US2025937A

US2025937A - Air conditioning

Info

Publication number: US2025937A
Application number: US571872A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dean Dion Kanouse
Original assignee: Foster Wheeler Inc
Current assignee: Foster Wheeler Inc
Priority date: 1931-10-29
Filing date: 1931-10-29
Publication date: 1935-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1952-12-31

Description

- Dec. 31, 1935. D K, DEAN 2,025,937

AIR CONDITIONING Filed Oct. 29, 1931 2 She-ets-Sheet 1 @hln INVENTOR @an Dec. 3l, 1935. Y. D K, DEAN 2,025,937

' AIR CONDITIONING Filed oct. 29, i951 '2 sheets-sheet 2 voeling Ibn/er T INVENTOR I ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 193s AIR CONDITIONING I Dion Kanouse Dean, Rahway, Foster Wheeler Corporation,

N. J., assignor to New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application October 29, 1931, Serial No. 571,872

19 Claims.

My invention relates to air conditioning.

The process of conditioning air comprises treating the air so that it will have a desired moisture content and also a desired temperature. It is usually necessary to reduce the amount of moisture normally in the air, and in order to do this the temperature of the air is iirst reduced below the point nally desired so that the excess moisture will be condensed. It is then necessary l to raise the temperature of the air to the desired point.

The major object of my invention is to provide an efcient unitary system for, Iirst, cooling water to be used for cooling the air and, second, for l heating the air in its path of ow to the place of utilization. Another object of my invention is to conserve energy by utilizing heat initially removed from the air to subsequently heat the air, as above stated, in its path of ow to the place of utilization. Y

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, I withdraw spray water from the path of ow of the air, cause a partial vaporization thereof by a reduction in pressure in order to cool the remaining water and return the cooled water to the sprays. The heat removed by the vaporizatjon is returned to the air to heat the latter to the temperature finally desired.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this speciiication, and on which:

Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view, chley in cross-section, of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a more or less diagrammatic View of a prtion of a omewhat modified embodiment; and

Fig. 3 is a more or less diagrammatic view, partly in cross-section of another embodiment of my invention and including automatic control devices.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, reference character I0 designates an air conditioning chaml5 ber having an air inlet II and an air outlet I2.

Air to be treated is supplied from any suitable source to inlet II by means of a fan I3. 'Ihe conditioned air is led fromthe outlet I2 through a conduit I4 to a point of utilization, represented "0 by a room I5.

Within air conditioning chamber I0 and adjacent to the inlet II are 'water sprays I6. Sprays I6 may consist of a series of pipes provided with small openings arranged to direct a spray of wa- 5 ter toward the incoming air. The lower part of chamber I9 comprises a 'sump I1, which collects the water issuing from the sprays. This Water passes through a conduit I8Y provided with a valve I9 to the upper part of a flash chamber 20.

The water issuing from the end of conduit I8 5 within chamber is broken up into more or less small drops by means of a deector 2|. Within chamber 20 there is maintained a partial Vacuum by means of a thermo-compressor 22. Steam under pressure is supplied to a series of nozzles 23 10 in the thermo-compressor through a conduit 24. Water is removed from the lower part of flash chamber 20' through a conduit 25 by means of a pump 26 and is forced through a conduit 21 provided with valve 28'to1 the sprays I6. A by-pass 15 conduit 90 provided with a Valve 9| connects conduits I8 and 21.

The discharge 29 of thermo-compressor 22 isv connected to the lower part of a condenser 30. A steam jet air pump 3|, which is similar to a 20 thermo-compressor 22, serves to maintain a partial vacuum within condenser 30. Cooling Water is supplied to the condenser through a conduit 32, the discharge end of which is provided with Condensate and cooling wa.-

pump 35. The water discharged from pump passes through a conduit 36 provided with a valve 44 to a radiator 31 located within air con- 30 ditioning chamber I 0 adjacent to the outlet I2 thereof. A conduit 38 connects radiator 31 with a cooling tower or the like 39. A pump supplies water from the cooling tower to conduit 32.

A conduit 4I, provided with a valve 42, is arranged as a by-pass around radiator 31. A series of inclined' members 45 are located within air conditioning chamber I0 between the sprays I6 and radiator 31. These inclined members serve as spray eliminators. Make-up water is supplied to sump I1 through a conduit 46 provided with a valve 41.

