Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
We have a low common denominator: 2

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


           

Desiccant Car Dehumidifier

 Use conventional liquid desiccant dehumidifier
  (+6)
(+6) 		  [vote for,
against]

This idea is very simple -- use a completely conventional desiccant dehumidification system to remove humidity from the interior of your vehicle.

After absorbing humidity from the interior of the vehicle, the desiccant (either solid or liquid) is regenerated using waste heat of the engine. Since this heat is essentially "free," the only energy needed by the is for the fan and either a motor to spin an enthalpy wheel (for solid desiccant systems), or a low pressure pump to move liquid desiccant.

This system would either augment your car's air conditioner (if the air is dried first, less energy is needed to cool it to below it's original dew point), or even to replace the air conditioner (in climates where cooling isn't needed, but dehumidification is).

—goldbb, Jul 08 2009

Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.
Short name, e.g., Bob's Coffee
Destination URL. E.g., https://www.coffee.com/
Description (displayed with the short name and URL.)






       I just had this same idea, but for window defogging. Rather than pumping unwanted heat or cold (either works) into the car to defog the front window, use an engine heat regenerated dessicant to dry the air instead. More energy efficient than cooling the air, no uncomfortably hot air dumped in, and especially good for times when the oustside temperature is pleasant but damp.
—MechE, Aug 31 2009
   

       I'll buy one: it'd probably work more often than the A/C does.
—FlyingToaster, Aug 31 2009
   

       Needs more rant on the silliness of having 100 lbs of bulky, poorly planned and executed, maintenance-heavy plumbing in the engine compartment to do a job a $4.95 bag of silica could do better.
—FlyingToaster, Jan 27 2013
   

       Why would it need to weight 100 pounds, be poorly planned and executed, etc?   

       Also, after that bag of silica has adsorbed a few ounces of water, it will stop adsorbing water until it has been regenerated.   

       Of course, nothing precludes the use of your silica to dry the air in the car, and an auger conveyor to move the saturated silica into a heating/drying chamber, and another conveyor to return the (now dry) silica back to the the car's cabin.
—goldbb, Jan 28 2013
   

       lol, no, the Air Conditioning system weighs 100lbs etc, not the dessicant system which I imagine would weigh about 10lbs all up.   

       I see it as a canister full of crystal dessicant: recirculate passenger compartment air to saturate, then from/to the outside using heated air from the engine to regenerate.   

       If for some reason you find yourself with a vehicle full of people barreling down the highway in -50C for a few hours, you might want either a much bigger bag or a 2-bag alternating system.
—FlyingToaster, Jan 29 2013
   


 

back: main index
business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle