DOUBLE FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER DEVICE

The invention relates to a device (1) enabling the exchange of heat between a first fluid (2) and a second fluid (3) flowing counter current through the device, comprising: an outer casing (4) sealed against the two fluids, having a long shape that extends between first (7) and second (9) ends; a wall (5) enabling heat exchange between the fluids, housed inside the outer casing; a first inlet (6) for the first fluid (2), formed at the first end (7) of the outer casing; a second inlet (8) for the second fluid (3), formed at the second end (9) of the outer casing (4) opposite the first end (7), the aforementioned exchange wall (5) extending between the first (6) and second (8) fluid inlets; a first outlet (10) for extracting the first fluid (2) from the outer casing (4), formed in the area at the first end (7); a second outlet (11) for extracting the second fluid (3) from the outer casing (4), formed in the area at the second end (9); a first pipe (12) enabling the flow of the first fluid (2) inside the outer casing (4); and a second pipe (13) enabling the flow of the second fluid (3) inside the outer casing (4), such that (i) the second outlet (11) and the first inlet (6) and (ii) the first outlet (10) and the second inlet (8) are separated respectively by a distance equal to or greater than the length (□) of the exchange wall. The invention also relates to the different uses of the device.

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Description

The present invention relates to double flow heat exchanger devices, between at least one first and one second fluid, said devices including:

    • an outer casing sealed against the first and second fluids,
    • at least one partition wall enabling the exchange of heat between the first and second fluids, said wall being housed inside said outer casing,
    • a first inlet opening, for the first fluid, formed at a first end of the outer casing,
    • a second inlet opening, for the second fluid, formed at a second end of the outer casing, opposite the first end of said casing,
    • said outer casing having a long shape that extends between its first and second ends,
    • said exchange wall extending between said first and said second fluid inlet openings,
    • a first outlet opening, for extracting the first fluid from the outer casing,
    • a second outlet opening, for extracting the second fluid from the outer casing,
    • a first pipe enabling the first fluid to flow inside the outer casing between the first inlet opening and the first outlet opening of said first fluid, part of the wall of said pipe being made up by a first face of said exchange wall,
    • a second pipe enabling the second fluid to flow inside the outer casing between the second inlet opening and the second outlet opening of said second fluid, part of the wall of said pipe being made up by a second face of said exchange wall opposite the first face,
    • said first and second fluids being intended to flow in a counter-current manner on both sides of the exchange wall.

The prior art teaches of an exchanger of this type. One disadvantage of this type of exchanger is that the inputs and outlets of the first and second fluids are respectively grouped in twos, resulting in a loss in exchanger performance. In fact, on account of the fluids flowing in a counter-current manner on the two opposite faces of the exchange wall, the input of one fluid and the output of the other are situated in close proximity to each other, resulting in the possibility of the two fluids becoming mixed together.

For example, document GB-A-2 373 849 relating to a heat exchanger as described above, is known.

A main objective of the present invention is to improve the performances of this type of exchanger.

More precisely, the present invention, applied to a device enabling the exchange of heat such as defined in the preamble of the present paper, is characterized in that:

    • said first outlet opening, for the first fluid, is formed in the region of said first end of the outer casing,
    • said second outlet opening, for the second fluid, is formed in the region of said second end of the outer casing,
    • in such a manner that said second outlet opening for the second fluid, and
    • said first inlet opening, for the first fluid, are separated by a distance equal to or greater than the length of the exchange wall, and
    • in such a manner that said first outlet opening for the first fluid, and said second inlet opening, for the second fluid, are separated by a distance equal to or greater than the length of the exchange wall.

The present invention, in bringing closer the inputs and outputs of a same fluid, at the same end of the casing, whilst doing the same thing for the other fluid at the other end of the casing, enables a sufficient distance to be created between the openings of the two fluids, equal to or greater than the length of the exchange wall, allowing the mixing of the fluids to be minimized and thus increasing the performances of the exchanger.

According to one advantageous characteristic,

    • said first inlet opening for the first fluid, and said second outlet opening for the second fluid, are situated on a same first side of said outer casing,
    • said second inlet opening for the second fluid, and said first outlet opening for the first fluid, being situated on a same second side of said outer casing, opposite the first side.

This characteristic allows the openings on the outer casing to be arranged so as to be able to install the device in a layer of material that includes two opposite faces, the inlet opening of the first fluid and the outlet opening of the second fluid opening out onto a first face of the material, the input opening of the second fluid and the outlet opening of the first fluid opening out onto the second face of the material opposite the first face.

According to an advantageous characteristic:

    • said first pipe for the first fluid includes a first segment that extends along the exchange wall without contacting said exchange wall, and
    • said second pipe for the second fluid includes a second segment that extends along the exchange wall, without contacting said exchange wall.

This characteristic allows a part of the pipe to be provided for each fluid, which allows the temperature of the fluid to be modified in terms of the temperature of the material in which the device is installed, more especially of the temperature of the environment in contact with said part of the pipe via the outer casing, by means of conduction across the walls of said part of the pipe, before or after its passage along the wall.

According to an advantageous characteristic:

    • said first segment extends from the exchange wall as far as the first outlet opening, following the exchange wall and parallel to said exchange wall, and in that
    • said second segment extends from the exchange wall as far as the second outlet opening, following the exchange wall and parallel to said exchange wall.

This characteristic allows a better output of the exchanger to be obtained, in that the first segment, which conveys the incoming fluid, is at a temperature close to that of the outgoing fluid, after having passed along the exchange wall, and therefore there is no thermal exchange or only a little thermal exchange with the first segment, and the second segment, which conducts the outgoing fluid, is also at a temperature close to that of the incoming fluid, after having passed along the exchange wall, and therefore in this case also, there is no thermal exchange or only a little thermal exchange with the second segment.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the device according to the invention also comprises:

    • a first insulating wall disposed between the exchange wall and said first segment of the first pipe, and
    • a second insulating wall disposed between the exchange wall and said second segment of the second pipe,
    • said first and said second insulating walls being disposed on both sides of the exchange wall and at least along the length of said exchange wall.

This characteristic allows a better output of the exchange wall to be ensured, by insulating said exchange wall so that the transfer of heat between the fluids that move over the partition wall, suffers the least possible loss.

According to an advantageous characteristic,

    • said first inlet opening for the first fluid and said first outlet opening for the first fluid are disposed on the outer casing approximately in an opposite manner, so that the inlet and the outlet of the first fluid are approximately carried out following a first direction perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of extension of the outer casing with a long shape, and in that
    • said second inlet opening for the second fluid and said second outlet opening for the second fluid are disposed on the outer casing approximately in an opposite manner, so that the inlet and outlet of the second fluid are approximately carried out following a second direction perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of extension of the outer casing with a long shape.

According to an advantageous characteristic, said first and said second directions are parallel or approximately parallel.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the exchange device according to the invention also comprises valve means that are capable of sealing said second pipe at the outlet of the first face of said exchange wall so as to divert the second fluid, or the outgoing fluid, in said first pipe, in order to move said outgoing fluid over the second face of said exchange wall.

