Heat pump humidifier and dehumidifier system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9885486-B2
Application number	US-201113275633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2011
Priority date	Aug 27, 2010
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

A heat pump system for conditioning air supplied to a space is provided. The system includes a pre-processing module that pre-conditions supply air. A supply air heat exchanger is in flow communication with the pre-processing module. The supply air heat exchanger receives air from the pre-processing module and at least one of heats or cools the air from the pre-processing module. A processing module is in flow communication with the supply air heat exchanger. The processing module receiving and conditioning air from the supply air heat exchanger. A regeneration air heat exchanger is provided to at least one of heat or cool regeneration air. The regeneration air heat exchanger and the supply air heat exchanger are fluidly coupled by a refrigerant system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat pump system for conditioning air supplied to a space, the system configured to operate in both a summer mode and a winter mode, the system comprising:
a return air path including a return air inlet and a return air outlet downstream of the return air inlet, the return air path receiving return air at the return air inlet and delivering conditioned return air to the return air outlet;
a supply air path including a supply air inlet and a supply air outlet connected to the space and downstream of the supply air inlet, the supply air path receiving one or more of return air and outside air at the supply air inlet and delivering conditioned supply air to the supply air outlet;
a supply air heat exchanger that operates as an evaporator coil in the summer mode and as a condenser coil in the winter mode, wherein the supply air heat exchanger is disposed within the supply air flow path;
a regeneration air heat exchanger that operates as a condenser coil in the summer mode and an evaporator coil in the winter mode, wherein the regeneration air heat exchanger is disposed within the return air flow path; and
a processing module in flow communication with the supply air heat exchanger and the regeneration air heat exchanger to condition the supply air using return air, wherein the processing module includes a supply portion disposed in the supply air flow path downstream of the supply air heat exchanger, and includes a regeneration portion disposed in the return air flow path downstream of the regeneration air heat exchanger.

2. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising:
a control system configured to sense a condition of a supply air stream, and control an output of at least one of the processing module, a single compressor, multiple compressors or a variable compressor to achieve a predetermined dehumidification in the summer mode and predetermined humidification in the winter mode.

3. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising:
a control system configured to control an output of at least one of the processing module, a single compressor, multiple compressors or a variable compressor to achieve a predetermined performance in both the summer mode and the winter mode.

4. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a heat exchanger switch in flow communication with both the supply and regeneration air heat exchangers that is fluidly coupled to a refrigerant system.

5. The heat pump system of claim 4 further comprising a control system that allows a space sensible load and a latent load to be maintained independently.

6. The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the air supplied to the space is at least one of outside air or return air.

7. The heat pump system of claim 1 , wherein the regeneration air heat exchanger is configured to receive regeneration air, wherein the regeneration air is at least one of outside air or return air.

8. The heat pump system of claim 7 , wherein moisture is transferred between the air supplied to the space and the regeneration air through the processing module.

9. The heat pump system of claim 7 wherein one or both of the supply air heat exchanger and the processing module is configured to transfer heat between the air supplied to the space and the regeneration air.

10. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a control system that allows a space sensible load and a latent load to he maintained independently.

11. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a control system to limit frost formation in the processing module and or the heat exchanger in the winter mode.

12. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a control system to limit frost formation in the processing module and or the supply or regeneration air heat exchangers in the winter mode.

13. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a switch in flow communication with the supply air heat exchanger that is fluidly coupled to a refrigerant system.

14. The heat pump system of claim 13 further comprising:
a control system configured to sense a condition of at least one of a supply air stream or a regeneration air stream, and control an output of at least one of the processing module, the supply air heat exchanger, the heat exchanger switch, a single compressor, multiple compressors, or a variable compressor to achieve a predetermined performance in both the summer mode and the winter mode.

15. The heat pump system of claim 13 , wherein the system senses a condition of at least one of a supply air stream or a regeneration air stream to control an output of the supply air heat exchanger switch to achieve a pre-determined amount of at least one of moisture transfer, heat transfer or limit frost formation in at least one of the processing module or the supply air heat exchanger.

16. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising an additional supply air heat exchanger located downstream from the processing module, and wherein the supply air heat exchanger is located upstream from the processing module.

17. The heat pump system of claim 16 further comprising a heat exchanger switch to control the flow of refrigerant in the supply air heat exchanger and the additional supply air heat exchanger.

18. The heat pump system of claim 17 , wherein the system senses a condition of at least one of a supply air stream or a regeneration air stream to control an output of at least one of the heat exchanger switch to achieve a pre-determined amount of at least one of moisture transfer, heat transfer or limit frost formation in at least one of the processing module or the supply air and additional supply air heat exchangers.

19. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a heat exchanger switch to control flow of refrigerant in the supply and regeneration air heat exchangers.

20. The heat pump system of claim 19 , wherein the system senses a condition of at least one of a supply air stream or a regeneration air stream to control an output of at least one of a heat exchanger switch to achieve a pre-determined amount of at least one of moisture transfer, heat transfer or limit frost formation in at least one of the processing module or heat exchangers.

21. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a damper to change the flow of return air between the air supplied to the space and a regeneration air stream.

22. The heat pump system of claim 21 further comprising an outside air damper.

23. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising at least one heat exchanger switch to control the flow of cold and hot refrigerant in the refrigeration system.

24. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a control system that allows a space sensible load and a latent load to be maintained independently.

25. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a control system to limit frost formation in the processing module and or the supply air heat exchanger in the winter mode.

26. The heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising:
a control system configured to sense a condition of at least one of a supply air stream or a regeneration air stream, and control an output of at least one of the processing module, the supply air heat exchanger, a heat exchanger switch, a single compressor, multiple compressors or a variable compressor to achieve a predetermined performance in both the summer mode and winter mode.

Assignees

• Wintemute David Martin
• Nortek Air Solutions Canada Inc

Inventors

• Wintemute David Martin

Classifications

• F25B49/02

  for compression type machines, plants or systems · CPC title

• F25B13/00

  Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B47/02) · CPC title

• F24F2203/10

  Rotary wheel · CPC title

• F24F2203/026

  Absorption - desorption cycle · CPC title

• F24F3/147 Primary

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