Abstract: An energy recovery heat exchanger (100) includes a housing (102). The housing has a first flowpath (144) from a first inlet (104) to a first outlet (106). The housing has a second flowpath (146) from a second inlet (108) to a second outlet (110). Either of two cores may be in an operative position in the housing. Each core has a number of first passageways having open first and second ends and closed first and second sides. Each core has a number of second such passageways interspersed with the first passageways. The ends of the second passageways are aligned with the sides of the first passageways and vice versa. A number of heat transfer member sections separate adjacent ones of the first and second passageways. An actuator is coupled to the carrier to shift the cores between first and second conditions. In the first condition, the first core (20) is in the operative position and the second core (220) is not. In the second condition, the second core is in the operative position and the first core is not.

Abstract: A contaminant removal system is disclosed for selectively removing contaminants from a fluid stream. The contaminant removal system has a catalytic reactor of the type that is susceptible to deactivating agents, and is configured to remove contaminants from a fluid stream. The contaminant removal system has a first adsorbent device positioned upstream, with respect to the fluid stream direction, of the catalytic reactor, that is configured to chemically bind with and remove the deactivating agents from the fluid stream. The contaminant removal system can have a second adsorbent device positioned downstream, with respect to the fluid stream direction, of the catalytic reactor. The second adsorbent device is configured to remove undesirable byproducts that may be generated when the catalytic reactor removes contaminants from the fluid stream.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid purification device that has a deactivation resistant photocatalyst having nanocrystallites of less than 14 nanometers (nm) in diameter with at least 200 m2 surface area/cm3 of skeletal volume in cylindrical pores of 5 nm in diameter or larger, with the mode of the pore size distribution 10 nm or more.

Abstract: A gas treatment system for treating a gas stream containing contaminants includes first and second gas treatment members in fluid communication with each other. Each of the first and second gas treatment members is selectively controllable between an on and an off condition. A third gas treatment member is in fluid communication with the first and second gas treatment members, and the third gas treatment member selectively retains or releases the contaminants based upon the on or off condition of at least one of the first or second gas treatment members.

Abstract: Ultraviolet photocatalytic oxidation (UV-PCO) air purification system includes controller that coordinates operation of photocatalytic reactor that removes volatile organic compounds from air and a regeneration mode that removes contaminants adsorbed in UV-PCO system. Controller coordinates operation of the regeneration mode and photocatalytic reactor so that when air purification system is turned on, the regeneration mode begins to operate before photocatalytic reactor is activated. The initial operation of the regeneration mode allows contaminants that have adsorbed in UV-PCO system to be removed before controller initiates a normal operation mode by activating photocatalytic reactor to cleanse the air.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid purification device that has a deactivation resistant photocatalyst having nanocrystallites of less than 14 nanometers (nm) in diameter with at least 200 m2 surface area/cm3 of skeletal volume in cylindrical pores of 5 nm in diameter or larger, with the mode of the pore size distribution 10 nm or more.

Abstract: An energy recovery heat exchanger (100) includes a housing (102). The housing has a first flowpath (144) from a first inlet (104) to a first outlet (106). The housing has a second flowpath (146) from a second inlet (108) to a second outlet (110). Either of two cores may be in an operative position in the housing. Each core has a number of first passageways having open first and second ends and closed first and second sides. Each core has a number of second such passageways interspersed with the first passageways. The ends of the second passageways are aligned with the sides of the first passageways and vice versa. A number of heat transfer member sections separate adjacent ones of the first and second passageways. An actuator is coupled to the carrier to shift the cores between first in and second conditions. In the first condition, the first core (20) is in the operative position and the second core (220) is not. In the second condition, the second core is in the operative position and the first core is not.

Abstract: A contaminant removal system for selectively removing contaminants from a fluid stream. The contaminant removal system has a catalytic reactor of the type that is susceptible to deactivating agents. The catalytic reactor is configured to remove contaminants from a fluid stream. The contaminant removal system has a first adsorbent device positioned upstream, with respect to the fluid stream direction, of the catalytic reactor, that is configured to remove the deactivating agents from the fluid stream. The contaminant removal system has a second adsorbent device positioned downstream, with respect to the fluid stream direction, of the catalytic reactor. The second adsorbent device is configured to remove undesirable byproducts that may be generated when the catalytic reactor removes contaminants from the fluid stream.

