This patent covers a mono-directional loop heat-pipe passive system for use in air conditioning to increase dehumidification.  This passive loop is commonly known as the Dinh^TM Dehumidifier Heat Pipe, Dinh being the name of the inventor. The Dinh^TM Dehumidifier Heat Pipe by HPT typically uses 30% to 50% less energy.  In very hot and humid climates, an HPT system may pay for itself in energy savings many times over.

This patent covers the method of manufacturing an evaporator coil and the two sections of dehumidifier heat pipes in the wrap-around configuration.  The immediate advantage is a reduction of up to 20% in the cost of fabrication. The greater advantage lies in the compactness of the combined assembly, making it possible for use in small equipment such as room air conditioners or room dehumidifiers, a very large international market.

The Boost Heat Pipe is an expanded application of the Dehumidifier Heat Pipe.  The presence of the heat pipes in an air conditioner has the effect of increasing dehumidification (latent heat ratio).  This perfectly suits humid climates or environments where reduced humidity is a necessity.  However, sometimes the effect of the heat pipes should be temporarily negated. For example, when the conditioned air is already dried down to the required humidity level or during peak periods when the inside air is hotter than normal.  In either case, it is better to neutralize the reheating effect of the heat pipes and, if possible, increase the sensible cooling capacity of the air conditioner.  The Boost Heat Pipe will do a great job for both.

All heat pipes marketed by HPT are of the micro-grooved type, meaning that they have micro-sized grooves formed on their inside wall.  This newly invented micro-grooving method by HPT is for carving micro grooves into the smooth inside wall of regular, cheap copper pipes.  It is expected that copper pipes so micro grooved, when used as heat-pipes, will provide the same efficiency as the current preformed micro grooved pipes, but the cost could be reduced by approximately 10%.

Granted in China, Taiwan and Korean

The original Dehumidifier Heat Pipe patent by HPT covers the use of heat pipes comprised of two separate sections installed before and after an AC evaporator.  It does not, however, cover the latter improvements of the technology.   This new patent application adds strength to the two section characteristics while defining further that the sections are made of "serpentine" coils.  It also covers the different configurations of the two sections heat pipes such as the wrap-around, vertical or horizontal positioning as well as the use of serpentine heat pipes in a mono-slab configuration.  Their application lies not only in dehumidification, but also in heat transfer and heat recovery.