Patent · US Expired

Humidity controller

US4374655A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
11References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 1981
Grant dateFeb 22, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D53/261
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A humidity controller (12) for an outdoor storage container (10) is installed with a clearance fit in an apertured portion of a vertical wall (11) of the container (10). The humidity controller (12) comprises a frame assembly (13) to which a bed of solid desiccant material (14) and a transparent cover (15) are secured. Solar energy incident upon the transparent cover (15) is transmitted into a passageway between the bed of desiccant material (14) and the transparent cover (15), thereby heating air in the passageway and also heating a surface of the bed of desiccant material (14) exposed to the air in the passageway. Moisture adsorbed on bed of desiccant material (14) is vaporized by the solar energy, thereby establishing a concentration gradient for moisture in the bed of desiccant material (14) such that moisture is drawn toward the passageway for vaporization. Lower and upper valves 25 and 26, respectively, provide a natural convection current whereby cooler ambient air is drawn into the passageway and the solar heated moisture-laden air in the passageway is passed to the environment outside the container (10).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.