Rooftop air conditioning unit

Abstract

A rooftop air conditioning unit (RTU) is disclosed. The RTU comprises an absorber configured in a supply airstream, and a desorber configured in a regeneration airstream, wherein the desorber is fluidically connected to the absorber via a liquid desiccant system. The RTU further comprises a first heat exchanger configured upstream of the absorber in the supply airstream, a second heat exchanger configured upstream of the desorber in the regeneration airstream, and a third heat exchanger configured downstream of the absorber in the supply airstream, wherein the first heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger are fluidically connected to the second heat exchanger via a vapor compression system.

1 . A rooftop air conditioning unit (RTU) comprising:
 an absorber configured in a supply airstream;   a desorber configured in a regeneration airstream, wherein the desorber is fluidically connected to the absorber via a liquid desiccant system;   a first heat exchanger configured upstream of the absorber in the supply airstream;   a second heat exchanger configured upstream of the desorber in the regeneration airstream; and   a third heat exchanger configured downstream of the absorber in the supply airstream, wherein the first heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger are fluidically connected to the second heat exchanger via a vapor compression system.   
     
     
         2 . The RTU of  claim 1 , wherein the RTU is configured to operate one or more of the first heat exchanger, the second first heat exchanger, and the third heat exchanger with the RTU as a condenser and/or an evaporator to adjust temperature and humidity of the supply airstream, downstream of the absorber, at predefined values. 
     
     
         3 . The RTU of  claim 2 , when the supply airstream is to be cooled to provide the airstream of the predefined values downstream of the absorber, the first heat exchanger and/or the third heat exchanger is operated as the evaporator, and the second heat exchanger is operated as the condenser to reject heat of the supply airstream into the regeneration airstream. 
     
     
         4 . The RTU of  claim 1 , wherein the RTU comprises one or more passive heat transfer systems fluidically configured between the supply air stream and the return air stream, and/or between the supply airstream and the regeneration airstream. 
     
     
         5 . The RTU of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more passive heat transfer systems comprises enthalpy wheels and/or recirculated fluid loop. 
     
     
         6 . The RTU of  claim 1 , wherein the RTU is adapted to be configured at an area of interest (AOI) to supply the airstream having the predefined values of the temperature and humidity at the AOI, and further receive the return airstream from the AOI. 
     
     
         7 . The RTU of  claim 6 , wherein the RTU comprises a controller that is configured to:
 receive a set of instructions pertaining to the predefined values of the airstream to be supplied at the AOI; and   control operation of one or more of the heat exchangers associated with the system to supply the airstream having the predefined values of the temperature and humidity to the AOI.   
     
     
         8 . A rooftop air conditioning unit (RTU) comprising:
 a first heat exchanger configured downstream of an absorber in a supply airstream,   a second heat exchanger configured downstream of a desorber in a regeneration airstream; and   a third heat exchanger configured in a return airstream, wherein the first heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the second heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger via a first vapor compression system.   
     
     
         9 . The RTU of  claim 8 , wherein the RTU comprises:
 a fourth heat exchanger configured upstream of the absorber in the supply airstream; and   a fifth heat exchanger configured upstream of the desorber in the regeneration airstream, wherein the fourth heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the fifth heat exchanger via a second vapor compression system, and   wherein the absorber is fluidically connected to the absorber via a liquid desiccant system.   
     
     
         10 . The RTU of  claim 8 , wherein the RTU comprises:
 a fourth heat exchanger configured upstream of the absorber in the supply airstream; and   a fifth heat exchanger configured upstream of the desorber in the regeneration airstream, wherein the first heat exchanger, and the fourth heat exchanger are fluidically connected to the second heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, and the fifth heat exchanger via the first vapor compression system, and   wherein the absorber is fluidically connected to the desorber via a liquid desiccant system.   
     
     
         11 . The RTU of  claim 8 , wherein the RTU comprises:
 a fourth heat exchanger configured upstream of the absorber in the supply airstream; and   a fifth heat exchanger configured upstream of the desorber in the regeneration airstream, wherein the second heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, and the fourth heat exchanger are fluidically connected to the first heat exchanger, and the fourth heat exchanger via the first vapor compression system, and   wherein the absorber is fluidically connected to the desorber via a liquid desiccant system.   
     
     
         12 . The RTU of  claim 8 , wherein the RTU is configured to operate one or more of the heat exchangers associated with the RTU as a condenser and/or an evaporator to adjust the temperature and humidity of the supply airstream at predefined values. 
     
     
         13 . The RTU of  claim 8 , wherein when the supply airstream downstream of the absorber is to be cooled to provide the airstream of the predefined values, the first heat exchanger is operated as an evaporator, and the second heat exchanger and/or the third heat exchanger are operated as a condenser to reject heat of the supply airstream into the regeneration airstream and/or the return airstream. 
     
     
         14 . The RTU of  claim 8 , wherein when the supply airstream downstream of the absorber is to be heated to provide the airstream of the predefined values, the first heat exchanger is operated as a condenser, and the second heat exchanger and/or the third heat exchanger are operated as an evaporator to supply heat from the regeneration airstream and/or the return airstream into the supply airstream. 
     
     
         15 . The RTU of  claim 9 , wherein when the supply airstream downstream of the absorber is to be cooled to provide the airstream of the predefined values, the first heat exchanger and the fourth heat exchanger are operated as an evaporator, and one or more of the second heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, and the fifth heat exchanger are operated as a condenser to reject heat of the supply airstream into the regeneration airstream and/or the return airstream. 
     
     
         16 . The RTU of  claim 9 , wherein when the supply airstream downstream of the absorber is to be heated to provide the airstream of the predefined values downstream of the absorber, the first heat exchanger, and the fifth heat exchanger are operated as a condenser, and one or more of the second heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, and the fourth heat exchanger are operated as an evaporator to supply heat from the regeneration airstream and/or the return airstream into the supply airstream. 
     
     
         17 . The RTU of  claim 8 , wherein the RTU comprises one or more passive heat transfer systems fluidically configured between the supply air stream and the return air stream, and/or between the supply airstream and the regeneration airstream. 
     
     
         18 . The RTU of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more passive heat transfer systems comprises enthalpy wheels and/or recirculated fluid loop. 
     
     
         19 . The RTU of  claim 8 , wherein the RTU is adapted to be configured at an area of interest (AOI) to supply the airstream having predefined values of the temperature and humidity at the AOI, and further receive the return airstream from the AOI. 
     
     
         20 . The RTU of  claim 19 , wherein the RTU comprises a controller that is configured to:
 receive a set of instructions pertaining to the predefined values of the airstream to be supplied at the AOI; and   control operation of one or more of the heat exchangers associated with the system to supply the airstream having the predefined values of the temperature and humidity to the AOI.