Air Treatment Systems

Abstract

Air treatment systems and methods of use, including systems useful for both cooling air and heating air; and in some particular aspects a single coil useful for both heating air and for cooling air.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application and this invention, under the U.S. Patent Laws, claim priority from the following U.S. patent application: U.S. Ser. No. 63/100,371 filed Mar. 9, 2020, all of said application in its entirety incorporated fully herein for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to air treatment systems; such systems for selectively providing both cooling and heating of air; heat exchange coils for such systems; methods for using such coils and for employing such system; a single coil with separate heated fluid pathway(s) and cooling fluid pathway(s); and, in some aspects, systems utilizing an existing heated water source for providing heated water to a coil for heating air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a wide variety of known air handling systems; air treatment systems; air heating systems; air cooling systems; air conditioning system; air handling systems; parts, devices, coils, structures, housings, ducts, conduits, piping, controls, pans, and apparatuses for them; and methods of using them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in certain but not necessarily all embodiments, provides an air treatment system that selectively provides cooling air or heating air. In certain aspects, such a system has a coil through which fluid selectively flows in heat exchange relation with parts of the coil: to cool air passing through the coil, e.g. using cooling fluid such as refrigerant fluid; or to heat air passing through the coil, e.g. using heated water or some other suitable heated fluid. In some aspects, e.g., separate pathways are provided for each fluid.

In certain particular aspects, a pathway or pathways for the heating fluid are encompassed by a pathway or pathways through the coil for the cooling fluid, or are between pathways for the cooling fluid.

Any suitable heat exchange structure may be used including, for example, multi-finned, multi-vaned, or multi-plate heat exchanger structures or finned or vaned radiator type heat exchangers through which extend the pathways for fluids according to the present invention.

In certain particular aspects, hot water for heating air with a system according to the present invention is provided by an existing hot water heater or heaters present in a home, building, ship, boat, plane, submarine, apartment, condominium, vehicle, trailer, bus, facility or other structure. To facilitate flow of water through systems according to the present invention any suitable pump or pumps may be used and they may be positioned inside a coil housing of a system or outside of such a housing, or in or on a coil.

In certain aspects, a system according to the present invention with pump(s) is controlled by an existing thermostat system which has, e.g., a set, desired temperature and, when the system is activated to heat air, the thermostat system turns the pump(s) on so that heated water from a heated water source is provided to a coil according to the present invention to heat air. Optionally, or in addition to thermostat-system control, pump(s) may have an on/off switch to control flow of heated water through the coil.

Any system herein described as useful for treating air may also be used, where appropriate, to treat a gas that is to be cooled or heated; and the use of the word “air” is intended to include any suitable gas that can be treated by a system according to the present invention.

Where appropriate and where desired, any suitable system according to the present invention may be used to dehumidify air and/or to ventilate a space or an area. Such systems as described herein for heating and cooling are to be understood, implicitly, to include, where appropriate, use of such systems for dehumidifying and/or ventilation.

Accordingly, the present invention includes features and advantages which are believed to enable it to advance heat exchange technology, heat exchanger technology, air treatment technology, air handling technology, air heating technology, and coil technology. Characteristics and advantages of the present invention described above and additional features and benefits are disclosed in the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments and in the accompanying drawings.

In addition to specific statements herein regarding summary descriptions of the present invention and of the drawings, and those about certain embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, there are other objects and purposes related to benefits of this invention's creative teachings and inventive disclosures.

Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particular individual feature disclosed here, but include combinations of them distinguished from what is already known in their structures, functions, designs, and/or results achieved. Some features of the invention have been broadly described so that the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood, and in order that the contributions of this invention to the arts may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of the invention described above and below and which may be included in the subject matter of the claims to this invention. The claims of this invention are to be read to include any legally equivalent parts, elements, devices, combinations, processes, steps, or methods which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The present invention recognizes and addresses long-felt needs for effective and efficient air treatment systems methods, and provides a solution to problems and a satisfactory meeting of those needs in its various possible embodiments and equivalents thereof.

The following description of certain embodiments is given for the purpose of disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter how others may later try to disguise it by superficial variations in form or insubstantial changes in an effort to avoid this patent's claims.

