DESICCANT AIR CONDITIONING METHODS AND SYSTEMS

빌딩 공간으로 유입되는 공기 흐름을 처리하기 위한 흡습제 공조시스템은 상기 공기 흐름이 액체 흡습제에 노출되어 액체 흡습제가 하절 동작 모드에서 공기 흐름에서 제습하고, 동절 동작 모드에서 공기 흐름에 가습하도록 구성된 조화기를 포함한다. 조화기는 수직 방향으로 설치되고 평판 구조체들 사이에서 공기 흐름이 흐를 수 있도록 이격된 복수의 평판 구조체를 포함한다. 각 평판 구조체는 열전달 유체가 흐를 수 있는 통로를 포함한다. 각 평판 구조체는 액체 흡습제가 가로질러 흐를 수 있는 적어도 하나의 표면을 가진다. 시스템은 조화기와 연결된 재생기를 포함하여 순환 공기 흐름으로부터 액체 흡습제가 하절 동작 모드에서 물을 배출하고, 동절 동작 모드에서 물을 흡수하도록 한다. A desiccant air conditioning system for treating an air stream entering a building space, the desiccant air conditioning system being switchable between operating in a warm weather operation mode and in a cold weather operation mode The conditioning system comprises a conditioner configured to expose the air stream to a liquid desiccant such that the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air stream in the warm weather operation mode and humidifies the air stream in the cold weather operation mode, the conditioner including a plurality of plate structures arranged in a vertical orientation and spaced apart to permit the air stream to flow between the plate structures, each plate structure including a passage through which a heat transfer fluid can flow, each plate structure also having at least one surface across which the liquid desiccant can flow, each plate structure further comprising a membrane positioned proximate the at least one surface of the plate structure between the liquid desiccant and the air stream. The conditioning system also comprises a fan positioned at an outlet of the conditioner for applying negative pressure to the conditioner to draw the air stream through the conditioner. The conditioning system further comprises a regenerator connected to the conditioner for receiving the liquid desiccant from the conditioner, said regenerator causing the liquid desiccant to desorb water in the warm weather operation mode and to absorb water in the cold weather operation mode from a return air stream. The conditioning system yet further comprises a liquid desiccant loop for circulating the liquid desiccant between the conditioner and the regenerator, a reservoir coupled to the liquid desiccant loop for collecting liquid desiccant flowing from the conditioner, a vertical tube proximate a desiccant entry port at a plate structure in the conditioner coupled to the liquid desiccant loop to detect flow of liquid desiccant to the conditioner based on the height of the liquid desiccant in the vertical tube and an overflow tube coupling an upper end of the vertical tube to the reservoir to