US 11,668,476 B2
Heat modulation dehumidification system
Weizhong Yu, Cottage Grove, WI (US); Steven S. Dingle, Madison, WI (US); Scott E. Sloan, Sun Prairie, WI (US); Todd R. DeMonte, Cottage Grove, WI (US); Grant M. Lorang, Lake Mills, WI (US); Timothy S. O'Brien, DeForest, WI (US); and David Treleven, Raleigh, NC (US)
Assigned to THERMA-STOR LLC, Madison, WI (US)
Filed by THERMA-STOR LLC, Madison, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/197,781.
Application 17/197,781 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/234,052, filed on Dec. 27, 2018, granted, now 10,955,148.
Application 16/234,052 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/460,772, filed on Mar. 16, 2017, granted, now 10,168,058, issued on Jan. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0190337 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. F24F 3/14 (2006.01); F25B 6/04 (2006.01); F25B 5/04 (2006.01); F24F 3/147 (2006.01); F25B 41/42 (2021.01); F25B 49/02 (2006.01); F25B 40/02 (2006.01)
CPC F24F 3/1405 (2013.01) [F24F 3/147 (2013.01); F25B 5/04 (2013.01); F25B 6/04 (2013.01); F25B 40/02 (2013.01); F25B 41/42 (2021.01); F25B 49/02 (2013.01); F25B 49/027 (2013.01); F24F 2003/1452 (2013.01); F25B 2345/003 (2013.01); F25B 2700/1332 (2013.01); F25B 2700/1353 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dehumidification system comprising:
a primary metering device;
a secondary metering device;
a secondary evaporator operable to:
receive a flow of refrigerant from the primary metering device; and
receive an inlet airflow and output a first airflow, the first airflow comprising cooler air than the inlet airflow, the first airflow generated by transferring heat from the inlet airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the inlet airflow passes through the secondary evaporator;
a primary evaporator operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the secondary metering device; and
receive the first airflow and output a second airflow, the second airflow comprising cooler air than the first airflow, the second airflow generated by transferring heat from the first airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the first airflow passes through the primary evaporator;
a secondary condenser operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the secondary evaporator; and
receive the second airflow and output a third airflow, the third airflow comprising warmer and less humid air than the second airflow, the third airflow generated by transferring heat from the flow of refrigerant to the third airflow as the second airflow passes through the secondary condenser;
a compressor operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provide the flow of refrigerant to a modulating valve, the flow of refrigerant provided to the modulating valve comprising a higher pressure than the flow of refrigerant received at the compressor;
the modulating valve operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the compressor;
direct the flow of refrigerant to a primary condenser if the temperature of a dehumidified airflow output by the primary condenser does not exceed a pre-determined set point monitored by the dehumidification system;
direct at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant to an alternate condenser and direct a remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser if the temperature of the dehumidified airflow is greater than the pre-determined set point; and
direct the at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant back to the primary condenser if the temperature of the dehumidified airflow decreases to a value lower than or equal to the pre-determined set point;
the primary condenser operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the modulating valve if the temperature of the dehumidified airflow does not exceed the pre-determined set point;
in response to the temperature of the dehumidified airflow exceeding the pre-determined set point, receive the remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant; and
receive a fourth airflow and output the dehumidified airflow, the dehumidified airflow generated by transferring heat from the refrigerant to the fourth airflow as the fourth airflow contacts the primary condenser; and
the alternate condenser, wherein the alternate condenser is disposed in an external condenser unit, operable to:
receive the at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant from the modulating valve if the temperature of the dehumidified airflow is greater than the pre-determined set point; and
transfer heat away from the flow of refrigerant received by the modulating valve.