It will be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention may include one, some, or all of the disclosed, described, and/or enumerated improvements and/or technical advantages and/or elements in claims to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A more particular description of some embodiments of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments which are shown in the drawings which form a part of this specification. These drawings illustrate some, but not all, embodiments and are not to be used to improperly limit the scope of the invention which may have other equally effective, legally equivalent embodiments.

FIG. 1 is perspective view, showing some internal parts in dotted lines, of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing some internal parts in dotted lines, of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a coil according to the present invention with a lower pan.

FIG. 3B is top view of the coil of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view, showing some internal parts in dotted lines, of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 3D is a perspective view, showing some internal parts in dotted lines, of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 3E is a perspective view, showing some internal parts in dotted lines, of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is is a perspective view, showing some internal parts in dotted lines, of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a pan of the system of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a side schematic view of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention

FIG. 8B is a side schematic view of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention

FIG. 8C is a side schematic view of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention

FIG. 8D is a side schematic view of a system according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention

FIG. 9A is perspective view of a coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a partial crosssection view fo p[art fo the system of FIG. 9A showing parts of flow tubes and heat exchanging fins of the system of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C is is a partial crosssection view of part of the system shown in FIGS. 9A, 9N showing crosssections of flow tubes and heat exchanging fins.

FIG. 9D is a perspective view, partially cut away, showing a tube/fin structure useful with the system of FIG. 9A (and any other suitable system herein according to the present invention).

FIG. 10A is a front perspective view of a system according to the present invention having coil(s) according to the present invention.

FIG. 10B is a rear view of the system of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10C is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 10A showing a front part separated from a rear part.

FIG. 10D is an exploded view of the system of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10E is a perspective view of parts of the system of FIG. 10A with an outer housing deleted.

FIG. 11A is a side view of a lower section of the system of FIG. 10A as shown in FIG. 10E.

FIG. 11B is a side view of an opposite side of the section of the system of FIG. 10A as shown in FIG. 11A

FIG. 11C is a perspective view of an upper section of the system of FIG. 10A as shown in FIG. 10E.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an air treatment system according to the present invention.

FIG. 12A is a front view of the system of FIG. 12.

FIG. 12B is a top view of the system of FIG. 12.

FIG. 12C is a bottom view of the system of FIG. 12.

FIG. 12D is a crosssection view of the system of FIG. 12 along line 12D-12D of FIG. 12.

FIG. 12E is an enlargement of part of the system as shown in FIG. 12D.

FIG. 12F is an enlargement of part of the system as shown in FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12G is an enlargement of part of the system as shown in FIG. 12A.

Certain embodiments of the invention are shown in the above-identified figures and described in detail below. Any combination of aspects and/or features described below can be used except where such aspects and/or features are mutually exclusive. So long as they are not mutually exclusive or contradictory, any aspect, element, step, or feature or combination of aspects, etc., of any embodiment disclosed herein may be used in any other embodiment disclosed herein. For example, if an embodiment with features, elements, steps, or aspects A, B, C, and D is disclosed, and an embodiment with features, elements, steps, and/or aspects A, B, D is possible, then the embodiment with A, B, D is part of this disclosure as an embodiment of the present invention; and so forth for all possible combinations of features, elements, steps, and/or aspects.

It should be understood that the appended drawings and description herein are of certain embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, additions, embodiments, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In showing and describing these embodiments, like or identical reference numerals are used to identify common or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity, conciseness, and disclosure.

As used herein and throughout all the various portions (and headings) of this patent, the terms “invention”, “present invention” and variations thereof mean one or more embodiments, and are not intended to mean the claimed invention of any particular embodiment. Accordingly, the subject or topic of each such reference is not automatically or necessarily part of, or required by, any particular embodiment.

It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for simplicity and clarity, and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact.