The operation of this apparatus is substantially as follows:

Water is.removed from sump I1 through con- 45 duitl I8 and ows into flash chamber 20 due to the high vacuum maintained therein. The water, broken up into small drops by deflector 2| in chamber 20, is subjected to the low pressure existing therein with the result that a small portion 5o of the water is caused to evaporate. Heat is required for this evaporation, and this heat is taken from the Water which remains unevaporated. In this Way the temperature ofthe water is reduced, and the water removed from chamber 20 through 55 conduit 25 by pump 26 and supplied through conduit 21 to the sprays I6 is cold.

This cold water is sprayed into the air to be conditioned, and cools the air. y The air is cooled sufficiently to cause the condensation o'f water vapor originally in the air. This condensate and the water emitted from the sprays are removed from the air by the spray eliminators 45. The air leaving the spray eliminators is considerably below the temperature nally desired and, at this low temperature, its relative humidity is approximately per cent. This air is then passed in contact with radiator 31, which is supplied with hot water, as will be subsequently explained, and the air is heated to the iinaly desired temperature. This temperature may be controlled by regulating valves 42 and 44 so as to by-pass more or less of the hot water through conduit 4|. The relative humidity of the air is lowered to the desired point due to this heating, and the air, conditioned both as to moisture content and temperature, is supplied through conduit I4 to the point of utilization I5.

The moisture content of the air may be controlled by regulating the temperature to which the air is initially cooled. If the air supplied to room I5 is too dry the temperature to which it is initially reduced should be higher. To obtain this higher temperature valve 28 may be more or less closed and valve 9| opened. A portion of the cold water from flash chamber 28 will then be recirculated through by-pass 98 and consequently less cold water will be supplied to the sprays I6.

The low pressure in flash chamber 28 is maintained by the thermo-compressor 22. Steam issues from the nozzles 23 at a high velocity and serves by ejector action to dray air and water vapor from the flash chamber. The water vapor, comprising the steam from the nozzles and that removed from chamber 28, and the air are introduced into condenser 38. Here it meets cold water supplied through spray nozzle 33, and the water vapor is condensed, thereby heating the cooling water supplied to the condenser. Steam jet jump 3| removes air and any other non-condensible gases from the condenser and thereby maintains a low pressure in the condenser.

The condensate and heated cooling water are removed from condenser 38 through conduit 34 and are forced by pump 35 through conduit 36 to radiator 31. In radiator 31 the hot water heats the air as previously described. The degree of heating may be controlled by manipulating valves 42 and 44 so as to by-pass more or less of the hot water around the radiator. The hot Water is finally led through conduit 38 to a cooling tower or the like 39,` where it is cooled and may be supplied by pump 40 to condenser 30.

Due to the evaporation of a small percentage of the water in flash chamber 28, it is necessary to supply a small amount of make-up Water to the circulating system including the sprays and the ash chamber. This make-up water is supplied in part by the moisture condensed from the air, and if this is not suiiicient, additional make-up water may be admitted through conduit 46.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the outlet end of air conditioning chamber I8 showing a modified form of construction. Chamber I0, adjacent to outlet I2 thereof, is divided into two compartments 50 and 5I. Admission of air to compartments 58 and 5I is controlled by dampers 52 and 53, respectively. These dampers may be mechanically connected by means of cranks 64 and 55 and a rod 56 to a single operating handle 51 in such a way that when one damper is opened the other is closed. Handle 51 preferably is automatically operated by means of a temperature 5 responsive device comprising a thermostatic bulb 58 located in the path of air flow, as in outlet I2. A conduit 58 connects bulb 58 with a cylinder 60 in which is a piston. connected to one end of rod 6I. The other end of rod 6I is pivotally con- 10 nected to handle 51. Radiator 31 is located in compartment 56.

In the operation of this modification the air is cooled to a temperature below that finally desired in order to condense excess moisture in 15 the same manner as described in connection with Fig. l. The air is then passed through spray eliminators 45, but instead of all of the air being heated to the desired temperature, a portion of the air is passed through chamber 58 where it 20 is heated to a temperature above that finally desired. The remainder of the air is passed throughl chamber 5I, where it receives no further treatment and is subsequently mixed with the heated air from chamber 50. The distribution of the air 25 between chambers 50 and 5I is so regulated by means of dampers 52 and 53 that the mixture has the temperature finally desired.

