Liquid panel assembly

Abstract

A liquid panel assembly configured to be used with an energy exchanger may include a support frame having one or more fluid circuits and at least one membrane secured to the support frame. Each of the fluid circuits may include an inlet channel connected to an outlet channel through one or more flow passages. A liquid is configured to flow through the fluid circuits and contact interior surfaces of the membrane(s). The fluid circuits are configured to at least partially offset liquid hydrostatic pressure with friction loss of the liquid flowing within the fluid circuits to minimize, eliminate, or otherwise reduce pressure within the liquid panel assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid panel assembly for a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger, the liquid panel assembly comprising:
 a support frame having a plurality of liquid circuits through which a liquid is configured to flow, each of the liquid circuits comprising an inlet channel connected to an outlet channel through a plurality of flow passages; and   first and second semi-permeable membranes secured to first and second sides of the support frame and enclosing the plurality of liquid circuits,   wherein the plurality of liquid circuits are fluidically isolated from one another.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of liquid circuits is configured to at least partially offset hydrostatic pressure gain with friction pressure loss of the liquid that flows within the liquid circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more flow passages comprises one or more counterflow passages. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a shape, porosity, or hydraulic diameter of one or both of the inlet and the outlet channels is determined by a weight, viscosity, or flow speed of the liquid that is configured to flow through the plurality of liquid circuits. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a liquid inlet of the inlet channel is disposed at an upper corner of the support frame, and a liquid outlet of the outlet channel is disposed at a lower corner of the support frame, and wherein the upper corner is diagonally located with respect to the lower corner. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the inlet and the outlet channels provide a flow alignment vane configured to direct the liquid to flow along a particular path. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and the outlet channels are configured to provide support to the first and the second semi-permeable membranes, and wherein the inlet and the outlet channels are configured to provide a sealing surface for at least a portion of the first and the second semi-permeable membranes. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and the outlet channels are vertical and the plurality of flow passages are horizontal. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a horizontal length of the plurality of flow passages exceeds half a horizontal length of the support frame. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of liquid circuits comprises:
 a first plurality of flow passages connected to a first inlet channel and a first outlet channel; and   a second plurality of flow passages connected to a second inlet channel and a second outlet channel, and   wherein the first plurality of flow passages is staggered with respect to the second plurality of flow passages.   
     
     
         11 . A liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger comprising a plurality of the liquid panel assemblies of  claim 1 , wherein the exchanger is configured to exchange energy between air transmitted through the air channels and a liquid transmitted through the liquid panel assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein each of the support frames of each of the plurality of liquid panel assemblies comprise an inlet member and an outlet member, both of which are connected to the plurality of liquid circuits. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein each inlet member and each outlet member are integral to each respective support frame. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the inlet members of the support frames are configured to modularly engage one another, and wherein the outlet members of the support frames are configured to modularly engage one another. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the inlet members modularly engaged to one another to form an inlet manifold through which the liquid is configured to enter the plurality of liquid circuits of each of the support frames, and wherein the outlet members modularly engaged to one another to form an outlet manifold through which the liquid is configured to exit the plurality of liquid circuits of each of the support frames.