Throughout this specification, words and terms take at least the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context dictates otherwise. The meanings identified below do not necessarily limit the terms, but merely provide illustrative examples for the terms. The meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” may include plural references, and the meaning of “in” may include “in” and “on.” The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Terms such as “providing,” “processing,” “supplying,” “determining,” “calculating” or the like may refer at least to an action of a computer system, computer program, signal processor, logic or alternative analog or digital electronic device that may be transformative of signals represented as physical quantities, whether automatically or manually initiated.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting; whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Values expressed in a range format should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. For example, a range of “about 0.1% to about 5%” or “about 0.1% to 5%” should be interpreted to include not just about 0.1% to about 5%, but also the individual values (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) and the sub-ranges (e.g., 0.1% to 0.5%, 1.1% to 2.2%, 3.3% to 4.4%) within the indicated range. The statement “about X to Y” has the same meaning as “about X to about Y,” unless indicated otherwise. Likewise, the statement “about X, Y, or about Z” has the same meaning as “about X, about Y, or about Z,” unless indicated otherwise. The term “about” as used herein can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 10%, within 5%, or within 1% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

In this document, the terms “a,” “an,” or “the” are used to include one or more than one unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or” unless otherwise indicated. The statement “at least one of A and B” has the same meaning as “A, B, or A and B.” In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein, and not otherwise defined, is for the purpose of description only and not of limitation.

Any use of section headings is intended to aid reading of the document and is not to be interpreted as limiting; information that is relevant to a section heading may occur within or outside of that particular section. Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference should be considered supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

In any method herein, including but not limited to any methods of manufacturing described herein, the steps can be carried out in any order without departing from the principles of the invention, except when a temporal or operational sequence is explicitly recited. Furthermore, specified steps can be carried out concurrently unless explicit claim language recites that they be carried out separately. For example, a claimed step of doing X and a claimed step of doing Y can be conducted simultaneously within a single operation, and the resulting process will fall within the literal scope of the claimed process.

The term “substantially” as used herein refers to a majority of, or mostly, as in at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.9%, 99.99%, or at least about 99.999% or more.

As used herein, the term “fluid” refers to liquids, vapors, gas, slurries, and gels, and any mass or material that is pumpable, unless otherwise indicated. Any suitable fluid according to the present invention can be used as a “cooling fluid” or a “heating fluid.”

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a system A according to the present invention has a powered blower system B in a housing F which propels air into and through an optional transition member T which is interconnected between the housing F and a housing L of a coil C, a coil according to the present invention (any disclosed herein, with or without fins, etc.). The air moves through the coil C, exiting the housing L and moving into an optional box plenum box P. Some of the air can encounter the interior walls of the plenum P. Air exits the plenum P into a conduit or into various conduits S which carry the air, cooled or heated as desired, to a chosen location or locations. Cooling fluid from an air conditioning system AC flows through connection Na into and out connection Nb of the coil C. Heating fluid flows to and from connections D of the coil C.

Heated heating fluid is provided to the coil C from a heated water source HW. Such fluid may flow by gravity to the coil C and/or it may be pumped to and through the coil C by a pump system J with any suitable pump or pumps. Any pump for the system A and for any system herein may be inside a housing, e.g., a housing like the housing L, or outside the housing, nearby or remote therefrom; and, depending on the shape of the coil, pump(s) may be in or on the coil. An optional source of hot water HWa is shown inside the plenum P. An optional pump system Ja is shown inside the plenum P. Such a source and/or such a pumps system may be within any part of the system shown in FIG. 1, including, but not limited to, within the housing F or the member T.

In some embodiments of the coil C, cooling fluid flows through a fluid pathway or pathways through the coil C; and heated fluid flows through a pathway or pathways of the coil C, separate from the pathway(s) for the cooling fluid. As is true for any coil and any system herein, in other embodiments a coil may have a fluid pathway through which, as desired, heated fluid flows or cooling fluid flows.

The coil C may be any suitable coil disclosed herein according to the present invention, and, as shown, in one aspect the coil has generally rectangular front and rear face surfaces and generally rectangular side face surfaces. FIG. 1A illustrates a coil G with such a coil shape. Any such coil may be of any desired width, length, and depth. Such a coil has, e.g. pathway PR for cooling fluid and pathway HC for heating fluid; and, optionally, any such coil may have multiple cooling fluid pathways, multiple heating fluid pathways, or both. As is true for any coil herein, any suitable pipe, tubular, or conduit may be used for fluid pathways in any coil herein, and they may include any suitable known fins, vanes, heat exchange members, plates, bars, projections, or structures (collectively “fins, etc.”) to facilitate heat exchange that are known for use in known coils and known radiators, in any combination.

