   
     
     
         11 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ) includes either a substantially V-shaped arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ); a substantially W-shaped arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ); and/or a substantially zigzag-shaped arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ). 
     
     
         12 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the desiccant assembly ( 1 ) includes at least one of the following:
 wherein the arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ) includes a first series of slanted desiccant panels ( 5 ) being operatively connectable to one another;   wherein the arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ) includes a first series of slanted desiccant panels ( 5 ) being separate from one another;   wherein the desiccant panels ( 5 ) of the first series of slanted desiccant panels ( 5 ) are substantially parallel to one another;   wherein the arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ) includes a second series of slanted desiccant panels ( 5 ) being operatively connectable to one another;   wherein the desiccant panels ( 5 ) of the second series of slanted desiccant panels ( 5 ) are further operatively connectable to the desiccant panels ( 5 ) of the first series of slanted desiccant panels ( 5 );   wherein the arrangement of desiccant panels ( 5 ) includes a second series of slanted desiccant panels ( 5 ) being separate from one another;   wherein the desiccant panels ( 5 ) of the second series of slanted desiccant panels ( 5 ) are substantially parallel to one another; and   wherein a given pair of neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 ) is operatively connectable to one another via at least one connecting component ( 13 ).   
     
     
         13 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) include orifices ( 13   o ), so to as be perforated, for allowing the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed, to pass through corresponding orifices ( 13   o ) of the at least one connecting component ( 13 ). 
     
     
         14 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) is integral to at least one of the neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 );
 wherein the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) is integral to both the neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 ); and/or   wherein the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) is separate to both the neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 ).   
     
     
         15 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) includes a substantially U-shaped bracket, and is further positioned, shaped and sized for slidably receiving a corresponding peripheral edge of one desiccant panel ( 5 ) of the given pair of neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 ). 
     
     
         16 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein the desiccant assembly ( 1 ) includes at least one of the following:
 wherein the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) includes at least one first connecting component ( 13 ) having a rounded outer surface operatively interconnecting the first processing surface ( 5   a ) of one desiccant panel ( 5 ) of the pair of neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 ) to the first processing surface ( 5   a ) of another desiccant panel ( 5 ) of the pair of neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 );   wherein the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) includes at least one second connecting component ( 13 ) having a rounded outer surface operatively interconnecting the second processing surface ( 5   b ) of one desiccant panel ( 5 ) of the pair of neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 ) to the second processing surface ( 5   b ) of another desiccant panel ( 5 ) of the pair of neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 );   wherein the at least one second connecting component ( 13 ) further includes a rounded inner surface operatively interconnecting the first processing surface ( 5   a ) of one desiccant panel ( 5 ) of the pair of neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 ) to the first processing surface ( 5   a ) of another desiccant panel ( 5 ) of the pair of neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 );   wherein the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) also includes a containment volume ( 5   d ) being provided with a plurality of inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) being positioned, shaped and sized inside said containment volume ( 5   d ) of the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) for interacting with the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed; and   wherein the containment volume ( 5   d ) and associated inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) of the at least one connecting component ( 13 ) are operatively connected to the containment volumes ( 5   d ) and associated inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) of the given pair of neighboring desiccant panels ( 5 ).   
     
     
         17 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of desiccant panels ( 5 ) are part of a corresponding desiccant cartridge ( 111 ) being positioned, shaped and sized to be removably insertable into a corresponding component of the ventilation system ( 201 );
 wherein the desiccant cartridge ( 111 ) includes a pair of distal side panels ( 9   a,    9   b ); and   wherein the desiccant cartridge ( 111 ) includes a pair of top and bottom plates ( 9   c,    9   d ), which along with the pair of distal side panels ( 9   a,    9   b ), define a substantially rectangular desiccant cartridge ( 111 ).   
     
     
         18 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the desiccant assembly ( 1 ) includes at least one of the following:
 wherein the inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) contained in the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) include desiccant particles;   wherein the inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) contained in the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) include molecular sieve beads having pores of about 3 Angstroms (3 Å) so as to selectively capture water molecules into said molecular sieve beads;   wherein the inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) contained in the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) include molecular sieve pellets having pores of about 3 Angstroms (3 Å) so as to selectively capture water molecules into said molecular sieve pellets;   wherein the inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) have a diameter ranging between about 3 mm and about 5 mm; and   wherein the inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) are made of silica gel.   
     
     
         19 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the desiccant assembly ( 1 ) includes at least one cross-sectional interface through which the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed is allowed to travel, and wherein a total surface area of one of the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) is about 2.5 times that of a total surface area of the at least one cross-sectional interface of the desiccant assembly ( 1 );
 wherein the desiccant assembly ( 1 ) includes opposite first and second cross-sectional interfaces through which the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed is allowed to travel along two opposite directions of air flow ( 3 ), and wherein a total surface area of the first processing surface ( 5   a ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) is about 2.5 times that of a total surface area of the first cross-sectional interface of the desiccant assembly ( 1 ), and wherein a total surface area of the second processing surface ( 5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) is about 2.5 times that of a total surface area of the second cross-sectional interface of the desiccant assembly ( 1 ); and   wherein the first and second processing surfaces ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) are positioned, shaped and sized for allowing a processing of the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) along the two opposite directions of air flow ( 3 ).   
     
     
         20 . A desiccant assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one desiccant panel ( 5 ) and associated inner desiccant elements ( 7 ) are positioned, shaped and sized with respect to one another so as to enable the air flow ( 3 ) of the ventilation system ( 201 ) to be processed to travel trough the desiccant assembly ( 1 ) at a speed of at least 100 feet/minute, and preferably, at a speed of at least 125 feet/minute, and more preferably, at a speed of at least 150 feet/minute.