US 12,320,545 B2
Serial superheat control for a dehumidification system
Scott E. Sloan, Sun Prairie, WI (US); Weizhong Yu, Cottage Grove, WI (US); Steven S. Dingle, Madison, WI (US); Todd R. DeMonte, Sun Prairie, WI (US); Grant M. Lorang, Cottage Grove, WI (US); and Timothy S. O'Brien, DeForest, WI (US)
Assigned to THERMA-STOR LLC, Madison, WI (US)
Filed by THERMA-STOR LLC, Madison, WI (US)
Filed on Apr. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/305,642.
Application 18/305,642 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/197,781, filed on Mar. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,668,476.
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, issued on Mar. 23, 2021.
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 2023/0258345 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. F24F 3/153 (2006.01); F24F 11/84 (2018.01)
CPC F24F 3/153 (2013.01) [F24F 11/84 (2018.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dehumidification system comprising:
a primary metering device;
a secondary metering device;
a superheat control evaporator operable to:
receive a flow of refrigerant from a primary evaporator; 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 superheat control evaporator;
a secondary evaporator, disposed in series with the superheat control evaporator with reference to airflow in the dehumidification system, operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the primary 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 secondary evaporator;
a primary evaporator operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from a first modulating valve and/or a secondary condenser; and
receive the second airflow and output a third airflow, the third airflow comprising cooler air than the second airflow, the third airflow generated by transferring heat from the second airflow to the flow of refrigerant as the second airflow passes through the primary evaporator;
the secondary condenser operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the first modulating valve; and
receive the third airflow and output a fourth airflow;
the first modulating valve operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the secondary evaporator;
direct the flow of refrigerant to the secondary condenser during a first mode of operation;
direct the flow of refrigerant to the primary evaporator during a second mode of operation, wherein the flow of refrigerant bypasses the secondary condenser; and
direct a portion of the flow of refrigerant to the secondary condenser and a remaining portion of the flow of refrigerant to the primary evaporator during a third mode of operation;
a compressor configured to:
receive the flow of refrigerant from the superheat control evaporator and discharge the flow of refrigerant at a higher pressure than the flow of refrigerant received at the compressor; and
a primary condenser operable to:
receive the flow of refrigerant discharged from the compressor;
in response to receiving the flow of refrigerant from the compressor, output a dischargeable airflow in conjunction with a fan.