This characteristic gives the device according to the invention a capacity for de-icing, from a flow of air leaving a room, at a higher temperature than the incoming air, over the two faces of the exchange wall in order to de-ice it.

According to an advantageous characteristic as an alternative to the preceding one, the device according to the invention also comprises electric resistance means disposed in said first pipe in the vicinity of the first inlet opening, so as to reheat the first fluid or the incoming fluid before it moves along the exchange wall.

This characteristic allows the use of a solenoid valve for de-icing purposes to be avoided, whilst maintaining this function. It also allows the use of a cartridge structure for access to the filters and to the electric fans, and where applicable to the solenoid valve, to be avoided.

According to an advantageous characteristic as an alternative to the preceding one, the device according to the invention includes electric resistance means disposed in said second pipe in the vicinity of the second inlet opening for the second fluid, so as to supply an injection of heat to the second fluid or outgoing fluid before it moves along the exchange wall.

This characteristic allows an injection of heat to be realized in the outgoing air within the framework of the de-icing function, which will be transferred in part to the incoming air via the exchange wall. This injection of heat to the outgoing air provides the advantage of increased output as it is done at a position of the device that is at room temperature.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the device according to the invention also comprises:

    • first filtering means for the first fluid, disposed in the outer casing across said first pipe enabling the first fluid to flow in the outer casing, between the inlet opening of the first fluid in the outer casing and the inlet of the first fluid on the exchange wall, and
    • second filtering means for the second fluid, disposed in the outer casing across said second pipe enabling the second fluid to flow in the outer casing, between the inlet opening of the second fluid in the outer casing and the inlet of the second fluid on the exchange wall.

This characteristic allows any clogging up of the exchange wall, both by the incoming fluid and by the outgoing fluid, to be avoided or reduced and also allows the incoming fluid to be purified by means of filtration when the device is placed as a ventilation means in a room in a house.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the device according to the invention also comprises at least one of the first and second electric fan means below:

    • first electric fan means disposed in said first pipe, so as to generate a flow of the first fluid in said first pipe, and
    • second electric fan means disposed in said second pipe, so as to generate a flow of the second fluid in said second pipe.

This characteristic allows the fluid flow crossing through the device to be increased, by forcing said flow through forced convection by means of at least one electric fan. It should be noted that one single electric fan, on one of the pipes can be enough, in this case the other fluid being set in motion by balancing the pressures between the outside environment, into which the outgoing fluid is rejected, and the inside environment, into which the incoming fluid is introduced.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the device according to the invention also comprises electricity generating means, disposed at least in part in front of said first inlet opening, and/or in front of said second outlet opening, so as to supply said first and said second electric fan means with electricity in an independent manner.

This characteristic allows the device according to the invention to have an independent provision of energy, which makes it possible for it to be installed in a site that is not supplied by traditional electric power, or even to be installed in a site that is supplied with electricity but to installed in a manner independent from this supply; thus, it will be easier to install the device according to the invention, for example, into existing structures without having to modify the on-site power distribution. The defined layout of the electricity generating means allows for both good accessibility to the means, whilst providing outside exposure of the same, for example to the sun. Moreover, these means allow the openings to be protected against the weather so as to avoid materials transported by the wind ingressing into the pipes of the device, or to reduce, even avoid changes in the ventilation behaviour of the device in the event of a gust of wind or a storm.

According to an advantageous characteristic, said electricity generating means comprise photovoltaic cells.

This characteristic allows the sun to be used as a source of energy to supply the electric fan or fans.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the device according to the invention includes means for draining off the condensates through said first inlet opening of the first fluid.

These means will be described in more detail further below with an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, but can notably be implemented by arranging the longitudinal axis of the outer casing of the device in an inclined manner such that the condensates are preferably drained off through the inlet opening of the first fluid following an outflow by gravity through the device, the first fluid being the incoming fluid of a structure where the device according to the invention is used as a ventilation device or the like in said structure.

The invention also relates to a use of a device enabling the exchange of heat according to the invention, characterized in that said exchange device is associated with a room in a house, offices or the like, so as to enable individualized ventilation of said room:

    • said first fluid being the fluid coming into said room,
    • said second fluid being the fluid leaving said room,
    • said first inlet opening and said second outlet opening, of the first and second fluids respectively, opening out onto the outside of the house, offices or the like, and
    • said second inlet opening and said first outlet opening, of the second and first fluids respectively, opening out onto the inside of said room.

The device according to the invention, thanks to its independent aeraulic structure, allows individualized ventilation of a room, thus easily being able to adapt the ventilation in terms of the independent requirements of each room, contrary to centralized ventilation which does not allow for any independent differentiation between the ventilation conditions of each room. In addition, the individualized ventilation devices according to the invention allow a saving to be made compared with the installation of pipework necessary for the centralized ventilation system, and therefore allow the risks of developing bacteria in this pipework to be eliminated, as well as reducing a risk of developing bacteria because the length of the pipework provided for the individualized ventilation device is minimized. In addition, the individualized ventilation device according to the invention allows the dangers of water leaks in the roofing to be avoided by means of zone inlets and delivery in the roofing. In addition, supplies for individualized ventilation devices according to the invention, for a building, are less expensive than those for centralized ventilation. Individual control of the temperature of each room in a building by means of individualized ventilation devices according to the invention allows economies of power to be made compared with centralized ventilation which standardizes the temperature in the house and does not allow for different temperatures in each room.

According to an advantageous characteristic, said device enabling the exchange of heat is installed in the thickness of a partition wall or a wall forming said room, or is secured to the inside surface of said partition wall.

This characteristic allows the ventilation device to be made very discrete, such that the only visible elements on the outside are the device inlet/outlet openings. Installation in the thickness of a wall or the like is made possible by the long structure of the outer casing and notably by the combined structure of the device based on an exchange wall that is arranged between the openings.

According to an advantageous characteristic, when:

    • said first segment extends from the exchange wall as far as the first outlet opening, following the exchange wall and parallel to said exchange wall, and
    • said second segment extends from the exchange wall as far as the second outlet opening following the exchange wall and parallel to said exchange wall, then said exchange device is installed in a wall, and
    • said first fluid or the incoming fluid flows, in comparison to its direction of flow along the exchange wall, in a counter-current manner in said first segment that extends from the outlet of the exchange wall as far as the first outlet opening, and
    • said second fluid or the outgoing fluid flows, in comparison to its direction of flow along the exchange wall, in a counter-current manner in said second segment that extends from the outlet of the exchange wall as far as the second opening.

According to an advantageous characteristic, depending of the preceding one, said first segment is disposed between the exchange wall and the surface of the wall in contact with the inside environment.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the device enabling the exchange of heat according to the invention is installed in, or associated with, one of the following elements:

    • a lintel of an opening of said room, of the window, door or French window type, or the like,
    • a roller blind box,
    • a frame of an opening that has an opening frame or a fixed frame

The long configuration of the outer casing of the device according to the invention allows original and functional measures to be provided for this latter when it is installed in a house or the like.

