Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat or energy recovery ventilator unit comprising: a housing; a heat exchanger core; an outgoing airflow conduit and an inlet and outlet for passage of the outgoing airflow; an incoming airflow conduit and an inlet and outlet for passage of incoming airflow; a blower for moving the outgoing and incoming airflows through the respective conduits; a damper and a damper drive to move the damper between a ventilation position and a defrost position on the unit; and a damper control system comprising a processor that causes the damper to be released from a frozen state on the unit by effecting clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of a drive that actuates the damper, thereby releasing the damper from said frozen state. Further provided is a damper control system for a heat or energy recovery ventilator unit and a computer program product to control operation of the damper.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a core configured for use in an energy exchanger. The core includes a plurality of stacked and spaced planar plate pairs including a top plate and a bottom plate to support fluid flow of a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow. A plurality of dimples is provided by instances of the plate pairs. The plurality of dimples are arranged to generate substantially counter current flow between the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a core configured for use in an energy exchanger. The core includes a plurality of stacked and spaced planar plate pairs including a top plate and a bottom plate to support fluid flow of a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow. A plurality of dimples is provided by instances of the plate pairs. The plurality of dimples are arranged to generate substantially counter current flow between the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a core configured for use in an energy exchanger. The core includes a plurality of stacked and spaced planar plate pairs including a top plate and a bottom plate to support fluid flow of a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow. A plurality of dimples is provided by instances of the plate pairs. The plurality of dimples are arranged to generate substantially counter current flow between the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to air exchange systems and, in particular, to an improved energy recovery ventilator, a cross flow plate core associated therewith and a method of conditioning air for a building. In one aspect, the invention provides a cross flow plate core comprising: a left hand wafer comprising a left hand spacer with a first of a plurality of membranes bonded thereto, the left hand spacer comprising a plurality of parallel curvilinear rails which form channels for receiving a first stream of air; and a right hand wafer comprising a right hand spacer with a second of the plurality of membranes bonded thereto, the right hand spacer comprising a plurality of parallel curvilinear rails which form channels for receiving a second stream of air, wherein the left hand spacer of the left hand wafer is bonded to the top of the membrane of the right hand wafer.

Abstract: A separator is made of a porous material and is intended to treat gaseous effluents which contain particles whose size is substantially less than one micrometer or of the order of one micrometer. The porous material includes channels. The channels are delimited by a fibrous porous material such as batting.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to air exchange systems and, in particular, to an improved energy recovery ventilator, a cross flow plate core associated therewith and a method of conditioning air for a building. In one aspect, the invention provides a cross flow plate core comprising: a left hand wafer comprising a left hand spacer with a first of a plurality of membranes bonded thereto, the left hand spacer comprising a plurality of parallel curvilinear rails which form channels for receiving a first stream of air; and a right hand wafer comprising a right hand spacer with a second of the plurality of membranes bonded thereto, the right hand spacer comprising a plurality of parallel curvilinear rails which form channels for receiving a second stream of air, wherein the left hand spacer of the left hand wafer is bonded to the top of the membrane of the right hand wafer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inline fan housing assembly adaptable for connection with conduits of various diameters. The inline fan housing assembly comprises a connector collar for connection to the inlet or exhaust ports of the fan housings to adapt the fan housings for connection to a variety of conduits having diameters not designed to connect with the inlet or exhaust ports of the fan housing. The inline fan housing assembly also comprises an inner inlet ring for adapting the inlet port of the inline fan housing to direct air into motorized impellor of various sizes mounted within the inline fan housing. The connector collars of the present invention contain one or more steps, each step suitable for connection with a conduit of a different diameter. In one exemplary embodiment, the inner steps of the connection collar are removable thereby allow for increased air flow through the connection.

Abstract: A novel system for and method of balancing fresh air flow and exhaust air flow through a ventilator. The ventilator has an air-to-air heat exchanger operably mounted within a principal fresh air flow passage and a principal stale air flow passage. A flow meter is provided for connection to the principal fresh air flow passage and the principal stale air flow passage, across the air-to-air heat exchanger. The flow meter is proportionally responsive to mass flow of the air flow passages to which they are connected. Further involved is at least one damper within at least one of the air flow passages. To ensure that both air flow measurements indicate a substantially equal response, each damper can be adjusted to change the amount of air flow within its respective air flow passage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel system for and method of balancing fresh air flow and exhaust air flow through a ventilator. The ventilator comprises an air-to-air heat exchanger operably mounted within a principal fresh air flow passage and a principal stale air flow passage. The invention involves two flow meters respectively connected to the principal fresh air flow passage and the principal stale air flow passage, in parallel to the air-to-air heat exchanger. The flow meters are proportionally responsive to mass flow of the air flow passages to which they are connected. The invention further involves at least one damper within at least one of the air flow passages. To ensure that both air flow meters indicate a substantially equal response, each damper can be adjusted to change the amount of air flow within its respective air flow passage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a separator made of a porous material intended to treat gaseous effluents which contain particles whose size is substantially less than one micrometer or of the order of one micrometer and comprising channels (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection collar for a duct ventilation system and furnace. The connection collar is comprised of a self-guiding and self-locking damper valve, which when positioned becomes part of a completely sealable joint when used with preferably flexible insulated heating pipe. With the adjusting apparatus and locking apparatus completely contained within the connection collar the connection collar forms a vapor barrier when used with the preferable pipe and or furnace. The self-locking and self-guiding apparatus comprises of a spring biassing arrangement and a cone shaped receiver equipped with catch teeth which when engaged mate with teeth circumferentially positioned on the damper apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined furnace and air recovery system. The system is comprised of a furnace housing having an inlet opening for connection to a cold air return duct and an outlet opening connected to a heating duct. A negative pressure compartment is located within the housing and is in communication with the inlet opening. A positive pressure compartment is also located within the housing and is in communication with the outlet opening. A fan is provided, communicating between the negative pressure compartment and the positive pressure compartment. a heating unit is located within the positive pressure compartment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a core assembly for use in an air-to-air heat exchanger. The core is comprised of a plurality of square plates. Each plate is comprised of a square planar central region; a first pair of opposed edge flanges bent in a first direction with respect to the central region to form approximately 90 degree angle with the central region; and a second pair of opposed edge flanges bent in a direction opposite the first direction with respect to the central region to form approximately 90 degree angle with the central region. The core is formed by the plurality of square plates that are positioned into a stack of parallel plates such that the opposed flanges of one of the plurality of plates is located in contact with and inside mating opposed flanges of a plate directly adjacent thereto, thereby forming a plurality of air passages between adjacent plates such that two perpendicular air pathways are formed in an interleaved orientation.