Inventor: Gary Patrick Noyes

RELATIONSHIP TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority through United States Provisional Application

62/315,951 entitled "Membrane Microgravity Air Conditioner with UVC Biofilm Prevention" and filed on March 31, 2016.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Certain environments, e.g. space or other confined environments, may need a reliable method of producing clean condensate production from humidity in unfiltered air for an extended period of time, e.g. two months or longer, with low mass and volume for this water recovery from air humidity function. Further, the processed air should possess a sensible temperature and low detectable levels of 03 in condensate or the processed air. In addition, the apparatus should provide no more than a small amount of biofilm formation.

FIGURES

[0003] The figures supplied herein illustrate various embodiments of the invention.

[0004] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a membrane microgravity air conditioner;

[0005] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of a membrane microgravity air conditioner;

[0006] Fig. 3 is a view in partial perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a membrane microgravity air conditioner with an exemplary fan panel partially raised;

[0007] Fig. 4 is a view in partial perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a membrane microgravity air conditioner with an exemplary fan panel closed; [0008] Fig. 5 is a view in partial cutaway perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a membrane microgravity air conditioner illustrating air flow;

[0009] Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary latent heat exchanger (LHX);

[0010] Fig. 7 is a view in partial cutaway perspective of a detail illustrating various fluid flows; and

[0011] Fig. 8 is a block diagram of fluid flow processing.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Referring now generally to Fig. 1, in a first embodiment, membrane microgravity air conditioner comprises air box 10; filtering system (generally referred to as "20" and not specifically called out in the figures) disposed at least partially, and preferably substantially completely, within air box 10; particulate filter 23 disposed in inlet air flow path 15 intermediate one or more trash screens 21 and one or more latent heat exchangers (LHX) 22; thermal control system (TCS) medium temperature loop 24, comprising a coolant; and sensible heat exchanger (SHX) 25 disposed in the inlet air flow path intermediate particulate filter 23 and latent heat exchangers (LHX) 22.

[0013] Referring additionally to Fig. 3, air box 10 may be substantially cubic and typically comprises closed bottom 11, an at least partially open top 12, and a plurality of side faces, e.g. side faces 13a-13d (Fig. 3), connected to closed bottom 11 and open top 12 to define interior 14, which, as noted, is typically substantially cubic. At least one side face 13a of the plurality of side faces 13a- 13d and open top 12 define inlet air flow path 15 from that side face, e.g. 13a through open top 12. Although four side faces 13a-13d are illustrated, fewer or greater sides can be present. [0014] Filtering system filtering system 20 typically comprises one or more substantially open filtering system braces 21 and one or more LHXs 22 disposed in inlet air flow path 15. In contemplated embodiments, filtering system brace 21 either secures, comprises, or both secures and comprises trash screen 21 which is disposed in inlet air flow path 15. There can be one or more filtering systems 20, most typically one filtering system 20 per each of the plurality of side faces 13 a- 13 d.

[0015] In certain embodiments, filtering system 20 comprises hinge 21 1 disposed on an edge of filtering system 20, e.g. as part of filtering system brace 21, and attached to its associated side face 13a-13d to allow access to trash screen 21 and/or particulate filter 23 such as for periodic replacement from outside air box 10.

[0016] Referring additionally to Fig. 6, each LHX 22 typically comprises one or more predetermined sets of nanoporous hydrophilic tubes 210, comprising a first end 21 1 and a second end 212; solid tube inlet manifold 220 in fluid communication with first end 21 1 ; and solid tube outlet manifold 230 in fluid communication with second end 212. Tubes 210 may act as inlet and outlet manifolds such as solid tube outlet manifold 230 may be present at first end 21 1 and a second end 212.

[0017] Referring back to Fig. 1, SHX 25 typically comprises fluid inlet 251 and fluid outlet 252 plumbed in parallel into TCS medium temperature loop 24; one or more air fans 26, which may be compact axial fans, disposed in inlet air flow path 15; and power source 27 (Fig. 2) operatively connected to equipment that needs power, e.g air fans 26 and/or pumps 19.

[0018] As illustrated in Figs. 3-5, in typical configurations air fan 26, which may be one or more such fans, e.g. four, is disposed intermediate LHX 22 and open top 12. In certain configures, fan panel 16 is disposed at least partially an interior of air box 10 or mounted to closed bottom or 1 1 open top 12 of air box 10. If present, one or more air fans 26 may also be attached or otherwise connected to fan panel 16. Also, if fan panel 16 is present, it may further comprise one or more hinges 161 disposed about an edge of fan panel 16 and configured to allow access to components inside air box 10 such as when fan panel 16 is moved about hinge 161.