According to an advantageous characteristic, a longitudinal axis of the device enabling the exchange of heat according to the invention is disposed horizontally or approximately horizontally.

The term approximately horizontal here refers to the possibility of a slight inclination of the device compared with the horizontal, the function of which would be to drain the condensates away from the device by means of gravity.

According to an advantageous characteristic, a longitudinal axis of the device enabling the exchange of heat according to the invention is disposed vertically or approximately vertically.

This characteristic allows the device enabling the exchange of heat according to the invention to be disposed along a post (upright) of a door, window, French window or the like.

Other characteristics will appear when reading the following exemplary embodiments of a device enabling the exchange of heat according to the invention, and of uses of said device, accompanied by the appended drawings, examples which are given for illustrative purposes and which are in no way restrictive.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of a device enabling the exchange of heat according to the invention, installed in a building wall, following the line I-I in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a cross sectional view of the first example in FIG. 1, according to the line II-II in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a longitudinal sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a device enabling the exchange of heat according to the invention, installed in a building wall, in a first operating position.

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the example in FIG. 3, in a second operating position.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a horizontal longitudinal sectional view following the line V-V in FIG. 7, of a third exemplary embodiment of a device enabling the exchange of heat according to the invention, installed in a building wall.

FIG. 6 shows a vertical longitudinal sectional view following the line VI-VI in FIG. 7, of the example in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a cross sectional view of the third example in FIG. 5, according to the line VII-VII shown in FIG. 5 or 6.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a cross sectional view of an example of a use of a device enabling an exchange according to the invention.

The device represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a device 1 enabling the exchange of heat between a first 2 and a second 3 fluid, the incoming fluid 2 and the outgoing fluid 3 respectively, taking air as an example, advantageously installed in the thickness of a wall 41 of a building, for example a wall 41 that separates the outside environment 42 of the building from the inside 43 of a room in a house, and includes:

    • an outer casing 4 sealed against the first 2 and second 3 fluids,
    • in an advantageous manner a wall 5 enabling the exchange of heat between the incoming 2 and outgoing 3 fluids, said wall being housed inside the outer casing 4,
    • a first inlet opening 6, for the incoming fluid 2, formed at a first end 7 of the outer casing 4,
    • a second inlet opening 8, for the outgoing fluid 3, formed at a second end 9 of the outer casing 4, opposite the first end 7 of said casing,
    • said outer casing 4 having a long shape that extends between its first 7 and second 9 ends,
    • the exchange wall 5 that extends between the first 6 and second 8 fluid inlet openings 2,3,
    • a first outlet opening 10, for extracting the incoming fluid 2 from the outer casing 4,
    • a second outlet opening 11, for extracting the outgoing fluid 3 from the outer casing 4,
    • a first pipe 12 enabling the incoming fluid 2 to flow inside the outer casing 4 between the inlet opening 6 and the outlet opening 10 of said incoming fluid, part of the partition wall of said pipe being made up by a first face of the exchange wall 5,
    • a second pipe 13 enabling the outgoing fluid 3 to flow inside the outer casing 4 between the inlet opening 8 and the outlet opening 11 of said outgoing fluid, part of the partition wall of said pipe being made up by a second face of the exchange wall 5 opposite the first face,
    • the incoming and outgoing fluids being intended to flow in a counter-current manner on both sides of the exchange wall 5,
    • the first outlet opening 10 for the incoming fluid 2 being formed in the region of the first end 7 of the outer casing 4,
    • the second outlet opening 11 for the outgoing fluid 3 being formed in the region of the second end 9 of the outer casing 4,
    • in such a manner that the second outlet opening 11 for the outgoing fluid 3, and the first inlet opening 6 for the incoming fluid 2, are separated by a distance equal to or greater than the length a of the exchange wall, and
    • in such a manner that the first outlet opening 10 for the incoming fluid 2, and the second inlet opening 8, for the outgoing fluid 3, are separated by a distance equal to or greater than the length a of the exchange wall.

The term incoming fluid 2 refers in the example to the air that flows through the device 1, passing from the outside 42 of the building towards the inside 43 of said building, and the term outgoing fluid 3 refers to the air that flows through the device 1 passing from the inside 43 of the building towards the outside 42 of said building, as represented in FIG. 1.

The outer casing 4 can be realized in any preferably rigid material, for example in the form of a long plastic or metal case 50, preferably in the shape of a right prism, for example with a hollow cross section, preferably polygonal, for example square or rectangular, defining in an advantageous manner a parallelepipedic, strip-shaped case 4, including, for example, four lateral faces at right angles and two end faces, on which are formed the openings 6, 11, 8, 10 as defined above and below. Typically, the length of the case will be, for example, in the order of 1 to 3 meters, preferably between 1 m and 2 m.

The outer casing 4 will be able to include two tubes 64, 65 integral with the casing and intended for passing through a wall in which or against which the device 1 is intended to be secured. The two tubes 64 and 65 are, for example, perpendicular to the face 30 of the casing 4 that faces the outside 42, as represented in FIG. 1, and are preferably positioned, respectively at two angles to the face 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, more generally at two angles to the outer casing 4, when the first 12 and second 13 pipes finish or start respectively at said two angles, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, so as, in an advantageous manner, to allow condensates to flow away from the device 1 by means of gravity, whether the outer casing 4 is disposed horizontally or vertically. However, the tubes 64, 65 will preferably form an angle in excess of 90° with said face 30 following two perpendicular planes between them and perpendicular to said face 30 (not shown), so as, in an advantageous manner, to allow or to improve the flow of condensates out of the device 1, preferably through the opening 6 at the end of tube 64, whatever the mounted position of the device 1, vertical or horizontal. The free ends of the tubes 64, 65 respectively form the inlet and outlet openings 6 and 11 of the fluids 2, 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the flow of condensates can be ensured by any appropriate inclination 70 so as to drain the condensates away towards the outside of the casing 4, preferably through the inlet opening 6 of the first fluid 2 that opens out onto the outside 42.

In an advantageous manner, as shown in FIG. 1,

    • the inlet opening 6 for the incoming fluid 2, and the outlet opening 11 for the outgoing fluid 3, are situated on a same first side 30 of the outer casing 4, for example on a same face of the strip-shaped case, facing towards the outside 42, and
    • the inlet opening 8 for the outgoing fluid 3, and the outlet opening 10 for the outgoing (incoming?) fluid 2, are situated on a same second side 31 of the outer casing 4, opposite the first side 30, facing the inside 43 of the building, for example the lateral face 31 of the strip-shaped case, opposite its lateral face 30.

In an advantageous manner, as shown in FIG. 1,

    • the first pipe 12 for the incoming fluid 2 includes a first segment 14 that extends along the exchange wall 5, following the longitudinal axis 21 of the case 4, without contacting said exchange wall, and being separated from the exchange wall 5 by means of a first insulating wall 18 disposed, therefore, between said exchange wall 5 and the first segment 14 of the first pipe 12;
    • the second pipe 13 for the outgoing fluid 3 includes a second segment 16 that extends along the exchange wall 5, following the longitudinal axis 21 of the case 4, without contacting said exchange wall, and being separated from the exchange wall 5 by means of a second insulating wall 19 disposed, therefore, between said exchange wall 5 and the second segment 16 of the second pipe 13.

