Rotor for an Air Conditioning System with a Plurality of Sorbent Sections

The invention relates to air conditioning systems, equipment, and methods, particularly rotary based sorbent conditioning systems.

Air may be conditioned in a sorption process to remove various compounds from the air. Some such air conditioning systems use a sorbent to remove various molecules from an airstream to condition the airstream. The sorbents may be arranged in a rotor to rotate between various zones, such as a process zone where the sorbent removes molecules from process air flowing through the sorbent in the process zone and a regeneration zone where a regeneration airstream removes the molecules from the sorbent to regenerate the sorbent. One example is dehumidification, where the sorbent is a desiccant and the desiccant is used to remove water, such as water vapor, from the process air. Other sorbents may be used to target and remove other gases, including for example, carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

To prevent the moisture content of the process being conditioned from degrading the carbon-compound abatement process, the air can be directed through a dehumidifier prior to the carbon-compound abatement process. The air conditioning system can use, for example, two rotors in series. The first rotor (an upstream rotor) can include a desiccant as the sorbent to remove moisture from the air, and a second rotor (a downstream rotor) can be used for carbon-compound abatement. In this way, the air stream flowing to the downstream rotor can be maintained at optimal inlet conditions to maximize the carbon compound adsorption capacity of the diffusion sites on the rotor surfaces.

In one aspect, the invention relates to an air conditioning system for conditioning process air of a process air stream. The air conditioning system includes a rotor with a hydrophilic section and a hydrophobic section. The hydrophilic section has a hydrophilic sorbent and a hydrophilic process segment through which the process air stream is directed. The hydrophobic section has a hydrophobic sorbent and a hydrophobic process segment through which the process air stream is directed. The process air of the process air stream flows though the hydrophilic process segment in series with the hydrophobic process segment, and the process air flows through the hydrophilic process segment before the hydrophobic process segment.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an air conditioning system including a rotor. The rotor includes an inner core and an outer annulus. The inner core has an inner core process segment through which process air from a first process air stream is directed and an inner core regeneration segment through which regeneration air from a first regeneration air stream is directed. The inner core contains a sorbent that is rotatable between the inner core process segment and the inner core regeneration segment. The outer annulus has an outer annulus process segment through which process air from a second process air stream is directed and an outer annulus regeneration segment through which regeneration air from a second regeneration air stream is directed. The outer annulus contains a sorbent that is rotatable between the outer annulus process segment and the outer annulus regeneration segment. The outer annulus is arranged radially outward of the inner core and is rotatable independently from inner core.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are taken with respect to the flow of a fluid in a fluid pathway, such as, for example, the flow of process air in the air conditioning system.

As discussed above, air conditioning systems may include a rotor-based sorbent that is used to remove various molecules including carbon compounds from air. The air from which the carbon compounds are being removed is referred to herein as process air. Carbon abatement systems can use, for example, zeolite as the sorbent or amine-based sorbent systems. These sorbents can be hydrophobic, but excess moisture content in the process air can decrease the efficiency of carbon-compound removal. Without intending to be bound to any theory, this decrease in efficiency can result from condensation of the water in the air. Moisture in the process air may condense and this condensate occupies the adsorption sites of the carbon-compound sorbent, degrading the efficiency of the abatement process. Moisture loads on the sorbent media may form clusters around the adsorption sites, creating a diffusion block for abatement of carbon-compound molecules.

As noted above, the process air can be directed through a dehumidifier prior to the carbon-compound abatement process to prevent the moisture content of the process air from degrading the carbon-compound abatement process. With separate systems, units, or rotors for the dehumidification and then carbon abatement, these systems can be large and complex. The air conditioning systems discussed herein advantageously reduce the overall footprint and complexity of the air conditioning system by utilizing a single rotor with at least two different sorbent sections instead of two separate rotors or systems. This single rotor can be heated using a single airstream for both sorbent sections.

is a schematic of an air conditioning systemthat includes a sorption rotoraccording to a preferred embodiment. The air conditioning systemcan be used to condition air and, more specifically, as depicted in, remove carbon compounds from the air. The air being conditioned and from which the carbon compounds are being removed is referred to herein as process air, and the air conditioning systemincludes a process airflow. The air conditioning systemcan provide the conditioned air, as supply air, to a space, such as a room. The air being conditioned (i.e., the process air) can be drawn from various suitable sources including ambient air outside of the room or recirculated air (return air) from within the room. In another example, the process aircan be drawn from an industrial or commercial process, and after the carbon compounds are removed, the process airis exhausted to ambient. The air conditioning systemincludes a process air plenumthrough which the process airflows. The process airenters the process air plenumvia a process air inlet, flows through the process air plenum, where, as discussed in more detail below, the process airis dehumidified and the carbon-compounds are abated. After being conditioned, the process airthen flows out of the process air plenumvia a process air outlet.