As shown in FIG. 2, a system 10 according to the present invention includes a blower 12 in a housing 14. The housing 14 has an opening 16 which communicates with an enclosure 20 via an optional connection member 22. A coil 24 according to the present invention is disposed in the enclosure 20. A service door 38 permits access to the interior of the enclosure 20.

Air is moved by the blower 12 from the housing 14 and then through the coil 24. Treated air flows from the coil into the interior of the enclosure 20 and then into conduits 28 connected to openings 18 in the enclosure 20. A pan 30 is disposed beneath the coil 24 and liquid flowing from the coil drains from the pan out of drain nipples 32.

An air conditioning system 50 provides cooling fluid (e.g, but not limited to, cooled water or refrigerant) to cooling fluid pathways 52 within the coil 24; and a heated water system 60 provides heated water from a source 64, pumped by a pump or pumps 66, to heated fluid pathways 62 within the coil 24.

As is true for any system herein, any heated water source may be used to supply heated water to a coil according to the present invention for any system according to the present invention. Such sources include, but are not limited to, a hot water heater or heaters in a house, water heaters with a tank that stores heated water, solar water heaters, pipe or conduit arrays, exposed to the sun, ‘instant’ water heaters in-line with a heated water flow line which provide quick heating of water on demand, and existing heated water sources in an apartment, building, facility, hotel, motel, ship, plane, mobile office, mobile home, mobile building, or any other structure using hot water. Such sources include those with gas heated water, electrically heated water, wind power heated water, wave power heated water, or solar power heated water. In any system herein, with any coil herein, heated water provided from a heated water source may be returned to the original heated water source, may be recycled through the system, or may be exhausted or drained away. In certain particular aspects, a system according to the present invention provides, selectively, cool air and hot air, the air heated using water from an in-place home, facility, building, tent, or apartment water heater used also for heating water for bathing and washing dishes.

In the coil as shown in FIG. 2, the pathways for heated water are at the rear of the coil (rear as viewed in the position as shown in FIG. 2) and the pathways for the cooling fluid are on the front of the coil. It is within the scope of the present invention for this positioning to be reversed, with the pathways for heated water in the front of the coil.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a system 400 according to the present invention includes a coil 402 according to the present invention which can be used with any suitable drain pan, e.g., a drain pan 420 as shown. The drain pan 420 with a bottom wall 422 and four side walls 424. Water drains from a drain nipple 426. Air may flow to the coil 402 through an opening 428 in the bottom wall 422 of the pan 420. The opening 428 is generally V-shaped to correspond to the general V-shape of the coil 402. When air is flowed to the coil through the opening 428 (arrow V in FIG. 3A) a top closure plate 442 is secured on top of the coil 402 so that the air flows to and between a plurality of vanes 444 of the coil 402 rather than out the open top end of the coil.

The coil 402 has a plurality of liquid flow tubes 445, 446 extending through the coil with accessible end portions outside the coil body, connected for fluid communication and passage with hairpins Hp, shown in FIG. 3A. Heated water flows through the tubes 445 (from a heated water system or heater, not shown, e.g. any disclosed or referred to herein) and cooling fluid flows through the tubes 446 from an air conditioning system, (not shown, e.g. any disclosed or referred to herein), depending on the mode, cooling or heating, in which the system is being operated. Cooling fluid flows to and from cooling tubes via an inlet 447 and an outlet 448. Heated water flows to and from heating tubes via an inlet 457 and an outlet 458.

The system can, optionally, be used with air flowing in horizontally to the coil 402′ (arrow H), e.g. with the pan-coil combination fit tightly in an enclosure closing off both ends of the coil so air must flow out between the vanes, or a closure plate can be used on the top and/or the bottom to close off the end(s).

FIGS. 3C, 3D, and 3E show alternative configurations for systems according to the present invention using a V-coil, e.g., but not limited to, a V-coil like the coil 402, FIGS. 3A. 3B.

