Desiccant cooling system with evaporative cooling

Claim 1

A closed loop process for treatment of a process air stream for generation of both a chilled water supply and a chilled air supply, said process comprising the steps of: (a) initially contacting the process air stream with a desiccant in a desiccant module to remove moisture from the process air stream resulting in a dried process air stream; (b) directing the dried process air stream to an initial air-to-water heat exchanger to sensibly cool the process air stream, said initial air-to-water heat exchanger being in communication with cooling water from a cooling tower; (c) directing the process air exiting the initial heat exchanger through successive heat exchangers to further gradually cool the process air stream, said successive heat exchangers being provided cooling water from an air washer; (d) directing the process air stream discharged from the said successive heat exchangers to the said air washer to contact and chill the fluid therein, said chilled fluid collecting in a sump in said air washer; (e) directing a part of the chilled fluid from the sump of the air washer to said successive heat exchanges and a part to a secondary heat exchanger for remote use in a closed loop; and (f) redirecting at least a part of air from the air washer to said desiccant module as part of the process air stream.