The sorption rotorincludes a rotor axisabout which the sorption rotorrotates. The rotor axisdefines an axial direction A of the sorption rotor. The sorption rotoralso has a radial direction R, and a circumferential direction C. The radial direction R is perpendicular to the axial direction A and extends in a direction outward from the rotor axis. The circumferential direction C extends in a direction rotating about the rotor axis. The sorption rotoris a circular-cylindrical shape and, more specifically, disk shaped with a length in the axial direction, which is referred to herein as a thickness, that is much smaller than the diameter of the sorption rotor.

The sorption rotorincludes a plurality of sections, each containing a sorbent. The sorption rotorshown inincludes two sections, an inner coreand an outer annulus. One of these sections is a desiccant sectionhaving a desiccant as the sorbent. Suitable desiccants include, for example, titanium silica gel and lithium chloride. Such desiccants can be arranged in a porous structure through which air can flow. This porous structure can include, for example a honeycomb structure or other fluted structure including a plurality of flutes and a plurality of flow channels through which air can flow. The desiccant can be impregnated into these structures forming the flow channels or coated on the surfaces defining the flow channels.

A portion of the sorption rotoris located in the process air plenumand positioned to allow the process airto flow through the desiccant in the desiccant sectionof the sorption rotorlocated within the process air plenum. The portion of the process air plenumin which the desiccant is located is a dehumidification sectionof the air conditioning system, and the portion of the sorption rotorand, more specifically, the desiccant sectionthrough which the process airflows is referred to as the dehumidification process segment(or dehumidification process zone) of the sorption rotor. The process airflows through the dehumidification process segmentand moisture from the process airis adsorbed by the desiccant in the dehumidification process segment, dehumidifying the process air. In the dehumidification process segment(the dehumidification section), the surface vapor pressure of water of the desiccant is lower than the process airallowing the desiccant to adsorb moisture from the process air. The desiccant is a hydrophilic sorbent. The desiccant sectionthus may be referred to herein as a hydrophilic section, and the dehumidification process segmentis a hydrophilic process segmentthrough which process airof the process air stream is directed. The discussion of the dehumidification process segmentalso applies to the hydrophilic process segmentunless otherwise noted.

The second section of the sorption rotoris a carbon-abatement sectionhaving a sorbent that can adsorb carbon compounds. Such carbon compounds include, for example, VOCs, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, and ammonium carbonate. The sorbent is chosen based on the carbon compound being targeted, and to distinguish from the desiccant, this sorbent is referred to as a carbon-abatement sorbent. When carbon dioxide is being removed from the process air, for example, the carbon-abatement sorbent can be silicates, such as zeolite, polymeric sorbents and amines. Suitable polymeric sorbents include, but are not limited to, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylamine (PVA), poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinylimidazole) (PANVI), or mixtures thereof. Suitable amines include organic amines. Amine-based sorbents include, but are not limited to, polyethylenimine (PEI), aziridine, ethanolamine, monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), diglycolamine (DGA), methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), diisopropanolamine (DIPA), triethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine, pentaethylenehexamine, or mixtures thereof. The inventor has found that branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) can be particularly effective in carbon dioxide scrubbing and would be effective in a rotary scrubbing system. Other amine-based sorbents include amine-functionalized silicas such as amine-functionalized Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15). At least some of these carbon-abatement sorbents are hydrophobic.