Abstract: A system and method (60) for a purifying a fluid (such as air or water) containing contaminants includes removing the contaminants from the fluid (70) using a capturing device, such as an adsorbent and/or a particle filter. The contaminants may include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and microorganisms. The method (60) further includes generating ozone molecules using an ozone generating device (62). An ozone decomposition device is used to decompose at least a portion of the ozone molecules into oxygen and oxygen radicals (68). The captured contaminants (VOCs and microorganisms) react with the oxygen radicals and the ozone molecules to denature the contaminants (72), rendering them less harmful than the original contaminants in the fluid. In some cases, the contaminants may be reduced to carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: A gas treatment system for treating a gas stream containing contaminants includes first and second gas treatment members in fluid communication with each other. Each of the first and second gas treatment members is selectively controllable between an on and an off condition. A third gas treatment member is in fluid communication with the first and second gas treatment members, and the third gas treatment member selectively retains or releases the contaminants based upon the on or off condition of at least one of the first or second gas treatment members.

Abstract: An air treatment system includes a filter and heating element, a plasma device, and a photocatalyst and UV light that cooperate to purify an air stream flowing through the air treatment system and protect the photocatalyst from passivating effects of certain contaminants. The air treatment system operates in two different modes. In the first mode, the air treatment system primarily draws air from and returns air to a space, and the heating element and plasma device are selectively shut off. In the second mode, the air treatment system regenerates the filter using the heating element to selectively heat the filter and release adsorbed contaminants. The plasma device is selectively turned on and chemically transforms the released contaminants into solid contaminant products. The solid contaminant products are deposited on a biased electrode of the plasma device. The UV light is turned off to ensure that the photocatalyst is inoperable during the release and transformation of the contaminants.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fluid purification device that has a deactivation resistant photocatalyst having nanocrystallites of less than 14 nanometers (nm) in diameter with at least 200 m2 surface area/cm3 of skeletal volume in cylindrical pores of 5 nm in diameter or larger, with the mode of the pore size distribution 10 nm or more.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which incorporates low pressure drop contaminant removal from gas phases or streams, which advantageously can be used to enhance efficiency, improve humidity characteristics, and reduce capital cost of air handing systems such as HVAC systems and the like. Placement of the low pressure drop contaminant removal mechanism for enhancing effectiveness of same is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for separating a gas component from a gas mixture is disclosed. A gas mixture is passed through an adsorption zone which contains an adsorbent which will selectively adsorb a gaseous component from the gas mixture. The adsorption zone contains a layer of monolithic adsorbent and a layer of adsorption beads. Optionally, a third monolithic layer may be employed. The adsorption zone is typically contained in an adsorption vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides for novel solid state O2-selective metal complex-based adsorbents and their utility for separating oxygen from a gas stream. In particular, the invention provides for an adsorption complex which contains four-coordinate O2-selective metal complexes including oligomeric/polymeric metal complexes, and organic base-containing polymers supported on porous materials.

Abstract: A rotary valve system which includes of a pair of valve assemblies each of which has valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one valve part of each assembly. The first valve part of each assembly contains a circular array of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part of each assembly contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve apertures located in the second valve part of each assembly. The second valve part of each assembly also contains one or more passages which provide communication between members of one or the other array of openings. The valve system can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array.

Abstract: A rotary valve system which includes of a pair of valve assemblies each of which has valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one valve part of each assembly. The first valve part of each assembly contains a circular array of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part of each assembly contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve apertures located in the second valve part of each assembly. The second valve part of one assembly also contains one or more passages which provide communication between members of one or the other array of openings. The valve system can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array.

Abstract: A rotary valve assembly which includes of a pair of valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one of the valve parts. The first valve part contains two circular arrays of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve ports located in the second valve part. The second valve part also contains one or more passages which provide communication between two openings of one array of openings and one opening of the other array of openings. The valve assembly can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array.

Abstract: A rotary valve assembly which includes a pair of valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one of the valve parts. The first valve part contains two circular arrays of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve ports located in the second valve part. The second valve part also contains one or more passages which provide communication between members of one array of openings and between members of the other array of openings. The valve assembly can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array.

Abstract: A rotary valve assembly which includes of a pair of valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one of the valve parts. The first valve part contains two circular arrays of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve ports located in the second valve part. The second valve part also contains one or more passages which provide communication between members of one array of openings. The valve assembly can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array. Use of the valve assembly in an adsorption system eliminates the need for many of the valves required in conventional multivessel adsorption systems.