Compressorless air conditioning system

Abstract

According to various aspects, the present disclosure provides an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system can be a compressorless air conditioning system. According to at least one aspect, the air conditioning system can include a heat-to-mass extractor and a mass-to-heat converter. The heat-to-mass extractor can be configured to extract moisture from air in a conditioned space without increasing the temperature of the air. The heat-to-mass extractor can include a liquid desiccant, a collector, and a regenerator. The regenerator and the collector can be fluidically coupled via the liquid desiccant. The mass-to-heat converter can be configured to reduce a temperature of the air in the conditioned space via the evaporation of water and can be physically disconnected from the heat-to-mass extractor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressorless air conditioning system, comprising:
 a heat-to-mass extractor configured to extract moisture from air in a conditioned space without increasing the temperature of the air, the heat-to-mass extractor comprising:
 a liquid 
 desiccant; a 
 collector; and 
 a regenerator, wherein the regenerator and the collector are fluidically coupled via the liquid desiccant; 
   a mass-to-heat converter configured to reduce a temperature of the air in the conditioned space via evaporation of water, wherein the mass-to-heat converter is physically disconnected from the heat-to-mass extractor; and   a control system communicably coupled with the heat-to-mass extractor and the mass-to-heat converter.   
     
     
         2 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is wirelessly coupled with the heat-to-mass extractor and the mass-to-heat converter. 
     
     
         3 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressorless air conditioning system comprises a ductless air conditioning system. 
     
     
         4 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid desiccant is configured to purify air in the conditioned space. 
     
     
         5 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of heat-to-mass extractors. 
     
     
         6 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of mass-to-heat converters. 
     
     
         7 . A compressorless air conditioning system, comprising:
 a heat-to-mass extractor configured to utilize a liquid desiccant to control humidity in a conditioned space, wherein the heat-to-mass extractor utilizes low grade heat as a source of energy;   a mass-to-heat converter configured to utilize water to control temperature in the conditioned space; and   a control system communicably coupled with the heat-to-mass extractor and the mass-to-heat converter.   
     
     
         8 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 7 , wherein the low-grade heat is associated with one of the following:
 a solar thermal   collector; an   industrial process;   a geothermal system;   and a hot water system.   
     
     
         9 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 7 , wherein the mass-to-heat converter is physically disconnected from the heat-to-mass extractor. 
     
     
         10 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 7 , wherein the compressorless air conditioning system is a ductless air conditioning system. 
     
     
         11 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid desiccant is configured to purify air in the conditioned space. 
     
     
         12 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of heat-to-mass extractors. 
     
     
         13 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of mass-to-heat converters. 
     
     
         14 . A compressorless air conditioning system, comprising:
 a heat-to-mass extractor configured to utilize a liquid desiccant to purify air in a conditioned space;   a mass-to-heat converter configured to reduce a temperature of the air in the conditioned space via evaporation of water, wherein the mass-to-heat converter is physically disconnected from the heat-to-mass extractor; and   a control system wirelessly coupled with the heat-to-mass extractor and the mass-to-heat converter.   
     
     
         15 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid desiccant comprises a first liquid desiccant at a first concentration, wherein the mass-to-heat converter comprises a second liquid desiccant at a second concentration to further purify air in the conditioned space, and wherein the second concentration is less than the first concentration. 
     
     
         16 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of heat-to-mass extractors. 
     
     
         17 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of mass-to-heat converters. 
     
     
         18 . A compressorless air conditioning system, comprising:
 a heat-to-mass extractor configured to utilize a liquid desiccant to extract moisture from air in a conditioned space;   a mass-to-heat converter configured to utilize water to reduce a temperature of the air in the conditioned space; and   a control system comprising:
 a humidistat coupled to the heat-to-mass extractor; and 
 a thermostat coupled to the mass-to-heat converter, wherein the compressorless air conditioning system is a ductless air conditioning system. 
   
     
     
         19 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 18 , wherein the heat-to-mass extractor and the mass-to-heat converter are physically uncoupled. 
     
     
         20 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 air output from the mass-to-heat converter mixes with air in the conditioned space;   and air output from the heat-to-mass extractor mixes with the air in the conditioned space.   
     
     
         21 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of heat-to-mass extractors. 
     
     
         22 . The compressorless air conditioning system of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of mass-to-heat converters. 
     
     
         23 . An air conditioning system, comprising:
 an extractor configured to move moisture between a conditioned space and an external space, the extractor comprising:
 a liquid 
 desiccant; a 
 collector; and 
 a regenerator, wherein the regenerator comprises a compressor, and wherein the regenerator and the collector are fluidically coupled via the liquid desiccant; 
   a converter positioned in the conditioned space and physically disconnected from the extractor; and   a control system communicably coupled with the extractor and the converter.   
     
     
         24 . The air conditioning system of  claim 23 , wherein the regenerator further comprises a heat exchanger coupled with the compressor. 
     
     
         25 . The air conditioning system of  claim 23 , wherein the compressor is thermally coupled with the liquid desiccant. 
     
     
         26 . The air conditioning system of  claim 23 , wherein the converter is configured for evaporative cooling, the converter comprising:
 media;   a sump configured to hold water;   a pump configured to pump the water from the sump to the media, wherein the water flows over the media and returns to the sump;   a compartment configured to hold air, wherein the compartment comprises an inlet and an outlet;   a fan configured to draw air from the conditioned space into the compartment through the inlet and force air out of the compartment to the conditioned space through the outlet;   means for chlorinating the water; and   a carbon filter positioned to collect chlorine from the air moving through the outlet.   
     
     
         27 . The air conditioning system of  claim 26 , wherein the means for chlorinating water comprises an electrolyzer. 
     
     
         28 . An air conditioning system, comprising:
 a regenerator positioned in an external environment;   a split collector spanning a conditioned environment and the external environment;   a first sump associated with the split collector and at least partially positioned in the conditioned environment;   a second sump associated with the regenerator and positioned in the external environment;   liquid desiccant; and   a plurality of separate and discrete tubes extending between the first sump and the second sump, wherein the plurality of tubes comprises:
 a supply tube; 
 a return tube; and 
 a balancing tube configured to equalize fluid levels between the first sump and the second sump. 
   
     
     
         29 . A water evaporator, comprising:
 media;   a sump configured to hold water;   a pump configured to pump the water from the sump to the media, wherein the water flows over the media and returns to the sump;   a fan configured to force air across the media;   means for chlorinating the water; and   a carbon filter positioned to collect chlorine from air after the air is forced across the media.   
     
     
         30 . The water evaporator of  claim 29 , wherein the means for chlorinating the water comprises an electrolyzer.