The “liquid wettability,” or “wettability,” of a solid surface may be determined by observing the nature of the interaction occurring between the solid surface and a drop of a given liquid disposed on the surface. A high degree of wetting results in a relatively low solid-liquid contact angle and large areas of liquid-solid contact. Conversely, a low degree of wetting results in a relatively high solid-liquid contact angle with the liquid forming droplets on the surface. The hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity of a sorbent may be characterized by the degrees of wettability on the sorbent, and in the embodiment discussed herein that include channels in the sorption rotor, the degrees of wettability for a water droplet on the surface defining the channel. In general, hydrophilic sorbents have contact angle less than 90 degrees, and hydrophobic sorbents have a contact angle at or above 90 degrees. Some sorbents discussed herein may be considered a quasi-hydrophobic sorbent. A quasi-hydrophobic sorbent is a hydrophobic sorbent with a contact angle making it hydrophobic (i.e., contact angle at or above 90 degrees), but only having a small degree of hydrophobicity, such as a contact angle of 113 degrees or less. Quasi-hydrophobic sorbents may thus have a contact angle from 90 degrees to 113 degrees. Preferably, the hydrophilic sorbents discussed herein have a contact angle less than or equal to 69 degrees, and the hydrophobic sorbents have a contact angle greater than or equal to 113 degrees. Alternatively, the hydrophilic sorbents and the hydrophobic sorbents may be determined relative to each other, with the hydrophilic sorbent having a contact angle that is less than the contact angle of the hydrophobic sorbent. This is referred to herein as relative hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity or relative wettability. The difference in contact angle between the hydrophilic sorbent and the hydrophobic sorbent may be at least 10 degrees, such as at least 20 degrees. When the hydrophilic sorbents and the hydrophobic sorbents are determined by relative wettability, both the hydrophilic sorbent and the hydrophobic sorbent may have contact angles that are less than 90 degrees or have contact angles that are at or above 90 degrees.

A portion of the sorption rotoris located in the process air plenumand positioned to allow the process airto flow through the carbon-abatement sorbent in the carbon-abatement sectionof the sorption rotorlocated within the process air plenum. As with the desiccant, the carbon-abatement sorbent can be arranged in a porous structure through which air can flow. This porous structure can include, for example, a honeycomb structure or other fluted structure forming a plurality of flow channels through which air can flow. The desiccant can be impregnated into these structures forming the flow channels or coated on the surfaces defining the flow channels.

The portion of the process air plenumin which the carbon-abatement sorbent is located is a carbon-abatement sectionof the air conditioning system, and the portion of the sorption rotorand, more specifically, the carbon-abatement sectionthrough which the process airflows is referred to as the carbon-abatement process segment(or carbon-abatement process zone) of the sorption rotor. The process airflows through the carbon-abatement process segmentand the carbon compounds in the process airis adsorbed by the carbon-abatement sorbent in the carbon-abatement process segment, removing carbon compounds from the process air. In the carbon-abatement process segment(the carbon-abatement section), the surface vapor pressure of carbon compounds of the carbon-abatement sorbent is lower than the process air, allowing the carbon-abatement sorbent to adsorb the carbon compounds from the process air. As noted above, the carbon-abatement sorbent can be a hydrophobic sorbent. The carbon-abatement sectionthus may be referred to herein as a hydrophobic section, and the carbon-abatement process segmentis a hydrophobic process segmentthrough which process airof the process air stream is directed. The following discussion of the carbon-abatement process segmentalso applies to the hydrophobic process segmentunless otherwise noted.

The dehumidification process segment(the hydrophilic process segment) and the carbon-abatement process segment(the hydrophobic process segment) are arranged in series with each other relative to the flow of the process airin the process air stream. As depicted in, the dehumidification process segmentis positioned upstream of the carbon-abatement process segment, and the process airflows through the dehumidification process segmentbefore the carbon-abatement process segment. In this way, the desiccant in the dehumidification process segmentremoves moisture from the process airbefore the process airflows through the carbon-abatement sorbent in the carbon-abatement process segment, increasing the effectiveness of carbon adsorption. The dehumidification process segmentand the carbon-abatement process segmentcan be arranged in a counter flow arrangement, as depicted in, for example. The process air stream (the process air) is directed through the dehumidification process segment(the hydrophilic process segment) in a dehumidification process flow direction (a hydrophilic process flow direction). The dehumidification process flow direction can be parallel to the axial direction A of the sorption rotor. The process air plenumis ducted such that the process airreverses direction and then is directed through the carbon-abatement process segment(the hydrophobic process segment) in a carbon-abatement process flow direction (a hydrophobic process flow direction). The carbon-abatement process flow direction can be parallel to the axial direction A of the sorption rotorand can be parallel to the dehumidification process flow direction.