This regulation may be automatic, as is shown. Bulb 58 contains a fluid which expands upon a 30 rise in temperature and conduit 58 and cylinder 68 also contain uid. Hence, if the temperature of the air passing through outlet I2 rises above a predetermined value, the fluid in bulb 58 expands and forces the piston upwardly in cylinder 3'5 60, thereby causing rotation of handle 51 in a clockwise direction. This causes rod 56 to move upwardly, thus closing damper 52 and opening damper 53. Consequently, less air passes through chamber 58 in contact with radiator 31 and more 40 air passes through chamber 5I and the temperature of the resulting mixture is lowered. If the air becomes too cold, the reverse action occurs and more air is passed through chamber 58 and less through chamber 5I. 45

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a somewhat modified embodiment of my invention. Reference character I6 designates the air conditioning chamber provided with an inlet II and an outlet s I2. Centrifugal fan I3 is connected to discharge 50 air into the inlet Il while conduit I4 connects the outlet I2 with a room or the like I5.

Within chamber I0 adjacent to the inlet II thereof is positioned a series of sprays I6. The v lower part of chamber I6 comprises a sump I1 55 divided into liquid receivers Ill) and III by partition II2 which may have an aperture II3 near the bottom thereof. The liquid ejected from the sprays is collected in receiver III. A conduit 65 leads from the lower part of receiver IID to "60 a pump 66, the discharge of which is connected by means of a conduit 61 with the sprays I6. To the lower part of receiver III thereis connected conduit I8 which leads to the upper part of flash l chamber 28. Flash chamber 28 is connected to 6': the inlet oi the thermo compressor 22 which is supplied with steam through a conduit 24. Thermo compressor 22 discharges into a condenser 38 which is supplied with cooling water through a conduit 22 from a cooling tower 39. A: partial vacuum is maintained in condenser 30 by means of a steam jet air pump 3l. Flash chamber 28, thermo compressor 22, condenser 38, steam jet vacuum pump 3l and cooling tower 39 shown in Fig. 3 are the same as previously illustrated and described in detail in connection with Fig. 1, and hence it is not necessary to repeat the detailed description here.

The lower part of flash chamber 20 is connected by means of a conduit 25 with a pump 26 which discharges through a conduit 21 to receiver ||0. The by-pass conduit 68 connects conduits I8 and 21. A valve 69 is interposed in conduit I8 between receiver III and the point of communication of by-pass 68 with conduit I8. A valve 10 is interposed in by-pass 68.

Valves 69 and 10 are automatically operable in response to the moisture content of the air in room I5. Valve 69 is provided with a valve member 1I mounted on a valve stem 12 attached to a piston 13 which is slidably positioned within a cylinder 14. A spring 15 acts upon piston 'I3 in such a manner as to tend to open the valve. A conduit 16 communicates with cylinder 14 and with a conduit 11. Conduit 11 is connected to any suitable source of fluid under pressure. Valve 10 is provided with a valve member 18 mounted on `a valve stem 19 secured to a piston 80 which is slidably mounted Within a cylinder 8 I. A spring 82 acts upon piston 80 in such a manner as to tend to close the valve. A conduit 83 connects l cylinder 8| with conduit 11.

Within room I5 there is located a device responsive to the moisture content of the air in the room. This device is shown as comprising strips of catgut 84 secured at one end to a stationary member 85 and at the other end to a member 86 which is fastened to a pivoted arm 81. A spring 88 tends to move arm 81 so as to stretch the catgut. The open end of a conduit 89 is located in close proximity to the free end of lever 81 so as to be closed by that lever when the-latter is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. The other end of conduit 89 is connected to conduit 11.

The lower part of condenser 30 is connected by means of a conduit 34 to a pump 35 which discharges through a conduit 36. Conduit 36 is connected by means of a conduit 92 with the radiator 31 located in air conditioning chamber I0. A valve 93 is interposed in conduit 92. The other end of radiator 31 is connected by means of conduit 38 with the cooling tower 39. A conduit 4I is connected to

conduits

36 and 38 so as to form a by-pass around radiator 31. A valve 94 is located in conduit 4I.