The first 18 and second 19 insulating walls are thus advantageously disposed on both sides of the exchange wall 5 and along said exchange wall.

In an advantageous manner, as shown in FIG. 1,

    • the first segment 14 extends from the exchange wall 5 as far as the first outlet opening 10, following the exchange wall and parallel to said exchange wall, more particularly from the outlet 15 of the exchange wall 5 for the first fluid 2 as far as the first outlet opening 10,
    • the second segment 16 extends from the exchange wall 5 as far as the second outlet opening 11, following the exchange wall and parallel to said exchange wall, more particularly from the outlet 17 of the exchange wall 5 for the second fluid 3 as far as the second outlet opening 11.

The insulating walls 18, 19 can be obtained in an advantageous manner from any insulating material that is light, for example expanded polystyrene, polyurethane, insulating foam, or the like.

In an advantageous manner, as represented in FIG. 1,

    • the inlet opening 6 and the outlet opening 10 for the incoming fluid 2 are disposed on the case 4 approximately in an opposite manner, so that the entry of the incoming fluid 2 into the device and its outlet from the device 1 are approximately carried out following a first direction 20 perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 21 of extension of the long strip-shaped case 4, and
    • the inlet opening 8 and the outlet opening 11 for the outgoing fluid 3 are disposed on the case 4 approximately in an opposite manner, so that the inlet of the outgoing fluid 3 in the device 1 and its outlet from the device are approximately carried out following a second direction 22 perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 21 of extension of the long strip-shaped case 4.

The first 20 and second 22 directions thus defined are advantageously parallel or approximately parallel, allowing for the inputs and extractions of the air flows 2, 3 on the two opposite faces 40 and 44 of the wall 41, and perpendicularly to said faces, as represented in FIG. 1.

The exchange wall 5, in an advantageous manner, has a planar form, preferably in the manner of an accordion, preferably realized from a single sheet, as represented in FIG. 2, extending approximately over the length of the case 4 in the form of a strip, for example parallel or approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis 21 of the case, and defining on both sides of said wall, between the pleats of the accordion, respectively a pipe for the incoming fluid 2 and a pipe for the outgoing fluid 3. The exchange wall 5 can be produced in an advantageous manner from a conductive sheet, preferably metal, for example aluminium-based or copper-based, with a small thickness so as to improve the performance of the exchange of heat through said wall 5 between the two fluids. One essential dimension of said partition wall 5 is that of its length defining approximately the length of the case 4, and another essential dimension is that of its width, developed once the sheet 5 has been flattened, the product of which defines the exchange surface of the exchange device 1, which must be adapted to the room that the device 1 has to ventilate. The exchange wall 5, advantageously in the shape of an accordion, is sandwiched between the two insulating walls 18 and 19 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is preferably in contact with said two walls through the areas of the pleats of the accordion.

The device 1 represented also includes in an advantageous manner:

    • first filtering means 23 for the incoming fluid 2, disposed in the outer casing or case 4 across the first pipe 12 enabling the incoming fluid 2 to flow in the outer case 4, between the inlet opening 6 of the incoming fluid and the inlet 24 of the incoming fluid 2 on the exchange wall 5, and
    • second filtering means 25 for the outgoing fluid, disposed in the outer casing 4 across the second pipe 13 enabling the outgoing fluid 3 to flow in the outer case 4, between the inlet opening 8 of the outgoing fluid 3 and the inlet 26 of said outgoing fluid 3 on the exchange wall 5.

These first 23 and second 25 filtering means, in an advantageous manner, can be known-type filtering cartridges, which will preferably be accessible from the inside face 44 of the wall 41, for example by means of two respective access hatches (not shown) formed on the surface of the outer casing or case 4 towards the two end tips of said case, in the respective inlet areas of the incoming 2 and outgoing 3 fluids. To this end, one face of the case 4, for example the face 31 that includes the openings 8 and 10, will be able to be aligned with the inside surface 44 of the wall 41, and will include the access hatches, so as to facilitate the maintenance of the filters, by building the case 4 into the wall, either in the load-bearing material of the wall, or in the insulating layer of said wall. In the event of the case 4 being secured against a wall, what has been said above with regard to access hatches remains applicable; in this case, the wall must include two through-holes to connect the openings 6 and 11 in a fluidic manner to the outside 42. It should be noted that the use of individual filters for each device 1, in one building, allows maintenance savings to be made in comparison with the filters in a much more expensive centralized ventilation installation.

The device 1 represented in FIG. 1 would be able to operate without any injection of power by means of natural convection, for example but not exclusively, when it is placed vertically along a door post; however, the device 1 represented, in an advantageous manner, also includes at least one of the first and second electric fan means below, and in the specific case both of them:

    • first electric fan means 27 disposed in the first pipe 12, so as to generate a flow of the incoming fluid 2 in said pipe, and
    • second electric fan means 28 disposed in the second pipe 13, so as to generate a flow of the outgoing fluid 3 in said pipe.

The electric fan means 27, 28 used are of the known type, and will be accessible in an advantageous manner by means of the two access hatches, preferably respectively by means of the two access hatches provided for the two filtering means, since the electric fans 27, 28 can be disposed in the case 4 respectively in the same areas as the filtering means 23, 25, that is to say at the two end tips of the strip-shaped case 4, as shown in FIG. 1. The electric fans or turbines 27, 28 will be able to be installed in the casing 4 so as to facilitate their maintenance or their replacement, being extractable through the access hatches. The electric fans or turbines 27, 28 will preferably operate at 12 Volts so as to avoid risks of fire or electrocution.

In an advantageous manner, the device 1 represented also includes electricity generating means 35, disposed at least in part in front of the inlet opening 6 of the incoming fluid 2, and/or in front of the outlet opening 11 of the outgoing fluid, so as to supply the first 27 and second 28 electric fan means with electricity in an independent manner. These electricity generating means can include rechargeable electric batteries 46, 47 included in the casing 4, for example in the areas accessible through the access hatches to the filtering means 23, 25 and to the electric fans 27, 28, that is to say at the end tips of the casing 4, as shown in FIG. 1 and as defined above.

The electricity generating means 35, in an advantageous manner, comprise photovoltaic cells 48, 49, disposed preferably in front of the inlet opening 6 of the incoming fluid 2, and/or in front the outlet opening 11 of the outgoing fluid, on the deflectors 60, 61 positioned in front of said openings, as shown in FIG. 1, so as to allow the rechargeable batteries 46, 47 to be recharged. In this case, the photovoltaic cells are individualized for each device 1 provided in a room of the building. In an alternative manner, it is possible to supply all the devices 1 of one building with centralized photovoltaic cells, for example arranged on the roof of the building. All control devices (not shown) necessary for the operation of the electric fans, the batteries, will be able to be installed in the casing 4, for example in an area close to the batteries, and will be accessible via the access hatches described above.