As the desiccant adsorbs moisture from the process air, the ability for the desiccant to adsorb additional moisture is reduced, as the surface vapor pressure of water of the desiccant increases because of adsorption. Similarly, as the carbon-abatement sorbent adsorbs carbon-compound molecules from the process air, the ability for the carbon-abatement sorbent to adsorb additional carbon-compound molecules is reduced, as the surface vapor pressure of carbon compounds of the carbon-abatement sorbent increases because of adsorption. The desiccant and the carbon-abatement sorbent are thus regenerated to restore their ability to adsorb moisture and carbon-compound molecules, respectively. As used herein, this process is generally referred to as regeneration, but alternatively, this process (and corresponding systems, components, and air) may be referred to as reactivation. In this embodiment, the desiccant is regenerated using regeneration airand the air conditioning systemincludes a regeneration air stream. The regeneration aircan be drawn from various suitable sources including ambient air. The air conditioning systemincludes a regeneration air plenum. The regeneration airenters the regeneration air plenumvia a regeneration air inlet, flows through the regeneration air plenumwhere the regeneration airis used to regenerate the desiccant and the carbon-abatement sorbent, and then flows out of the regeneration air plenumvia a regeneration air outlet. The portion of the regeneration air plenumin which the desiccant and carbon-abatement sorbent are located is a desorption sectionof the air conditioning system.

The portion of the desiccant sectionthrough which the regeneration airflows is referred to as the dehumidification regeneration segment(or dehumidification regeneration zone). The regeneration airflows through the dehumidification regeneration segmentand removes moisture from the desiccant in the dehumidification regeneration segment, regenerating the desiccant. Within the dehumidification regeneration segment, the desiccant has a surface vapor pressure of water that is significantly higher than the regeneration airso moisture from the desiccant is transferred to the regeneration airto equalize the pressure differential. Similarly, the portion of the carbon-abatement sectionthrough which the regeneration airflows is referred to as the carbon-abatement regeneration segment(or carbon-abatement regeneration zone). The regeneration airflows through the carbon-abatement regeneration segmentand removes carbon-compound molecules from the carbon-abatement sorbent in the carbon-abatement regeneration segment, regenerating the carbon-abatement sorbent. Within the carbon-abatement regeneration segment, the carbon-abatement sorbent has a surface vapor pressure of carbon compounds that is significantly higher than the regeneration airso the carbon-compound molecules from the carbon-abatement sorbent are transferred to the regeneration airto equalize the pressure differential.

Relative to the regeneration air stream, the dehumidification regeneration segmentand the carbon-abatement regeneration segmentcan have different arrangements, but in the embodiment depicted in, the dehumidification regeneration segmentand the carbon-abatement regeneration segmentare arranged in parallel relative to the regeneration air stream. A first portion of the regeneration air, as a first regeneration air stream, flows through the dehumidification regeneration segment, and a second portion of the regeneration air, as a second regeneration air stream, flows through the carbon-abatement regeneration segment. The dehumidification regeneration segmentand the carbon-abatement regeneration segmentthus collectively form a rotor regeneration segment. The rotor regeneration segmentis a pie-shaped (or V-shaped) segment of the dehumidification process segmentextending radially outward from the rotor axisover a set angle of the dehumidification process segment.

While the carbon-abatement sectionis discussed above as having a hydrophobic sorbent, the sorption rotorand arrangement of the flow paths discussed herein may be used with different sorbents in the carbon-abatement sectionand still have the advantages discussed herein. For example, the carbon-abatement sectionmay have a hydrophilic sorbent or a quasi-hydrophobic sorbent. With the process airflowing first through the desiccant section, moisture is removed before flowing through the carbon-abatement section, providing the advantages discussed above with respect to carbon removal from the process air. Additionally, although the embodiments discussed herein have been described with respect to carbon removal, the embodiments discussed herein may be used to remove other molecules and compounds from the process air, such as by using other sorbents, for example. These other compounds and molecules may be referred to herein as molecules other than water.

The various segments of the sorption rotorcan be separated from each other by seal assemblies that prevent the flow of air between adjacent segments (or zones) of the sorption rotor. Each seal assembly includes a seal, and the seal can be, for example, face seals and, more specifically, elastomeric face seals. As depicted in, for example, the dehumidification process segmentcan be separated from the dehumidification regeneration segmentby one or more seals, and the carbon-abatement process segmentcan be separated from the carbon-abatement regeneration segmentby one or more seals. To maintain the dehumidification process segmentand the carbon-abatement process segmentin the serial flow arrangement discussed above, the dehumidification process segmentand the carbon-abatement process segmentare also separated from each other by one or more seals. As noted above, the dehumidification regeneration segmentand the carbon-abatement regeneration segmentare in the same pie-shaped segment of the sorption rotor, and thus a seal does not separate the dehumidification regeneration segmentand the carbon-abatement regeneration segmentfrom each other in the depicted embodiment. Alternatively, such as when other flow arrangements are used, one or more seals can be used to separate the dehumidification regeneration segmentfrom the carbon-abatement regeneration segment.

One of the desiccant sectionor the carbon-abatement sectionis arranged radially outward of the other one of the desiccant sectionor the carbon-abatement section. In the embodiment depicted in, the carbon-abatement sectionis positioned radially outward of the desiccant sectionand the following discussion will reference this arrangement. The alternate arrangement with the desiccant sectionpositioned radially outward of the carbon-abatement sectioncan also be used, and unless otherwise noted, the following discussion also applies to this alternate arrangement.

The sorption rotorincludes an inner corehaving an inner core process segmentthrough which the process airfrom a first process air stream is directed and an inner core regeneration segmentthrough which regeneration airfrom a first regeneration air streamis directed. In the depicted embodiment, the inner coreis the desiccant section, with the inner core process segmentbeing the dehumidification process segmentand the inner core regeneration segmentbeing the dehumidification regeneration segment. The inner corein the depicted embodiment is the central portion of the sorption rotorand can have a circular-cylindrical shape or a disk shape.

The sorption rotoralso includes an outer annulushaving an outer annulus process segmentthrough which process airfrom a second process air stream is directed and an outer annulus regeneration segmentthrough which regeneration airfrom a second regeneration air streamis directed. In the depicted embodiment, the outer annulusis the carbon-abatement section, with the outer annulus process segmentbeing the carbon-abatement process segmentand the outer annulus regeneration segmentbeing the carbon-abatement regeneration segment. The outer annulushas an annular shape. The outer annulusextends in a circumferential direction of the sorption rotor. The outer annuluscan circumscribe the inner core.

In the depicted embodiment and as discussed further above, the first process air stream is the same air stream as the second process air stream and the process airis arranged to flow through the inner coreand the outer annulusin series. Also as discussed above, the inner core regeneration segmentand the outer annulus regeneration segmentare arranged in parallel relative to the regeneration air. Accordingly, the first regeneration air streamis a portion of a rotor regeneration air stream and the second regeneration air streamis a portion of the rotor regeneration air stream.

The desiccant sectionis rotatable to move the desiccant between the dehumidification process segmentand the dehumidification regeneration segment. Likewise, the carbon-abatement sectionis rotatable to move the carbon-abatement sorbent between the carbon-abatement process segmentand the carbon-abatement regeneration segment. As depicted in, the desiccant sectionand the carbon-abatement sectionrotate in concert. The inner coreand the outer annulusthus can be connected to each other to rotate together and can be integrally formed with each other. Alternatively, and as discussed further below, the inner core(the desiccant section) and the outer annulus(the carbon-abatement section) can be independently rotatable.

Various suitable mechanisms can be used to rotate the sorption rotor. As shown in, for example, a motoris drivingly coupled to the sorption rotorto transmit torque to the sorption rotorand rotate the sorption rotor. The motorcan be coupled to the sorption rotorby various suitable means including, for example, by a belt. The motorrotates the belt, which in turn rotates the sorption rotor. The desiccant and the carbon-abatement sorbent are fixed within their respective sections of the sorption rotorand rotate with the rotation of the sorption rotor. The desiccant and the carbon-abatement sorbent thus are exposed to a continuous repeating cycle of sorption and desorption to continuously condition the process air.

The surface vapor pressure of water of the desiccant and the surface vapor pressure of carbon compounds of the carbon-abatement sorbent in the desorption sectionshould be higher than the vapor pressure of the regeneration airto regenerate the desiccant and the carbon-abatement sorbent. To increase the surface vapor pressure of carbon compounds of the desiccant, the surface vapor pressure of carbon compounds of the carbon-abatement sorbent, or both, the desiccant, the carbon-abatement sorbent, or both can be heated such as by using hot regeneration air. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the regeneration aircan be heated. Optionally, the air conditioning systemcan include a heaterlocated within the regeneration air stream, such as within the regeneration air plenum, upstream of the sorption rotorand, more specifically, upstream of the desorption section. Suitable heaters include, for example, a direct electrical heater (e.g., resistive heater), a gas-fired heater, and/or a heat-pump module.