[0019] The coolant is typically comprises a 55°F liquid water-glycol mixture.

[0020] In contemplated embodiments, referring back to Fig. 1, water heat exchanger 17 may be disposed within air flow 16 and operatively in fluid communication with air fan 26. In such embodiments, one or more fluid meters 18 may be operatively disposed in air flow 15 intermediate water heat exchanger 17 and LHX 22. These fluid meters 18 may comprise a fluid flow meter, an orifice flow meter, or the like, or a combination thereof. Orifice flow meters, if present, are typically operative to monitor water flow rate and lower water pressure of water flowing through LHX 21 below that of air flowing through LHX 21. In these embodiments as well, one or more water sources 28 may be in fluid communication with water heat exchanger 17. Further, one or more water heat exchanger coolant sources 29 may be in fluid communication with water heat exchanger 17, where each such water heat exchanger coolant source 29 may further comprise a 40°F coolant or the like. Further, one or more gear pumps 19, which may be pulse-free variable-speed gear pumps, may be disposed within air box 10 and operatively in fluid communication with water heat exchanger 17.

[0021] Referring to Fig. 7, in embodiments, one or more power connectors 30 configured to provide an interface to a power source such as power source 27 (Fig. 2) and/or an external power source. Further, one or more communications data ports 32 may be present and operatively in communication a data communications network (not shown in the figures). [0022] In the operation of exemplary embodiments, in general, as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in these arts, cold liquid water is retained in hydrophilic pores of tubes 210 by capillary action. Water vapor is allowed to condense from air flowing around the outside of tubes 210 into the retained cold water. Water vapor is allowed to flow through the tube walls into the cold water flowing through tubes 210, in response to a small pressure difference between the air outside tubes 210 and the water inside tubes 210.

[0023] Air is typically pulled out of open top 12 such as by one or more air fans 26, by way of example not limitation four identical air fans 26 in fan panel 16, with closed bottom 11 acting as a mounting panel. Hinged filtering systems 21 can allow access to trash screens 21 and/or particulate filters 23, such as for periodic replacement from outside air box 10.

[0024] As described above, one or more SHXs 25 are plumbed in parallel into TCS medium temperature loop 24, using its coolant to remove sensible heat load from the air. Atmosphere dew point temperature is controlled by one or more LHXs 22 to a predetermined temperature, e.g. 55°F or less, so no water condenses in SHX 25. Humidity is removed from SHX-cooled air and condensed into a pumped circuit of cold water via LHX 22.

[0025] Latent heat generated in LHX 22 is transferred through WHX 17 to TCS low temperature loop 24 using its coolant to create low dew point temperature in the dehumidified air. WHX 17, and one or more gear pumps 19 for cold water circulation, may be mounted to the inside of air box 10, along with all plumbing connecting the cold water circuit components. Since all of these plumbed components run cold, condensate would form on their exterior surfaces if mounted outside of air box 10. Since air in the air box 10 is cool and dry, surface condensation is eliminated with minimal thermal insulation. Where present, gear pump 19, as described above, may have cool air flowing through air box 10 act as a convective heat sink for gear pump 19. Also, cool air flowing through the air box 10 acts as a convective heat sink for gear pump 19 motors, so motors with cooling fans are not required for microgravity compatibility.

[0026] If present, flow meter 18, which may comprise an orifice flow meter, is placed in the cold water circuit just upstream of LHX 22 not only monitors water flow rate, but also lowers the pressure of the water flowing through LHX 22 below that of air flowing through LHX 22.

[0027] In embodiments, generated oxidants ozone and hydrogen peroxide diffuse outward through HM pores and reduced gases diffuse inward and are destroyed by the oxidants. Microflora in water on the NHM air surface are killed by the disinfecting power of the oxidants, preventing biofilm growth on the NHM. Oxidants can only be generated in the LHX water loop photochemically, by hard UVC light from mercury vapor, xenon flash, or xenon excimer lamps. Electrochemical generation of oxidants requires water containing dissolved salts; LHX water has negligible dissolved salts. All three of these UVC lamp types generate both biocidal UV at about 250 nm wavelength and oxidant UV below 200 nm wavelenth. Xenon is a completely safe inert gas. Mercury vapor lamps are safely used for water disinfection and purification around the Earth, due to the fact that mercury exposure limits are higher than the vapor pressure of mercury at room temperature, and modern mercury vapor lamps have tough UV-transparent polymer coatings that contain mercury even if the lamp glass breaks.

[0028] The foregoing disclosure and description of the inventions are illustrative and explanatory. Various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrative construction and/or an illustrative method may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.