The deflectors 60, 61 will preferably be able to be removable from the outside, and will serve as fixed anti-gust filters, and, in an advantageous manner, insect screens. They include electric connection sockets to link the photovoltaic cells supported by the deflectors to the control device (not shown), A locking pin 62, 63 for each deflector 60, 61 respectively prevents the photovoltaic cells from being able to become removed from the fluid inlet 6 or outlet 11 opening. The deflectors 60, 61 will preferably be able to adopt any appropriate shape and will be able to be oriented sufficiently for optimum performance of the photovoltaic cells that they support in terms of the orientation of the building. In an advantageous manner, the deflectors 60, 61 will be to adopt a planar form rotating around the axes of the pipes that form the openings 6 and 11 on the outside face.

The power supply of the electric fans 27, 28 can, in an alternative manner, be provided from the building mains supply network, either in a centralized manner or in an individual manner by means of low voltage transformers, for example 12 Volts.

In an advantageous manner, the device 1 includes means for draining off the condensates through the first inlet opening 6 of the first fluid 2. With the casing 4 in a horizontal or approximately horizontal position, these means can adopt the form of the slight inclination of the casing 4 or of the appropriate internal pipe or pipes 12, 13 of the fluids 2, 3 so as to ensure the condensates flow in a gravity-fed manner out of the casing 4, preferably via the opening 6 that opens out onto the outside surface 40 of the wall 41 of the building. In the event that the casing 4 is mounted in a vertical position, the condensates will flow naturally, preferably via the lower opening 6.

The operation of the device 1 enabling the exchange of heat represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 is as follows:

    • under the effect of natural convection, or of one or two electric fans, the incoming fluid 2, which comes from the outside environment 42, penetrates the device 1 through the opening 6 at one end 7 of the casing 4, then flows through the internal pipe 12, firstly passing through the filter 23 then going onto 24 the exchange wall 5 in contact therewith and following said wall over approximately the length of the casing 4, a journey during which the outside fluid 2 carries out the main thermal exchange with the outgoing fluid 3, which itself comes from the inside 43 of the building, then the incoming fluid 2 leaves the exchange wall 5 to follow, in the reverse direction or in a counter-current manner according to the direction of flow along the exchange wall, the segment 14 following said exchange wall 5 but not being in contact therewith, over approximately the length of the casing 4, then flows into the inside 43 of the building through the opening 10 in the casing 4: when the incoming outside fluid 2 is colder than the outgoing inside fluid 3, the main and most common use of the exchanger, the incoming fluid 2 is reheated as it flows over the exchange wall 5 so as to recover part of the heat of the fluid 3 leaving the building, and the heat brought to the incoming fluid 2 is at least conserved in the segment 14 that is positioned closer to the inside 43 and therefore at a temperature close to the inside temperature: and
    • under the effect of natural convection, or of one or two electric fans, the outgoing inside fluid 3 penetrates the device 1 through the opening 8 in the casing 4 at the opposite end 9 of the casing 4, flows through the filter 25 then goes onto 26 the exchange wall 5 and follows said wall in contact therewith approximately over the length of the casing 4, a journey during which the outgoing inside fluid 3 carries out a thermal exchange with the incoming fluid 2 which comes from the outside 42 of the building, then flows in the segment 16 in the reverse direction or in a counter-current manner according to the direction of flow along the exchange wall, before leaving the building through the opening 11 in the casing situated at the end 7;
    • the incoming 2 and outgoing 3 fluids thus flow onto the exchange wall 5 at the two longitudinal ends 24, 26 of said wall approximately adjacent the two ends 9 and 7 at the end tips of the casing 4, respectively, and flow through the wall 5 respectively on each side of said wall in a counter-current manner so as to optimize the thermal exchange.

Each fluid 2, 3 therefore travels approximately twice the length of the casing 4 between its inlet 8, 6 into said casing and its outlet 10, 11 from said casing. The two fluids travel approximately the same forms of journey in the casing 4, but in the reverse direction or in a counter-current manner, and have the journeys against the exchange wall 5 separated from said wall in common.

The device 1 will include any insulation necessary to obtain the best performances of the thermal exchanger, and notably the parts of the pipe of the incoming fluid 2 after it flows over the exchange wall 5 will be insulated from the parts of the same pipe before it flows over the exchange wall. In the same way, parts or divisions of the device 1, providing separation between the outside environment 42 and the inside 43 of the building, or between the two pipes of the incoming 2 and outgoing 3 fluids, will be insulated in a suitable manner so that there is no thermal loss or little thermal loss from said parts or divisions.

As an alternative to the device 1 in FIG. 1, FIGS. 3 and 4 show a device 200, which is similar to said device in FIG. 1 with the difference being that the device 200 also includes valve means 80 that are capable of sealing the second pipe 13 at the outlet 17 of the first face of the exchange wall 5 so as to divert the second fluid 3, or the outgoing fluid, in the first pipe 12, in order to move said outgoing fluid 3 over the second face of the exchange wall 5. Elements that are operatively identical to those in the example in FIG. 1 are repeated in FIG. 3 with the same references.

FIG. 3 shows the valve means 80 in the inoperative position, with the second pipe 13 not being sealed at the outlet 17 of the exchange wall 5, a position which the exchanger 200 assumes in a configuration analogous to that in FIG. 1, following which the first 2 and second 3 fluids flow each one respectively on both sides of the exchange wall 5.

FIG. 4 shows the valve means 80 in the operative position, with the second pipe 13 being sealed at the outlet of the exchange wall 5. This position corresponds to the de-icing position of the exchanger 200, according to which the outgoing fluid 3, at a higher temperature than the incoming fluid 2, flows over the two opposite faces of the exchange wall 5 during a time determined as necessary for the de-icing process of said wall. It must be noted that a small part of the flow of the outgoing fluid 3 may escape through the opening 6, this latter normally being at a very high pressure compared with atmospheric pressure, thus facilitating the draining or flowing away of the condensates by reheating part of the drainage pipe of said condensates as far as the opening 6; in fact, the filter 23 constitutes a loss of pressure which is able to limit this loss of flow in a sufficient manner.

The valve means 80 will be able to adopt any form appropriate to the operation explained above, preferably an automatically controlled solenoid valve 81 advantageously coupled to the control system, which can operate either by means of manostatic difference or by means of a proportional exterior probe, which, as a function of the outside temperature, creates de-icing cycles. In FIG. 3, the solenoid valve 81 in the inoperative position is shown in the active position with a compressed close-coil spring 82, and in FIG. 4, the solenoid valve 81 in the inoperative position is shown with the close-coil spring 82 expanded exerting pressure on the valve gate 83 for closing the pipe 13.

A de-icing cycle operates as follows:

    • the solenoid valve 81 is activated so as to seal the second pipe 13 leaving the exchange wall 5, for example by abutting against the insulator 19 as shown in FIG. 4,
    • the electric fan 28 of the first pipe 13 is activated whilst the electric fan 27 of the second 12 pipe for incoming air is inoperative, that is to say not activated.