The air conditioning systemalso includes a process blower. The process bloweris configured to produce a process airflow of the process airwithin the air conditioning system. In this embodiment, the process bloweris positioned upstream of the sorption rotorand, more specifically, upstream of the dehumidification section. Similarly, the air conditioning systemcan include a regeneration blowerto generate the regeneration airflow. The regeneration blowercan be positioned downstream of the sorption rotorand, more specifically, downstream of the desorption section.

As noted above, the sorption rotorhas a plurality of segments (or zones), and, more specifically, each of the desiccant sectionand the carbon-abatement sectionincludes a plurality of segments. The desiccant sectionis depicted inwith two segments—the dehumidification process segmentand the dehumidification regeneration segment, and the carbon-abatement sectionis depicted inwith two segments—the carbon-abatement process segmentand the carbon-abatement regeneration segment. Each of the desiccant sectionand the carbon-abatement sectioncan have more than two segments. Additional segments can include, for example, a bypass segment and isolation segments.

As shown in, the air conditioning systemincludes a controller. In this embodiment, the controlleris a computing device having one or more processorsand one or more memories. The processorcan be any suitable processing device, including, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an integrated circuit, a logic device, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The memorycan include one or more computer-readable media, including, but not limited to, non-transitory computer-readable media (non-transitory computer-readable storage media), a computer-readable non-volatile medium (e.g., a flash memory), a RAM, a ROM, hard drives, flash drives, and/or other memory devices.

The memorycan store information accessible by the processor, including computer-readable instructions that can be executed by the processor. The instructions can be any set of instructions or a sequence of instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processorand the controllerto perform operations. In some embodiments, the instructions can be executed by the processorto cause the processorto complete any of the operations and functions for which the controlleris configured, as will be described further below. The instructions can be software written in any suitable programming language, or can be implemented in hardware. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the instructions can be executed in logically and/or virtually separate threads on the processor. The memorycan further store data that can be accessed by the processor.

The technology discussed herein makes reference to computer-based systems and actions taken by, and information sent to and from, computer-based systems. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the inherent flexibility of computer-based systems allows for a great variety of possible configurations, combinations, and divisions of tasks and functionality between components and among components. For instance, processes discussed herein can be implemented using a single computing device or multiple computing devices working in combination. Databases, memories, instructions, and applications can be implemented on a single system or distributed across multiple systems. Distributed components can operate sequentially or in parallel.

In this embodiment, the controlleris a microprocessor-based controller that includes the processorfor performing various functions discussed further herein, and the memoryfor storing various data. The various methods discussed herein can be implemented by way of a series of instructions stored in the memoryand executed by the processor. The controlleris configured to operate the air conditioning system. In particular, the controlleris communicatively coupled to sensorswithin the air conditioning systemto receive data about the operation of the air conditioning system. The sensorscan include, for example, temperature sensors and pressure sensors variously located in the air conditioning system, such as in the process air plenumor the regeneration air plenum.

The controlleris also operatively coupled to the various components of the air conditioning systemto operate the air conditioning systemand to discharge the regeneration air inletat desired operating conditions. For example, the controllercan be operatively coupled to the motor(or the first motorand the second motorin) to rotate the sorption rotorat the desired rotation speed. The controlleralso can be operatively coupled to the process blower, the heater, the regeneration blower, and the like.

