How It All Works:
There are three parts to the DryKor liquid desiccant system. First, there is the collection operation. Here, a cool, concentrated salt (lithium chloride) solution is continually added to the top of the media (a honeycomb cellulose material), which forms a liquid film that flows down (or floods) the surface of the media.
As the stream of air flowing in from the outside, called process air, comes in contact with the cool concentrated solution, the air’s water molecules react with the lithium chloride solution and the air is cooled. The salt solution absorbs or collects the humidity and generates heat.
As a result, the air flowing out is drier and cooler than the air flowing in. This dry, cool air is then pumped into the air conditioning system for further cooling, if needed, before being delivered into the indoor space. The lithium chloride solution, as a result of the process, becomes warm and diluted.
Second, there is the heat exchange operation. Here, a portion of the solution is pumped through a filter and a heat exchanger. By using a heat pump, the heat created during the collection operation is transferred to the regeneration operation. The heat is necessary for the regeneration of the lithium chloride solution.
The third and final operation concerns regeneration. The regeneration operation is similar to the collection operation, except that the lithium chloride solution is now heated to remove the moisture previously collected. The heated diluted solution is continually added to the top of the media. As in the collection operation, the solution forms a liquid film that flows down or floods the surface of the media.
As a stream of air, called the scavenger airstream, passes through the media, the moisture and heat in the solution is released into the airstream and carried outside. As a result of the regeneration operation, the lithium chloride solution is restored to its original strength. It is then pumped back to the collection side and added to the top of the media. During the regeneration process, the solution passes through a washable filter, which removes the particles from the solution. Results of a study done by an independent industrial testing laboratory in Israel show that this technology removes 77% of airborne particles larger than 5 microns. An added benefit of this air-washing process is that the air supplied into the indoor environment has a natural, fresh quality free of smoke and odors.
Variant ideas so far...
Use a peltier & heatsinks for heat transfer from the conditioned side to the exhaust side instead of compressor & heat exchangers.
Researching cheap possibilities for dessicant mixture.
This could be built small much like a dual-bong with cullose-pads. Best of both worlds, your air remains nice and dry, you can evaporative cool on the hot-side (outside case), and since case is nice and dry, you can pelt like a mad man
Sealing case is important. When I come up with some spare $ I plan on building a variant of this, most of components will fit in case. Liquid out of case for hot-side to evaporative cool further. Should only need 4 120mm fan's to do the job.Has anyone come across this before?
Thoughts/Ideas appreciated...