Thus, the outgoing fluid 3 is at a very high pressure at the output 17 of the exchange wall 5 compared with the pressure of the second pipe 12, and at a very high pressure compared with the outside atmospheric pressure, which brings about the forcing of the outgoing air 3 in the first pipe 12 towards the output opening 10. The fluid inside the room, being at a higher temperature than the de-icing temperature, thus flows in a closed circuit on each side of the exchange wall 5 bringing about the de-icing of said wall.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the device 1 has been represented in a schematic manner without showing the removable cartridge structure by means of which the filters and the end fans notably, as well as the control device, can be withdrawn at the front face through a hatch or the like. However, such cartridge structures, one at each end of the strip-like exchange device, are particularly recommended for facilitating access to said elements in the example in FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 the device 200 has been shown in a schematic manner with such cartridge structures, which are given the references 85 and 86 for the first end 7 and the second end 9 of the casing 4 of the device 200 respectively, and which include the filters, the electric fans, the control devices and the valve means should they be necessary. Each cartridge can be withdrawn at the front face, from the inside 43, so as to carry out maintenance or to replace an element.

For the references in FIGS. 3 and 4 that are not explicitly used in the description with regard to these Figures, please see the corresponding references in the description of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a device 300 as an alternative to the device 200 in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the following essential close differences:

    • no solenoid valve on the second pipe,
    • existence of electric resistance means 301 disposed in the first pipe 12 in the vicinity of the first inlet opening 6, so as to reheat the first fluid 2 or the incoming fluid, in terms of the de-icing function,
    • modification to the layout of the exchange wall 5 and of the first 12 and second 13 pipes as follows: the exchange wall 5 is provided in an advantageous manner as a single pleated sheet in the form of an accordion, as shown in FIG. 7 and as in the examples in FIGS. 1 and 3, but the pleats of the exchange wall 5 extend in a plane that is perpendicular to the surface of the wall in which the device 300 is installed, contrary to the second example described above with the aid of FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the pleats of the exchange wall 5 extend in a plane that is parallel to the outside surface of the wall in which the device is installed.

It should be noted that the elements that are operationally identical to those in the example in FIG. 1 or the example in FIG. 3 are repeated in FIG. 5 with the same references.

One advantageous consequence of such a layout of the exchange wall, compared with the outside surfaces of the wall, is to allow all the elements of the device, that is the filters, electric fans, control devices, batteries where applicable . . . , to be placed in a directly accessible manner by means of a removable hatch on the front face at each end of the device, thus avoiding a cartridge structure as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The existence of a de-icing resistance for the incoming air, as a replacement for the solenoid valve in the example in FIGS. 3 and 4, also allows the use of a cartridge on the solenoid valve side to be avoided, the presence of which is necessitated in terms of access to said solenoid valve, notably for maintenance. The heating resistance 301 for de-icing is managed in terms of activating cycles as explained above for the solenoid valve. The electric resistance 301 can be small in size and not use much power in so far as the incoming air fan 27 is not active in the de-icing cycle, only the outgoing air fan 28 being activated: the reheated flow of incoming air is therefore minimal and only induced by the depression caused in the room.

In an alternative manner and preferred to the resistance 301, it is advantageous to position a heating resistance (not shown), with the same function of de-icing the incoming air, in the second pipe 13 in the vicinity of the second inlet opening 8 for the second fluid 3, so as to reheat the second fluid 3 or the outgoing fluid before it flows over the exchange wall 5.

In FIG. 6 the areas hatched with crosses symbolize, in a partial manner, a front view of the air outlet grids so as to make reading the Figure easier; in this same FIG. 6, it is possible that to make it easier to understand and read the Figure, elements have been left out of the sectional view; this is notably the case with the de-icing resistance 301. FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of the device 300 in a plane parallel to the surface of the wall, seen from the outside 42.

The outer casing 4 of the device 300 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, apart from the spaces reserved for the operating elements and the pipes such as are described above, is advantageously filled with an insulating material.

In FIG. 7, the cross section of the device 300 is approximately rectangular, however any other suitable section can be used. The wall 41 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 includes a plaster plate 58 on the inside 43.

The production costs of the device 300 are lower than the production costs of the device 200. For the references in FIGS. 5 to 7 not explicitly used in the description with regard to said Figures, please see the corresponding references in the description of FIGS. 1 to 4.

The devices 1, 200 and 300 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, can be used in several ways. Examples of use shall now be given.

One example of application of the heat exchange device 1, 200 or 300 shown, associates this latter with a room in a house or office building or the like, so as to enable individualized ventilation of the room, in the following manner:

    • the first fluid 2 is the fluid coming into the room
    • the second fluid 3 being the fluid leaving the room,
    • the first inlet opening 6 and the second outlet opening 11 of the incoming 2 and outgoing 3 fluids respectively open out onto the outside 42 of the house, offices or the like, and
    • the second inlet opening 8 and the first outlet opening 10 of the outgoing 3 and incoming 2 fluids respectively open out onto the inside 43 of the room.

In such an example of application, the heat exchange device 1, 200 or 300 can be advantageously installed within the thickness of a partition wall or wall 41 forming the room, as represented in FIGS. 1 to 7, or can be secured to the inside surface of the partition wall or of the wall. In the case where it is secured to the inside surface of the partition wall or of the wall, this latter must include two through holes to connect the openings 6 and 11, for the incoming 2 and outgoing 3 fluids respectively, to the outside environment 42.

In the specific case of application of a device installed in a partition wall or a wall 41, in a preferred manner, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7,

    • the first fluid 2 or the incoming fluid, compared with its direction of flow along the exchange wall 5, flows in a counter-current manner in the first segment 14 that extends from the outlet 15 of the exchange wall 5 as far as the first outlet opening 10, and
    • the second fluid 3 or the outgoing fluid, compared with its direction of flow along the exchange wall 5, flows in a counter-current manner in the second segment 16 that extends from the outlet 17 of the exchange wall 5 as far as the second opening 11.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the first segment 14 is arranged between the exchange wall 5 and the surface 31 of the wall 41 in contact with the inside environment 43.

Thus, as appears in FIGS. 1 to 4, from the inside environment 43 to the outside environment 42, the following elements are located in an advantageous manner in order when moving through the wall 41 at the level of the device 1 or 200 and in the major part of the latter with the exception of its end tips including the openings 6, 11, 8, 10:

    • the partition wall of the casing 4 in contact with the inside environment 43, this partition wall can be conductive or insulating,
    • the segment 14 of the pipe 12 of the incoming fluid 2,
    • the insulating wall 18, the exchange wall 5 and the insulating wall 19 so as to insulate the exchange wall 5 in the manner of a sandwich between two insulating walls with the aim of optimizing the heat transfer between both the incoming and outgoing fluids,
    • the segment 16 of the pipe 13 of the outgoing fluid 3,
    • the wall of the casing 4 in contact with the part of the wall 41 in contact with the outside environment 42,
    • the part of the wall 41 in contact with the outside environment 42.