As shown in FIG. 3C, an upright system has an enclosure 471 with a system 450 mounted at the top thereof adjacent an air inlet opening 482 for a “downflow” air flow embodiment. Air flows into the opening 482; down to the sides of the coil 402; through its vanes into its interior; through an opening (not shown) in the pan (like the opening in the pan 420, FIG. 3A); to a blower Be; and is then blown downwardly and out through an air outlet 472 from the enclosure 471. Thus a system according to the present invention can be disposed horizontally as shown in FIG. 3C.

Heated water is pumped by a pump or pumps 473 from a heated water source 474 to the system 450. Cooling fluid flows to the system 450 to and from an air conditioning system 475. Gravity flow can also be employed.

Without changing the horizontal orientation of FIG. 3C, and without adding an additional pan, the system 450 can be utilized in an “upflow” system as shown in FIG. 3D. Air flows into an air inlet opening 482 in an enclosure 491 and through the opening in the pan into the space in the coil-pan combination's interior. A closure plate 496 prevents the air from flowing out from the top of the coil-pan combination. Thus the air flows through the vanes on both sides of the coil. The air then flows upwardly to a blower which propels it out of the enclosure 491 through an air outlet opening 493 at the top of the enclosure. Systems like those of FIG. 3C provide heated water and cooled fluid to the system 450.

It is within the scope of the present invention for the hot water source and/or the pump system to be within a housing, etc. of a system, as illustrated by the source 474a and the pump system 473a (FIG. 3C) and the source 474b and pump system 473b (FIG. 3D).

Referring now to FIG. 3E, a system according to the present invention has a coil according to the present invention, e.g. but not limited to a coil 402, which is partially within in an enclosure EN. Part of the coil protrudes from the enclosure EN.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a coil 250 according to the present invention is supported on a drain pan 260 in a housing 261. The coil 250 is comprised of four connected sub-coils 251, 252, 253, and 254 each of which may be like the coil of FIG. 1 or half of a V-coil, e.g. as in FIG. 3A, or two of which may be like the V-coil of FIGS. 3A. 3B. Each pair of sub-coils when secured together, when viewed from the end as shown in FIG. 4, form a general M-shape with three bases M1, M2, and M3 formed respectively by extending bottom portions of the sub-coils 251, 252-253, and 254, respectively. The coil 250 may be used in place of many V-Coils, including, but not limited to, those of FIGS. 2, 3B, and 3C-3E.

The fluid pathways employed in cooling air of the four sub-coils may be interconnected so that they are intercommunicating with fluid flowing from an air conditioning system 261, through each subcoil, and back to the system 261. Similarly, The fluid pathways of the four sub-coils employed in heating air may be interconnected so that they are intercommunicating with heated water flowing from a system 262, through each subcoil, and back to the system 262. Water from the sub-coils flows down to the pan 260 and out through a nipple 276 (see FIG. 5).

With a coil according to the present invention with multiple subcoils, e.g. but not limited to an M-coil, e.g. but not limited to as shown in FIG. 4, any, some or all of the subcoils can have a pathway or pathways therethrough to flow heated water through the coil.

A coil 250a shown in FIG. 6A, like the coil 250, FIG. 4, has subcoils A, B, C, D each with fluid pathways Fh for heated water and fluid pathways Gc for cooling fluid (only one pathway labeled as shown for each row of pathways). Optionally, the fluid pathways of adjacent coils can be in fluid communication, e.g. the fluid pathways of subcoils C and D may be in fluid communication so that, e.g. fluid introduced into subcoil D flows to and through subcoil C.

A coil 250b shown in FIG. 6B, like the coil 250, FIG. 4, has subcoils I, J, K, L with fluid pathways Fh for heated water (subcoils I and J) and fluid pathways Gc for cooling fluid (only one pathway labeled as shown for each row of pathways). Subcoils K and L have no heated fluid pathways.

A coil 250c shown in FIG. 6C, like the coil 250, FIG. 4, has subcoils M, N, O, P with fluid pathways Fh for heated water (all subcoils) and fluid pathways Gc for cooling.

