Energy exchange system for conditioning air in an enclosed structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290666-A1
Application number	US-201615185180-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Sep 2, 2011
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Certain embodiments provide an energy exchange system that includes a supply air flow path, an exhaust air flow path, an energy recovery device disposed within the supply and exhaust air flow paths, and a supply conditioning unit disposed within the supply air flow path. The supply conditioning unit may be downstream from the energy recovery device. Certain embodiments provide a method of conditioning air including introducing outside air as supply air into a supply air flow path, pre-conditioning the supply air with an energy recovery device, and fully-conditioning the supply air with a supply conditioning unit that is downstream from the energy recovery device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An energy exchange system comprising:
a supply air flow path connected to a plurality of zone conditioners; an exhaust air flow path connected to the plurality of zone conditioners; an energy recovery device disposed within the supply and exhaust air flow paths; and a supply conditioning unit disposed within the supply air flow path, wherein the supply conditioning unit is downstream from the energy recovery device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of zone conditioners comprises the supply conditioning unit.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a regenerator disposed within the exhaust air flow path; and a liquid handling device in fluid communication with the supply conditioning unit and the regenerator.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the regenerator is configured to be operated during off-hours to regenerate a desiccant.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the liquid handling device comprises a liquid source, wherein a concentration of liquid within the liquid handling device is configured to be adjusted through the liquid source.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the liquid handling device comprises a moisture transfer loop in fluid communication with a supply loop and a regenerator loop.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the moisture transfer loop comprises a desiccant supply conduit and a desiccant return conduit, wherein at least portions of the desiccant supply conduit and the desiccant return conduit contact one another in a manner that facilitates thermal energy transfer therebetween.

8 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the liquid handling device comprises:
a first heat exchanger in a supply fluid path; a second heat exchanger in an exhaust fluid path; and a conditioner that circulates heat transfer fluid between the first and second heat exchangers.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the supply conditioning unit comprises a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE).

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a return air duct that fluidly connects the supply air flow path and the exhaust air flow path, wherein the return air duct connects to the supply air flow path downstream from the supply conditioning unit.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a post-conditioner disposed downstream of the energy recovery device and upstream of the supply conditioning unit in the supply air flow path.

12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a remote conditioner.

13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one control unit that monitors and controls operation of the system, wherein the at least one control unit operates the system to selectively control one or both of humidity or temperature.

14 . An energy exchange system comprising:
a supply air flow path connected to a plurality of zone conditioners; an exhaust air flow path connected to the plurality of zone conditioners; a supply conditioning unit disposed within the supply air flow path; a regenerator disposed within the exhaust air flow path; and a liquid handling device in fluid communication with the supply conditioning unit and the regenerator, wherein the liquid handling device comprises a moisture transfer loop.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of zone conditioners comprises the supply conditioning unit.

16 . An energy exchange system configured to provide sensible and latent conditioning to a plurality of zones, the energy exchange system comprising:
an energy recovery system; and a plurality of zone conditioners in fluid communication with the energy recovery system, wherein each of the plurality of zone conditioners is configured to condition a separate and distinct zone.

17 . The energy exchange system of claim 16 , further comprising a supply air line that branches off to the plurality of zone conditioners, and wherein the energy recovery system is in fluid communication with the supply air line.

18 . The energy exchange system of claim 16 , further comprising a return line in fluid communication with an exhaust flow path of the energy recovery system, wherein each of the plurality of zone conditioners is connected to the return line.

19 . The energy exchange system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of zone conditioners are fluidly connected to a liquid handling device.

20 . The energy exchange system of claim 19 , wherein the liquid handling device circulates desiccant solution with respect to the plurality of zone conditioners.

21 . The energy exchange system of claim 19 , wherein the liquid handling device circulates refrigerant with respect to the plurality of zone conditioners.

22 . The energy exchange system of claim 19 , wherein the liquid handling device circulates water with respect to the plurality of zone conditioners.

23 . The energy exchange system of claim 19 , wherein the liquid handling device circulates glycol with respect to the plurality of zone conditioners.

Assignees

• Nortek Air Solutions Canada Inc

Inventors

• Coutu Ken
• Hemingson Howard Brian
• Gerber Manfred

Classifications

• F24F3/147

  with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air · CPC title

• F24F2003/1435

  comprising semi-permeable membrane · CPC title

• F24F3/1417 Primary

  with liquid hygroscopic desiccants · CPC title

• Y02B30/52

  Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency · CPC title

• F28D19/042

  Rotors; Assemblies of heat absorbing masses · CPC title