In the examples of application according to FIGS. 1 to 4, the wall 41 has part of its thickness realized in insulating material 71, facing towards the inside 43 of the building, and part realized in construction material 72, breezeblocks, bricks or the like, facing towards the outside 42 of the construction. The device 1 or 200 is, for example, mounted astride said two parts such that the segment 14 of the pipe 12 of the incoming fluid 2, disposed after the exchange wall 5, is preferably situated in an insulating part of the wall. The device 100 is, for example, mounted astride said two parts, such that the segment 16 of the pipe 13 of the outgoing fluid 3, disposed before the exchange wall 5, is preferably situated in an insulating part of the wall. In an alternative manner, the device 1 or 200 can be mounted in the wall 41 but jutting out towards the inside 43, the longitudinal axis 21 of the casing 4 being, for example, aligned with the inside surface of the wall 41.

Other layouts are possible, notably as represented in FIGS. 5 to 7, with the first and second pipes, and the exchange wall situated approximately in a same plane parallel to the outside or inside surface of the wall.

The heat exchange device 1, 200 or 300 can be installed in, or associated with a wall or a partition wall with its longitudinal axis in the horizontal or approximately horizontal position, or in the vertical or approximately vertical position.

According to other examples of application (some not represented), the heat exchange device 1, 200 or 300 can be installed in, or associated with one of the following elements:

    • the lintel of an opening of a room, of the window, door or French window type, or the like,
    • the roller blind box,
    • the frame of an opening that opens or is fixed, in a vertical or horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8, which is to be compared, for example, with FIG. 2 or 7, in as much as it shows a cross sectional view of the device according to the invention, once again shows the heat exchanger, for example the device 1, 200 or 300, in which the outer casing 4 is made up by the wall 92 of the post for breaking the thermal bridge of the opening 93, fixed frame 90 or opening frame 91, in the example shown, of the fixed frame 90 including conventional thermal bridge breaks.

It should be noted that the operating elements identical to those in the example in FIG. 1 or the example in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5, are repeated in FIG. 8 with the same references. Please therefore see the preceding description for these elements that have not been explicitly described by way of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 once again shows the exchange wall 5, the insulators 18 and 19 on both sides of said exchange wall 5, and the pipes 12 and 13 for the incoming 2 and outgoing 3 fluids respectively. The pipe 14 for the incoming fluid after it has flowed over the exchange wall is positioned on the inside 43, and the pipe 16 for the outgoing fluid 3 is positioned on the outside 42, as shown.

The exchange wall 5 on the assembly in FIG. 8 is preferably surrounded by insulation, either added to the post, or forming thermal bridge breaking strips of the fixed frame itself when said fixed frame is realized with metal sections. The generally metal walls 92 of the fixed frame 90 can be non-insulated, as shown, in so far as they are situated approximately and respectively at the temperature of the incoming or outgoing fluid which flows behind them.

In an alternative manner, the device 1, 200, 300 shown can be installed:

    • horizontally or sloping in the ceiling,
    • in the floor, when the house has sufficient plumbing space,
    • in an opening frame in the roofing.

In all the embodiments of the device according to the invention, notably represented in FIGS. 1 to 8, it should be noted that it is also possible to install any known additional means for heating the incoming air 2, according to need, preferably by a heating element or another water-type heating means, a heat pump or the like, positioned between the outlet 15 of the exchange wall 5 for the incoming air 2 and the outlet opening 10 for the incoming air 2, preferably in the vicinity of the outlet opening 10 (not shown).

In all the embodiments of the device according to the invention, notably represented in FIGS. 1 to 8, it should be noted that it is also possible to install any known carbon monoxide CO detecting sensor (not shown), preferably placed in the first pipe 12 for the outgoing air, before the exchange wall 5, either between the inlet opening 8 of the outgoing air 3 and the inlet of this latter on the exchange wall 5. This carbon monoxide sensor can be coupled advantageously to the operation of the electric fan or fans or turbines 27, 28 where applicable, so as to increase the input flow of new air flowing in the first pipe 12 for the incoming air 2, and/or be coupled to an alarm which provides a warning of the presence of an abnormal rate of carbon monoxide, in line with the standards in force.

In all the embodiments of the device according to the invention, notably represented in FIGS. 1 to 8, it should be noted that it is also possible to install any known presence sensor (not shown), for example infrared ray or another sensor, positioned on the outside of the outer casing 4 at a suitable position for said sensor or in any other position in the room in which the device according to the invention is installed, with regard to the exercising of the expected function of detection of the presence of a person in said room. Said presence detector, in an advantageous manner, will be able to be coupled to the operation of the electric fan or fans or turbines 27, 28 where necessary, so as to control the operation of these latter if a person is present, particularly so as to increase their flow when there is a person in the room, with the associated length of time set, or not. Such a device enables power saving relating to the operation of the electric fan or fans or turbines.

The device according to the invention provides a power consumption saving as it enables losses in the intake and delivery piping of centralized installations to be avoided.

Moreover, the structure of the device according to the invention, allowing a large gap between the inlet and outlet openings of the fluids, as explained above, strongly reduces, even avoids, the mixing of the incoming and outgoing fluids, and thus substantially optimizes the performance of the exchanger as regards the quality of the renewing of the air in a room.

Claims

1. Device (1) enabling the exchange of heat between at least one first (2) and one second fluid (3), said device including:

an outer casing (4) sealed against the first and second fluids,
at least one partition wall (5) enabling the exchange of heat between the first and second fluids, said wall being housed inside said outer casing,
a first inlet opening (6), for the first fluid (2), formed at a first end (7) of the outer casing,
a second inlet opening (8), for the second fluid (3), formed at a second end (9) of the outer casing (4), opposite the first end (7) of said casing,
said outer casing (4) having a long shape extending between its first (7) and second (9) ends,
said exchange wall (5) extending between said first (6) and second (8) fluid inlet openings,
a first outlet opening (10), for extracting the first fluid (2) from the outer casing (4),
a second outlet opening (11), for extracting the second fluid (3) from the outer casing (4),
a first pipe (12) enabling the first fluid (2) to flow inside the outer casing (4) between the first inlet opening (6) and the first outlet opening (10) of said first fluid, part of the wall of said pipe being made up by a first face of said exchange wall,
a second pipe (13) enabling the second fluid (3) to flow inside the outer casing (4) between the second inlet opening (8) and the second outlet opening (11) of said second fluid, part of the wall of said pipe being up by a second face of said exchange wall opposite the first face,
said first and said second fluids being intended to flow in a counter-current manner on both sides of the exchange wall, characterized in that:
said first outlet opening (10), for the first fluid (2), is formed in the region of said first end (7) of the outer casing (4),
said second outlet opening (11), for the second fluid (3), is formed in the region of said second end (9) of the outer casing (4),
in such a manner that said second outlet opening (11) for the second fluid (3), and said first inlet opening (6), for the first fluid (2), are separated by a distance equal to or greater than the length () of the exchange wall, and
in such a manner that said first outlet opening (10) for the first fluid (2), and said second inlet opening (8), for the second fluid (3), are separated by a distance equal to or greater than the length () of the exchange wall.