Valves 93 and 94 are automatically controlled in accordance with the temperature of the air in room I5. Valve 93 is provided with a valve member 95 while valve 94 has a valve member 96. Valve members 95 and 96 are mounted on a common valve stem 91 which is provided with a pin 98. Pin 98 is engaged by a lever 99 pivoted at |00. The other end of lever 99 is pivotally connected to a rod IUI which is connected to a piston which operates in a cylinder |02. The cylinder |02 is connected by means of a conduit I03 with a thermostatic bulb |04 located in room I5. Bulb |04 contains a uid which expands upon a rise in temperature and thus exerts a pressure which is transmitted through conduit I03 to the piston in cylinder |02, moving the piston and the rod IOI to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3.

This modification of substantially as follows:

T hermo compressor 22 maintains a partial vacuum within flash chamber 20, as was explained in connection with Fig. 1, whereby water from receiver III of sump I1 will flow through conduit I8 to the upper part of the flash chamber. In the ash chamber a portion of this water my invention operates is evaporated, whereby the remaining water is cooled and leaves the ash chamber through conduit 25 and is forced by pump 26 through a conduit 21 back to receiver |I0 of sump I1. Wa-

ter is withdrawn from receiver duit 65 and forced by pump 66 61 to the sprays I6. If valve 69 is partially closed and valve 10 partially opened, as will be explained subsequently, pump 66 will remove water from receiver IIO faster thanvwater is supplied to this 1o receiver through conduit 21 and' water from the sprays will flow into receiver III faster than it is removed through conduit I8. In this event, water will flow from receiver |I| through aperture II3 in partition II2, or over the top of the Il5 partition, into receiver IIO. 'In other words, a portion of the water is recirculated through the sprays without having passed through. the flash chamber. 'I'he water ejected from the sprays comes in intimate contact with the air to be 20 treated which is forced into chamber I0 by means of fan I3. The water, which is cold, cools the air and thereby causes the precipitation of a portion of the moisture normally present in the air.

'I'he air passes through spray eliminators 45 at 25 a temperature below that finally desired and then comes in contact with radiator 31, which is supplied with hot water, and the air is thereby heated to the desired temperature. Hot water is supplied to radiator 31 from condenser 30 in the 30 same manner as described in connection with Fig. 1.

In the event that theair supplied to room I5 contains more moisture than is desired, catgut 84 will shrink due to the presence of the excess 35 moisture and will cause lever 81 to move away from the open end of conduit 89. Thus, the uld under pressure in conduit 89 is allowed to escape with the result that the pressure in conduits 11, 16 and 83 and in cylinders 14 and 8| falls. This 40 allows springs 15 and 82 to move pistons 13 and 80, respectively. The movement of piston 13 I I0 through con- 5 to be closed a greater amount. The result is that 45 more water is withdrawn from receiver III and Dassed through flash chamber 20 and returned and therefore the water supplied to sprays I6 is colder. 'I'his causes the temperature of the air to be reduced to a lower degree which in turn causes more of the moisture carried by the air to be condensed. Hence, the air supplied to 55 room I5 becomes drier. On the other hand, if the air supplied to the room becomes too dry catgut 84 stretches allowing spring 88 to move lever This permits pressure to be built up within cylin; 60

ders 14 and 8|. Pistons 13 and 80 are thereby moved against the force of springs 15 and 82, respectively. This causes valve 69 to be closed to some extent while valve 10 is opened. 'I'he result is that a greater portion of the water dis- '65 charged from ash chamber 20 is recirculated through by-pass conduit 68 back to the flash chamber and a less amount is supplied to receiver IIO. Likewise, a less amount is withdrawn from receiver III through conduit I8. Hence, as the flow through the sprays is constant, more water passes through aperture II3 and the temperature cf the water in receiver IIO becomes higher and the air to be treated is not reduced to such a low temperature. Less water is therefore condensed from the air and the air supplied to room I5 has a higher moisture conten It will thus be seen that the initial cooling of the air is controlled directly in accordance with the moisture content of the conditioned air. That is to say, the greater the moisture content, the greater is the degree of cooling and vice versa.

