System and method for conditioning air in an enclosed structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9976822-B2
Application number	US-201213426793-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2012
Priority date	Mar 22, 2012
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

An energy exchange system includes a supply flow path including a central sub-path connected to a bypass sub-path that is, in turn, connected to a delivery sub-path that connects to the enclosed structure. A sensible heat exchanger configured to condition the supply air is disposed within the central sub-path. The bypass sub-path connects to the central sub-path upstream from the sensible heat exchanger within the central sub-path. A first coil configured to further condition the supply air is disposed within the central sub-path downstream from the sensible heat exchanger. A bypass damper is disposed within the bypass sub-path. The bypass damper is configured to be selectively opened and closed. The bypass damper allows at least a portion of the supply air to pass through the bypass sub-path into the delivery sub-path and bypass the sensible heat exchanger and the first coil when the bypass damper is open.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An energy exchange system configured to provide supply air to an enclosed structure, the system comprising:
a supply flow path including a central sub-path connected to a bypass sub-path that is connected to a delivery sub-path that connects to the enclosed structure;
a sensible heat exchanger configured to condition the supply air disposed within the central sub-path, wherein the bypass sub-path connects to the central sub-path upstream from the sensible heat exchanger within the central sub-path;
a first coil configured to further condition the supply air disposed within the central sub-path downstream from the sensible heat exchanger; and
a bypass damper disposed within the bypass sub-path, wherein the bypass damper is configured to be selectively opened and closed, wherein the bypass damper allows at least a portion of the supply air to pass through the bypass sub-path into the delivery sub-path and bypass the sensible heat exchanger and the first coil when the bypass damper is open.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the supply flow path further includes:
a re-direct sub-path that reconnects to the sensible heat exchanger, wherein the sensible heat exchanger is configured to receive re-directed supply air within the re-direct sub-path and pass the re-directed supply air to the delivery sub-path; and
a pre-delivery sub-path that is connected between the central sub-path and the delivery sub-path.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a re-direct damper disposed within the re-direct sub-path, wherein the re-direct damper is configured to be selectively opened and closed in order to open and close, respectively, the re-direct sub-path.

4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a pre-delivery damper disposed within the pre-delivery sub-path, wherein the pre-delivery damper is configured to be selectively opened and closed in order to open and close, respectively, the pre-delivery sub-path.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensible heat exchanger comprises a plate heat exchanger.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the plate heat exchanger comprises a plurality of parallel plates defining first and second levels configured to allow supply air to pass therethrough, wherein the first level is oriented parallel with a first axis, while the second level is oriented parallel with a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensible heat exchanger comprises a sensible wheel or a heat pipe.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an energy recovery device having a portion disposed within the central sub-path upstream from the bypass sub-path and the sensible heat exchanger, wherein the energy recovery device is configured to pre-condition the supply air.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first coil comprises sealed tubes containing fluid.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one temperature or humidity sensor within the supply flow path.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit operatively connected to the bypass damper.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second coil disposed within the delivery sub-path, wherein the second coil is configured to re-heat or re-cool the supply air before the supply air passes into the enclosed structure.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid circulation circuit connected to the first coil, wherein the fluid circulation circuit is configured to circulate fluid to the first coil.

Assignees

• Wintemute David Martin
• Fortin Remi
• Nortek Air Solutions Canada Inc

Inventors

• Wintemute David Martin
• Fortin Remi

Classifications

• F28D15/02

  in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes {(heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257)} · CPC title

• F24F2203/10

  Rotary wheel · CPC title

• F28D19/041

  with axial flow through the intermediate heat-transfer medium · CPC title

• F28F27/02 Primary

  for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels ({static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026}; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12) · CPC title

• F24F12/001

  with heat-exchange between supplied and exhausted air · CPC title