2. Device (1) enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that:

said first inlet opening (6) for the first fluid (2), and said second outlet opening (11) for the second fluid (3), are situated on a same first side (30) of said outer casing (4),
said second inlet opening (8) for the second fluid (3), and said first outlet opening (10) for the first fluid (2), being situated on a same second side (31) of said outer casing (4), opposite the first side (30).

3. Device (1) enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that:

said first pipe (12) for the first fluid (2) includes a first segment (14) which extends along the exchange wall (5) without contacting said exchange wall, and in that
said second pipe (13) for the second fluid (3) includes a second segment (16) that extends along the exchange wall (5), without contacting said exchange partition wall.

4. Device (1) enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 3, characterized in that:

said first segment (14) extends from the exchange wall (5) as far as the first outlet opening (10), following the exchange wall and parallel to said exchange wall, and in that
said second segment (16) extends from the exchange wall (5) as far as the second outlet opening (11), following the exchange wall and parallel to said exchange wall.

5. Device (1) enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that said device also comprises:

a first insulating wall (18) disposed between the exchange wall (5) and said first segment (14) of the first pipe (12), and
a second insulating wall (19) disposed between the exchange wall (5) and said second segment (16) of the second pipe (13),
said first (18) and said second (19) insulating walls being disposed on both sides of the exchange wall (5) and at least along the length of said exchange wall.

6. Device enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that:

said first inlet opening (6) for the first fluid (2) and said first outlet opening (10) for the first fluid (2) are disposed on the outer casing (4) approximately in an opposite manner, so that the inlet and the outlet of the first fluid (2) are approximately carried out following a first direction (20) perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (21) of extension of the outer casing (4) with a long shape, and in that
said second inlet opening (8) for the second fluid (3) and said second outlet opening (11) for the second fluid (3) are disposed on the outer casing (4) approximately in an opposite manner, so that the inlet and outlet of the second fluid (3) are approximately carried out following a second direction (22) perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (21) of extension of the outer casing (4) with a long shape.

7. Device enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 6, characterized in that said first (20) and said second (22) directions are parallel or approximately parallel.

8. Device (200) enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that said device also comprises valve means (80) capable of sealing said second pipe (13) at the outlet (17) of the first face of said exchange wall (5) so as to divert the second fluid (3), or the outgoing fluid, in said first pipe (12), in order to move said outgoing fluid (3) over the second face of said exchange wall (5).

9. Device (300) enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that said device also comprises electric resistance means (301) disposed in said first pipe (12) in the vicinity of the first inlet opening (6), so as to reheat the first fluid (2) or the incoming fluid before it moves along the exchange partition wall.

10. Device (300) enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that said device also comprises electric resistance means disposed in said second pipe (13) in the vicinity of the second inlet opening (8) for the second fluid (3), so as to supply an injection of heat to the second fluid (2) or the outgoing fluid before it moves along the exchange partition wall.

11. Device enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that said device also comprises:

first filtering means (23) for the first fluid (2), disposed in the outer casing (4) across said first pipe (12) enabling the first fluid (2) to flow in the outer casing, between the inlet opening (6) of the first fluid in the outer casing (4) and the inlet (24) of the first fluid (2) on the exchange partition wall (5), and
second filtering means (25) for the second fluid (3), disposed in the outer casing (4) across said second pipe (13) enabling the second fluid (3) to flow in the outer casing (4), between the inlet opening (8) of the second fluid (3) in the outer casing (4) and the inlet (26) of the second fluid (3) on the exchange partition wall (5).

12. Device enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that said device also comprises at least one of the first and second electric fan means below:

first electric fan means (27) disposed in said first pipe (12), so as to generate a flow of the first fluid (2) in said pipe, and
second electric fan means (28) disposed in said second pipe (13), so as to generate a flow of the second fluid (3) in said pipe.

13. Device enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 12, characterized in that said device also comprises electricity generating means (35), disposed at least in part in front of said first inlet opening (6), or in front of said second outlet opening (11), so as to supply said first (27) and second (28) electric fan means with electricity in an independent manner.

14. Device enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 13, characterized in that said electricity generating means (35) comprise photovoltaic cells (48, 49).

15. Device enabling the exchange of heat according to claim 1, characterized in that said device includes means for draining off the condensates through said first inlet opening (6) of the first fluid (2).

16. Use of a device enabling the exchange of heat according claim 1, characterized in that said device enabling the exchange is associated with a room in a house, offices or the like, so as to allow individualized ventilation of said room:

said first fluid (2) being the fluid coming into said room,
said second fluid (3) being the fluid leaving said room,
said first inlet opening (6) and second outlet opening (11), of the first (2) and second (3) fluids respectively, opening out onto the outside of the house, offices or the like, and
said second inlet opening (8) and first outlet opening (10), of the second (3) and first (2) fluids respectively, opening out onto the inside of said room.

17. Use according to claim 16, characterized in that said device enabling the exchange of heat is installed in the thickness of a partition wall or a wall (41) forming said room, or is secured to the inside surface of said partition wall.

18. Use according to claim 17, characterized in that said device is installed in a wall (41), and in that:

said first fluid (2) or the incoming fluid, compared with its direction of flow along the exchange wall (5), flows in a counter-current manner in said first segment (14) extending from the outlet (15) of the exchange wall (5) as far as the first outlet opening (10), and in that
said second fluid (3) or the outgoing fluid, compared with its direction of flow along the exchange wall (5), flows in a counter-current manner in said second segment (16) extending from the outlet (17) of the exchange wall (5) as far as the second opening (11).

19. Use according to claim 18, characterized in that said first segment (14) is disposed between the exchange wall (5) and the surface (31) of the wall (41) in contact with the inside environment (43).

20. Use according to claim 16, characterized in that said device (1) enabling the exchange of heat is installed in, or associated with, one of the following elements:

a lintel of an opening of said room, of the window, door or French window type, or the like,
a roller blind box,
a frame of an opening that has an opening frame or a fixed frame.

21. Use according to claim 16, characterized in that a longitudinal axis of said device (1) for exchanging heat is disposed horizontally or approximately horizontally.

22. Use according to claim 16, characterized in that a longitudinal axis of said device (1) for exchanging heat is disposed vertically or approximately vertically.

Patent History
Publication number: 20110132583
Type: Application
Filed: May 27, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2011
Inventors: Pierre Vironneau (Portet sur Garonne), Bernard Seosse (Saint Lon les Mines), Pierre Aphecetche (Saint Vincent de Paul), Frédéric Caramanos (Bidart), Pascal Cazeres (Biarritz), Alain Avril (Paris)
Application Number: 12/994,555
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Mechanical Gas Pump (165/121); Flow Passages For Two Confined Fluids (165/164)
International Classification: F28F 13/00 (20060101);