Technology
The Needs of Our Buildings Have Changed...
Since its invention in 1902, air conditioning has relied on vapor compression (VC) to cool and dehumidify air. VC has become progressively more efficient at changing the temperature of air but will remain fundamentally inefficient at humidity control.
Further, the need to control humidity has increased dramatically since the invention of VC. Modern building codes, ventilation requirements, and efficient appliances have reduced temperature loads but increased humidity loads:, buildings now use more energy to control humidity than temperature.
Why Mojave?
The key to any product that uses a desiccant to dehumidify air is to efficiently separate the water accumulated from that air from the desiccant so that desiccant can be used again and again. Mojave’s developing two liquid desiccant regeneration technologies each of which significantly outperform other desiccant-based A/C processes:
- The all-thermal system regenerates desiccant by using excess heat from the compressor to evaporate water from the desiccant
- The electrochemical system uses a patented electrodialysis process to recover the desiccant from the collected water
Mojave's Thermal System Gives the Best of Both Worlds
Mojave products have two systems inside: an innovative liquid desiccant system to manage humidity plus a modern vapor compression system to control temperature. We can operate these systems independently allowing separate and optimized control of humidity and temperature. Plus, our simple design of using only air to transfer heat assure reliable operation.
Next Generation Electrochemical Technology
Electrochemical regeneration offers the highest possible efficiency: it’s 20 times more thermodynamically efficient than thermal regeneration because you only need to overcome the heat of mixing, not the heat of vaporization. Our patented redox-shuttled electrochemical method is a great step in that direction. Plus, electrochemical regeneration offers other benefits:
- Electrical load can be shifted to off-peak times. This helps the grid by storing energy at a fraction of the cost of lithium-ion batteries
- Allows indoors and split systems by eliminating the need for regeneration air
- Can take advantage of chilled water systems for even higher efficiency performance
Even More Benefits
Liquid desiccant even offers some valuable benefits people often forget about. These include:
Energy Storage
With two systems inside we can adjust the operation of the unit to shift some energy use to off-peak times and store that as concentrated desiccant. We can also shed electric load to help the electric grid when it is stressed.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
Liquid desiccant is also a natural disinfectant, eliminating airborne microorganisms like SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria. So it naturally filters and disinfects air for improved indoor air quality (IAQ).