Air conditioning process and apparatus therefor

Claim 1

A process for conditioning air comprising: contacting water containing air in an absorber with circulating absorption liquid comprising an aqueous salt solution to form diluted absorption liquid; heating at least a portion of said absorption liquid to its boiling point by indirect heat exchange with a heating fluid in an evaporator to form concentrated absorption liquid; condensing water vapor produced by heating said absorption liquid by indirect heat exchange in the evaporator with a cooling liquid in a condenser; utilizing as a cooling liquid in said condenser absorption liquid which is concentrated in said evaporator; causing air to flow through said condenser in contact with said absorption liquid to lower the water vapor pressure thereof; and recirculating said concentrated absorption liquid from said evaporator to said absorber.

Claim 8

An apparatus for conditioning air comprising: means for absorbing water from an air stream by contact with circulating absorption liquid; means for generating water vapor by vaporization of diluted absorption liquid comprising a first heat exchange element having a first and second heat exchange surface; said vaporization being conducted on said first surface of said first heat exchange element by addition of heat to said second surface of said first heat exchange element; means for generating a condensate by condensing water vapor comprising a second heat exchange element having a first and second heat exchange surface; said condensation taking place on said first surface of said second heat exchange element with transfer of heat to said absorption liquid on said second surface of said second heat exchange element; means in communication with said condenser means for introducing an air flow for causing vaporization of said absorption liquid by lowering the water vapor pressure thereof on said second surface of said second heat exchange element; first means for transferring absorption liquid from said condenser means to said evaporator means; second means for transferring water vapor from said evaporator means to said condenser means; third means for transferring absorption liquid from said evaporator means to said absorber means; and fourth means for transporting absorption liquid from said absorber means to said condenser means.

Claim 9

An apparatus for conditioning air comprising: means for absorbing water from an air stream by contact with circulating absorption liquid; means for generating water vapor by vaporization of diluted absorption liquid comprising a first heat exchange element having a first and second heat exchange surface; said vaporization being conducted on said first surface of said first heat exchange element by addition of heat to said second surface of said first heat exchange element; means for generating a condensate by condensing water vapor comprising a second heat exchange element having a first and second heat exchange surface; said condensation taking place on said first surface of said second heat exchange element with transfer of heat to said absorption liquid on said second surface of said second heat exchange element; means in communication with said condenser means for introducing an air flow for causing vaporization of said absorption liquid by lowering the water vapor pressure thereof on said second surface of said second heat exchange element; first means for transferring absorption liquid from said condenser means to said evaporator means; second means for transferring water vapor from said evaporator means to said condenser means; third means for transferring absorption liquid from said evaporator means to said absorber means; and fourth means for transporting absorption liquid from said absorber means to said condenser means.