Hybrid vapor compression and desiccant air conditioning system

摘要

An air conditioning system utilizes a novel air thermodynamic cycle and performing apparatus for simultaneous and efficient removal of the sensible and latent heats from the room return air. The system employs a pair of heat exchangers having a desiccant material thereon, the refrigerant, room and outside ambient air flows being selectively routed to the heat exchangers to allow one heat exchanger to operate as an evaporator to effect cooling and drying of the room return air while the other heat exchanger acts as a condenser of the refrigerant and regenerates the desiccant material thereon. The heat exchangers are switchable between evaporator and condenser modes allowing for continuous conditioning of the room return air.