The present invention provides, inter alia, new, creative, nonobvious and inventive embodiments as compared to certain subject matter including some existing coils, existing systems using them, and methods of their use; including, but not limited to, old subject matter in. U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,066,843; 7,614,248, and 4,365,667—each of which is incorporated fully herein in its entirety for all purposes. Some such new, etc., coils, etc. of the preset invention are described below.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides an air handling unit according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention which has an air handling enclosure, a blower in or on the air handling enclosure, the coil in the air handling enclosure, the coil according to the present invention (any disclosed or described herein) for selectively heating air and cooling air; and, optionally, at least one heating element in the air handing enclosure, either upstream or downstream of the blower. Optionally, the coil has channels, pipes, tubes or conduits (“channels” or “tubes”) through one or some of which heated water flows or cooling fluid flows and, also optionally, there are fins, plates, or structures associated with the tubes, conduits, pipes, channels, etc. to facilitate heat exchange. Hot fluid, e.g. water or a similar fluid, is selectively provided to one, two, or more of the tubes, etc. from a hot water source; e.g., but not limited to, from a hot water heater system either directly with dedicated piping or tubing, or from an existing outlet for hot water in a home, apartment, building, or other facility. Such heated fluid can be returned back to the hot water source for re-use, or it can be drained or exhausted, e.g. but not limited to, down a sink drain, tub drain, or shower drain. The present invention includes methods for operating such an air handling unit to heat air or to cool air.

The present invention provides a method of operating a system according to the present invention, including a unit according to the present invention described in the previous paragraph and in some detail below, which system can be, selectively, used for heating air, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) to cool and/or dehumidify air. Such a method can include employing such a system, the method including: providing an enclosure comprising a plurality of sides and having an air supply opening in one of the plurality of sides and an air return opening in another of the plurality of sides; disposing a blower within the enclosure; disposing a heat exchanger within the enclosure upstream or downstream of the blower and in a discharge airflow path of the blower, wherein a heat exchanger has a coil according to the present invention, e.g. a coil with a first section and a second section, and wherein each of the first section and the second section comprises a plurality of fins or the like; optionally disposing at least one electrically-powered resistive heating element adjacent, near, or substantially co-located with the heat exchanger either upstream thereof or downstream of the heat exchanger in a discharge airflow path of the blower; providing an airflow through the enclosure with the blower, e.g. but not limited to via a discharge airflow path of the blower between the blower and the air supply upstream or opening in a downstream direction.

Referring to FIG. 7, a system 1000 has a cabinet 100 that includes an air return opening 102 disposed in one end and an air supply opening 104 disposed in the opposite end. The openings 102, 104 are rectangular and centrally aligned as shown. Cabinet 100 may also include a removable air filter 106 that filters out particulate contaminants and thus prevents them from entering cabinet 100.

In operation, ambient air is pulled into cabinet 100 through air return opening 102 and (optional) filter 106 (as illustrated by the dashed arrows 108). The incoming air is passed through a coil CIL according to the present invention for heating or cooling. The coil may be any coil (or coils) disclosed or described herein according to the present invention and may be used to heated, cool, and/or dehumidify air and/or to ventilate an area, space, or room. The treated air is forced out of cabinet 100 through air supply opening 104 (as illustrated by the dashed arrows 110).

As is true for any system or embodiment herein, hot water can be provided by a separate hot water system used with, and often associated with, the system; or an existing hot water system can be used, with hot water used in the system returned to a source for re-use or drained or exhausted. As shown, e.g. in FIG. 7, heated water from a hot water source HS is pumped by a pump system PT (and/or flowed by gravity) to the coil CIL (any coil according to the present invention, including, but not limited to, a flat or “slab” coil or coils, a “V” coil, an “A” coil, or an “M” coil) and then, optionally, the hot water is pumped back to the source HS. Optionally, or in addition to the use of a source like the source HS, heated water from a typical faucet, spigot, or valve, e.g. from the faucet FW is pumped by a pump PD and/or flows to the coil CIL, out from the coil, and is then transmitted to a drain DR. Optionally, or in addition to the to the hot water sources HS and FW, an alternative energy hot water source AEH may be used, e.g. but not limited to, a solar-powered source, a wind-powered source, or a wave-action-powered source.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, a system 1002 according to the present invention has a coil 216 according to the present invention (any herein) in a cabinet 100 (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 7), an air return opening 102, an air supply opening 104, and a removable air filter 106. Optionally, the system 1002 includes a plurality of electrically-powered resistive heating elements 212a and 212b to heat air flowing through cabinet 100 and electrically powered motor-driven blower 214.