The temperature of the air supplied to room l5 is controlled by means of valves 93 and 94. If the air becomes too warm the iiuid within thermostatic bulb |04 expands and forces the piston within cylinder |02 to the left. This causes lever 99 to pivot in a clockwise direction and to thus move valve stem 91 to the right. The result of this movement of the valve stem is to open lvalve 94 and to close valve 95. This results in more of the hot water supplied through'conduit 36 being by-passed around radiator 31 and hence the air passing in contact with the radiator is not heated to such a high temperature. If the air becomes too cold the reverse operations take place and valve 95 is open and valve 94 is closed. Thus, more of the hot water is passed through radiator 31 and less of it is by-passed.

It will be seen that the heat imparted to the air after its initial cooling is in part heat which has been removed from the air during the process of initial cooling. This heat is raised to a higher temperature level and then returned to the air. Hence, the system is very economical.

In the event that theair conditioning apparatus is to be used for heating the air in the winter time, it may become necessary to supply additional heat from outside the system. In this event, such steam may be supplied directly to radiator 31 or an additional radiator may be provided or other means for heating the air, such as electric or gas heaters may be used.

The temperature and humidity controls may be placed anywhere in the air circuit. Thus, they may be located in the room, as shown in Fig. 3, or they might be located in conduit i4. as is the temperature control shown in Fig. 2, or they might be located in an air outlet from the room I5.

There is illustrated one method of cooling the air by the water, that of spraying the water into the air. However, if desirable, the cooling Water may be circulated through conduits preferably provided with extended external surfaces, in contact with the air.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these particular embodiments have been selected for purposes of illustration only and that my invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising means for spraying water into the air to cool said air, means for evaporating a portion of the water to cool the remaining water, means for condensing the water vapor, means for conveyv ing heat from the condensate to said air out of contact with the condensate, and means for supplying said-air to a point of utilization.

2. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising means for spraying water into the air to cool said air, a hash chamber, means for conveying said water to said iiash chamber, means for n'naintaining a partial vacuum in said flash chamber, means for conveying water from said iiash chamber to the spra and automatic ng means, means responsive to the moisture content of air which has been conditioned for controlling the said chamber, means of said cooling iluid to cool the remainder,

means for returning the cooled fluid into heat exchange relationship with air passing through for condensing the evaporated cooling iiuid, and means for passing the condensed fluid through said radiator.

4. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising an air conditioning chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, means for passing air through said chamber, means for spraying water into the air in said chamber adjacent said air inlet, a radiator adjacent said air outlet, means for vaporizing a portion of the water from said spraying means, means for condensing the evaporated water and said steam, and means for passing said condensate through said radiator.

5. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising an air conditioning chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, means for passing air through said chamber, means for bringing water into heat exchange relationship with the air in said chamber, a radiator adjacent said air outlet, means for evaporating a portion of said water, a condenser, means for conducting the evaporated water to said condenser, and means for passing water containing heat of condensation from said condenser through said radiator.

6. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising an air conditioning chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, means for passing air through said chamber, means for spraying water into the air in said chamber adjacent said air inlet, a radiator adjacent said air outlet, means for evaporating a portion of said water to cool the remainder, means for returning the cooled water to the spraying means, means for condensing the evaporated water, means for passing water containing the heat of condensation through said radiator, and means for by-passing the last mentioned water around said radiator.

7. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising an air conditioning chamber, the lower part of' said chamber forming two liquid receivers, heat exchange means located in said chamber, means for conveying liquid from one receiver to said heat exchange means, means for conveying liquid from said heat exchange means to the other receiver, means for evaporating a portion of the liquid from said other receiver to cool the remaining liquid, means for conveying cooled liquid to said one receiver, and means establishing liquid communication directly between said receivers.

8. An apparatus ing an air conditioning chamber, the lower part of said chamber forming two liquid receiversI heat exchange means located in said chamber, means for conveying liquid from one receiver to said heat exchange means, means for conveying liquid from said heat exchange means to the other receiver, means for evaporating a portion of the liquid from said other receiver to cool the remaining liquid, automatic means responsive to the moisture content of the conditioned air for controlling the quantity of liquid conveyed from said other receiver to said evaporating means,

for conditioning air compris-- means for conveying liquid from said evaporating means to said one receiver, and means establishing liquid communication directly between said receivers.

9. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising an air conditioning chamber, the lower part of said chamber forming two liquid receivers, heat exchange means located in said chamber, means for conveying liquid from one receiver-to said heat exchange means, means for conveying liquid from said heat exchange means tothe other receiver, means for evaporating a portion of the liquid from said other receiver to cool the remaining liquid, means for conveying liquid.

from said evaporating means to said one receiver, automatic means responsive to the moisture content of the conditioned air for recirculating liquid discharged from said evaporating means back to said evaporating means, and means establishing liquid' communication directly between said receivers. L

l0. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising an air conditioning chamber,` the lower part of said chamber forming two liquid receivers, spraying means located in said chamber, means for conveying liquid from one receiver to said spraying means, means for conveying liquid from said spraying means to the other receiver, f

evaporating means, a conduit for conveying liquid from said other receiver to said evaporating means, a first valve in said conduit, a conduit for conveying liquid from said evaporating means to said one receiver, a by-pass conduit connecting said conduits, a second valve in said by-pass conduit, automatic means responsive to variations in-the moisture content of the conditioned air for opening said firstvalve and closing said second valve upon an increase in the moisture content, and means establishing' liquid communication directly between said receivers.

11. The method of conditioning air which comprises bringing cooling water into heatv exchange relationship with the air to remove heat from the air and thereby reduce the temperature thereof, evaporating a portion of the Water to remove heat from the remaining Water, conveying the heat so removed to the air in order to raise the temperature thereof, and conveying the heated air to the point of use.

12. Apparatus for conditioning air comprising means for bringing cooling water into heat exchange relationship with the air to cool said air, means for evaporating a portion of the water to cool the remaining water, means for condensing the water vapor, means for conveying heat from the condensate to said air out of contact with the condensate, and means for supplying said air to a point of utilization.

13. The method of conditioning air which comprises bringing cooling water into heat exchange relationship with the air to remove heat from the air and thereby reduce the temperature thereof, evaporating a portion of the water to remove heat from the remaining water, conveying the heat to the air at a higher temperature than that at which it was removed from the air, in order to raise the temperature of the air and conveying the heated air to the point of use.

14. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising an air conditioning chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, means for passing air through said chamber, means for bringing said air into heat exchange relationship with a cooling fluid in said chamber, means for evaporating a portion of said cooling fluid to cool the re- 5 mainder, means for returning the cooled fluid into heat exchange relationship with air passing through said chamber, means for condensing the evaporated cooling fluid, and means for passing the condensed fluid into vheat exchange relation- 10 ship with the cooled air. 4

15. A n apparatus for conditioning air comprising an air conditioning chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, means for passing air through said chamber, means for spraying wa- 15 ter into the air in said chamber adjacent said air inlet. means for vaporizing a portion of the water from said spraying means, means forv condensing 'the` evaporated water and means for passing said condensate into heat exchange-'re- 20 lationship with the air subsequent toits Contact with the spray water.

16. An apparatus for conditioning air comprising an air conditioning chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, means for passing air 25 through said chamber, means for bringing a cooling uid into heat exchange relationship with the air in the chamber to cool the air, means for evaporating a portion of said cooling fluid to cool the remainder, means for returning the 30 cooled uid into heat exchange relationship with the air, means for condensing the evaporated fluid, means for bringing the condensate into heat exchange relationship with the cooled air to heat the air, and means for byfpassing the 35 condensate out of heat exchange relationship with the cooled air.

17. The method of conditioning air which comprises spraying cold water into the air to remove heat from the air and thereby reduce the 40 temperature thereof, precipitating moisture from the air due to the reduction in temperature, removing heat from the water by evaporating a portion of the water, conveying the heat to the air in order to raise the temperature of the air, 45 and controlling the removal of heat from the air in response to the moisture content of air which has beenv conditioned.

18. The method of conditioning air which comprises spraying cold water into the air to remove heat from the air and thereby reduce the temperature thereof, precipitating moisture from the air due to the reduction in temperature, removing heat from the Water by evaporating a portion of the water, conveying the heat to the air in order to raise the temperature of the air, and controlling the heating of the air in responseto the temperature of air-which has been conditioned.

19. Apparatus for conditioning air comprising means for bringing a cooling fluid into heat exchange relationship with the air to cool the air, means for evaporating a. portion of the cooling fluid to cool the remaining fluid, means for circulating the fluid from the first'mentioned means '65 to the second mentioned means and return, and automatic means responsive to the moisture content of the air which has been conditioned for controlling the temperature of the cooling fluid supplied to the first mentioned means.v

' DION KANOUSE DEAN.