As noted above, in the embodiment shown in, the inner coreand the outer annulusrotate in concert with each other and can be connected to each other. For example, the inner coreand the outer annuluscan be integrally formed with each other. The sorption rotorcan include an outer housingproviding an outer structure of the rotor and into which both the inner coreand the outer annuluscan be placed and secured. For example, the outer housingmay be circular having a U-shaped cross section. In some embodiments, a dividerthat extends through the thickness of the sorption rotormay be positioned between the inner coreand the outer annulus. The dividermay be formed from an annular sheet of material that is impermeable or otherwise has a low permeability to air, such as a sheet of metal formed into an annular shape. The dividermay thus provide fluid isolation to prevent cross communication of the process airbetween the desiccant sectionand the carbon-abatement sectionwhen the process airflows through these sections. In some embodiments, however, the flow channels of the inner coreand outer annulusmay provide sufficient separation of the process air stream, and the dividermay be omitted. In some embodiments, the dividermay be a structural member to help support and secure the inner coreand the outer annulustogether with the outer housing. The outer housingand the dividermay thus be frame members collectively forming a frame to hold the inner coreand the outer annulus. In such a case, for example, the dividermay be circular and have an H-shape in cross section. Separate pieces, such as two U-shaped members, can be joined together to form the divider.

shows an arrangement of ductworkof the process air plenumand the regeneration air plenumthat may be used to form or define the rotor segments discussed above. The ductworkis disposed on both sides of the sorption rotorand connects the respective plenums (i.e., the process air plenumand the regeneration air plenum) in planes parallel to the faces of the rotor.

As shown in, the sorption rotorincludes a first faceand a second faceon the opposite side of the sorption rotor. In the dehumidification process segment, the first faceis an upstream face relative to the flow of the process air, and the second faceis a downstream face relative to the flow of the process air. In the carbon-abatement process segment, the first faceis a downstream face relative to the flow of the process air, and the second faceis an upstream face relative to the flow of the process air. Likewise, in the rotor regeneration segment, the first faceis a downstream face relative to the flow of the hot regeneration airand the second faceis an upstream face relative to the flow of the hot regeneration air.

depicts the portion of the ductworkfacing the first faceof the sorption rotor. In the depicted embodiment, the ductworkis the same on either side of the sorption rotorand the discussion of the ductworkalso applies to corresponding ductwork facing the second face. Sheet metal or other suitable material used to direct and separate air flow may be used to form the ductworkdepicted in. The ductworkcan be formed from a plurality of partitions, which define the boundaries of the rotor segments. One partition of the plurality of partitions is an outer circumferential partition, and another partition of the plurality of partitions is an inner circumferential partition. The plurality of partitions also includes a plurality of radial partitions including a first radial partitionand a second radial partition.

The outer circumferential partitionis circular in cross section and defines the outer extent of the ductwork. The first radial partitionand the second radial partitionextend from the outer circumferential partitionto a central axis of the outer circumferential partitionwhich can also be the rotor axis(). The first radial partitionand the second radial partitionseparate adjacent zones or segments. In the depicted embodiment, the first radial partitionand the second radial partitioneach separate the process segments (i.e., the inner core process segmentand the outer annulus process segment) from the corresponding regeneration segments (i.e., the inner core regeneration segmentand the outer annulus regeneration segment). When the rotor includes additional zones or segments, additional radial partitions may be used to define these zones.

The inner circumferential partitionseparates the segments of the inner corefrom the segments of the outer annulus, and when a divideris used, the inner circumferential partitionmay be positioned opposite the divider. More specifically, the inner circumferential partitionincludes a process zone portionand a regeneration zone portion. The process zone portionof the inner circumferential partitionseparates the flow of the process airthrough the process air plenumand separates the inner core process segmentfrom the outer annulus process segment. Similarly, the regeneration zone portionof the inner circumferential partitionseparates the first regeneration air streamfrom the second regeneration air streamand separates the inner core regeneration segmentfrom the outer annulus regeneration segment. With the regeneration airbeing a common flow stream through the regeneration air plenum, the regeneration zone portionof the inner circumferential partitioncan be omitted.

The ductworkand, more specifically, each partition of the plurality of partitions discussed above, can include one or more seals attached to the end of a corresponding partition facing the first face. The ductworkincludes a plurality of sealsandillustrates one arrangement of the seals. Other seal arrangements, however, may be used. In the seal arrangement shown in, each of the segments include a seal around the periphery thereof. Each seal of the plurality of sealsshown incan be elastomeric face seals attached to the end of the partition and positioned to contact the first faceof the sorption rotor. Such face seals can have various shapes including O-shaped seals, D-shaped seals, and Ω-shaped seals. The plurality of sealsprevent or minimize the leakage of air, such as between adjacent segments.

