Dec International, Inc.

Joel C Zabel

Kenneth C Gehring

Phillip R Steinmetz

Efficient dehumidification is provided by directing air flow through a coil (30, 60) to cool the air below the dew point such that water vapor in the air is condensed to liquid to dehumidify the air, and then directing air flow through the coil to heat the air to a temperature below the incoming air to the coil and above the dew point of the air. Air flow is directed along a first set of coil sections (42, 64) giving up heat to refrigerant in the first set of coil sections to evaporate refrigerant in the first set of coil sections, and then directing the air flow along a second set of coil sections (44, 66) absorbing heat from refrigerant in the second set of coil sections to condense refrigerant in the second set of coil sections. The coil sections are connected to alternately evaporate and condense refrigerant in the coil differentially such that less refrigerant is condensed in condensing coil sections than is evaporated in evaporating coil sections. Heat is transferred from air flow along a first air flow path leg (48, 72) through the evaporating coil sections (42, 64) to air flow along a second air flow path leg (50, 74) through the condensing coil sections (44, 66) through the media of the refrigerant, to put heat back into the air flow along the second air flow path leg from the first air flow path leg, reducing the net cooling effect of the coil, to reduce the net load on the compressor by the coil such that the compressor will consume power based on the net cooling load, while the coil provides the greater cooling capacity of the evaporating coil sections (42, 64), which allows more moisture to be condensed from the air with less energy.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Joel C Zabel