For example, the outer annulus process segmenthas a periphery and includes an outer annulus process segment seal. The outer annulus process segment sealis one seal of the plurality of seals. The outer annulus process segment sealshown inhas a portion that extends in a circumferential direction along the radially outward edge of the outer annulus process segment(a radially outward circumferential portion), which in the depicted embodiment is 270 degrees. The radially outward circumferential portion is attached to the end of the outer circumferential partitionas depicted in. The outer annulus process segment sealalso can have a portion that extends in a circumferential direction along the radially inward edge of the outer annulus process segment(a radially inward circumferential portion), which in the depicted embodiment is 270 degrees. The radially inward circumferential portion is attached to the end of the outer circumferential partition. The outer annulus process segment sealalso includes two radial portions that connect the radially outward circumferential portion with the radially inward circumferential portion. One radial portion is attached to the end of the first radial partition, and the other radial portion is attached to the end of the second radial partition.

If the radially inward circumferential portion is omitted, the two radial portions can connect to each other. These two radial portions are located on the periphery of the inner core process segmentadjacent to other circumferential segments, which in the depicted embodiment is the inner core regeneration segment. The outer annulus regeneration segmenthas a periphery and includes an outer annulus regeneration segment seal, which is another seal of the plurality of seals. The outer annulus regeneration segment sealcan also have the portions discussed above with respect to outer annulus process segment seal, specifically, a radially outward circumferential portion, a radially inward circumferential portion, and two radial portions arranged in a corresponding manner for the respective segments. The discussion of the outer annulus process segment sealapplies to these seals as well.

The inner core process segmenthas a periphery and includes an inner core process segment seal, and the inner core regeneration segmenthas a periphery and includes an inner core regeneration segment seal. Each of the inner core process segment sealand the inner core regeneration segment sealis one seal of the plurality of seals. Each of these seals can also have the portions discussed above with respect to outer annulus process segment seal, specifically, a radially outward circumferential portion and two radial portions arranged in a corresponding manner for the respective segments. The discussion of the outer annulus process segment sealapplies to these seals as well. In the depicted embodiment, the radially inward circumferential portion is omitted and the two radial portions connect to each other. In other embodiments, such as discussed further below with respect to, a radially inward circumferential portion maybe used to provide a seal with the shaft().

The plurality of sealsdiscussed herein are arranged in a cascading seal arrangement. The cascading seal arrangement includes two seals (or portions thereof) that are arranged next to each other and collectively form a single sealing boundary between adjacent segments of the sorption rotor. For example, the inner core process segmentis separated from the outer annulus process segmentby both the inner core process segment sealand the outer annulus process segment seal. More specifically, the radially outward circumferential portion of the inner core process segment sealand the radially inward circumferential portion of the outer annulus process segment sealcollectively form the seal between the inner core process segmentand the outer annulus process segment. These two portions of the inner core process segment sealand the outer annulus process segment sealthus form a cascading seal between the inner core process segmentand the outer annulus process segment. These adjacent and overlapping seals create continuous sealing interface that enhances the effectiveness of the sealing system for the sorption rotordiscussed herein.

Although face seals are depicted and described above, other seals may be used. For example, the seals between the outer circumferential partitionand the inner circumferential partitionmay be formed between the outer housingand the inner circumferential partition, respectively and other circumferential seal designs may be used. In another example, shaft seals may be used, when the sorption rotoror a portion thereof is rotated by a shaft().

is a schematic of another sorption rotorthat can be used in place of the sorption rotorin the air conditioning systemof. The sorption rotorshown inis similar to the sorption rotordiscussed above. The same reference numerals will be used for the same or similar components and the discussion of those components applies here. In, the inner coreand the outer annulusare connected and rotated together by the motor. In, however, the inner coreand the outer annulusare rotated independently. For example, a first motorcan drive the outer annulususing the beltin the manner discussed above. The sorption rotorincludes a shaft(e.g., a central shaft) attached to the inner core. A second motoris drivingly connected to the shaftto rotate the inner coreindependently from the outer annulus. Driving the inner coreseparately or independently from the outer annulusallows the inner coreand the outer annulusto be rotated at different speeds or to be rotated in different directions. The controllercan be configured to be operable to rotate the inner coreat a first speed and the outer annulusat a second speed, with the first speed being different than the second speed. Although described with reference to two separate motors (i.e., the first motorand the second motor), other arrangements can be used. For example, a single motor can be used with a gear train connecting each of the beltand the shaft. The gear train can be arranged and configured to drive the beltand the shaftat different rotational speeds.