The blower 214 moves air through cabinet 100. Optionally, and not by way of limitation, the coil 216 is an “A-shaped” or “A-frame” coil (each half of which is labeled 216) to cool and/or heat the air flowing through cabinet 100. Optionally, the heating elements are disposed in a supply section 220 of the cabinet, the coil 216 is disposed in the return section 218 of the cabinet, and the blower is disposed in the region therebetween.

A hot water source HSa is like the source HS, FIG. 7, above, and is connected to elements and coils similarly and operates similarly. A hot water source PDa is like the source PD, FIG. 7, above, and is connected to elements and coils similarly and operates similarly. Optionally, any of the hot water sources may be used to provide heated water to the heating elements of the system so that they can provide heat exchanged from the heated water instead of, or in addition to, heat generated by resistive electrical heating.

Referring now to FIG. 8B, a system 1003 according to the present invention has a coil 316 according to the present invention (and disclosed herein; in certain aspects like the coil 216, FIG. 8A). Optionally, the system 1003 has one or a plurality of heating elements, e.g. element(s) 312a and 312b, an electrically-powered motor-driven rotatable blower (or fan) 314, the coil 316 (the two halves of which are each labeled 316), and an optional removable air filter 322 located within a generally rectangular cabinet or other suitable enclosure 301.

Cabinet 301 has an air supply opening 304 and a side air return opening 324 disposed in one side of cabinet 301 and approximately adjacent to air filter 322. The blower 314 is configured to take in air through a side opening of a housing of the blower 314. Any side opening may be used, and may be located as desired, e.g., and not by way of limitation, the side opening of the housing of the blower 314 is located approximately adjacent to air filter 322.

The elements 312a and 312b may be located as desired within the cabinet and as desired with respect to the coil 316; and are, optionally, substantially co-located with the heat exchanger 316. In some embodiments, “co-located” may mean that the heating elements 312a, 312b and the heat exchanger 316 are located within the same section of cabinet 301. In other embodiments, “co-located” may mean that the heating elements 312a, 312b and the heat exchanger 316 are located upstream or downstream of blower 314. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8B, each heating element 312a, 312b is disposed adjacent to a respective side of heat exchanger 316 and near an upper end (as shown in the configuration of FIG. 3). In other embodiments, each heating element 312a, 312b may be disposed adjacent to a respective side of heat exchanger 316 but closer to a lower end than shown in FIG. 8B.

Each heating element 312a, 312b may, optionally, comprise a respective plurality of electrically-powered heating elements that heat the surrounding air. As is true for any embodiment herein, although electrically-powered heating elements 312a, 312b are shown, in other embodiments, heating elements may be used that suitably heat the surrounding air but are not primarily electrically-powered (i.e., e.g. gas burners, solar powered, wind powered, wave powered). Although two heating elements 312a, 312b are shown, in other embodiments, more or fewer than two heating elements may be used. For example, the two heating elements 312a, 312b may comprise two sections or sub-units of a single heating element 312. In other embodiments, three or more heating elements or sub-units may be used.

A hot water source HSb is like the source HS, FIG. 7, above, and is connected to elements and coils similarly and operates similarly. A hot water source PDb is like the source PD, FIG. 7, above, and is connected to elements and coils similarly and operates similarly. Optionally, any of the hot water sources may be used to provide heated water to the heating elements of the system so that they can provide heat exchanged from the heated water instead of, or in addition to, heat generated by resistive electrical heating.

As is true for any coil herein and parts thereof, the tubes, etc. through the coil and and/or fins 317 may be constructed of any suitable metal, e.g. copper, stainless steel, aluminum, or another suitable material that promotes heat transfer. In some embodiments, a heat exchanger may include a plurality of non-finned tubes containing a refrigerant, liquid, or other suitable cooling or heating material. For example, such a heat exchanger may include a plurality of generally smooth and/or corrugated tubes instead of or in addition to fins, etc.

FIG. 8C depicts a system 1004 according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention (any disclosed herein; optionally a coil 316 as described above). Optionally, the system 1004 may also have a plurality of optional heating elements 312a, 312b and other parts or elements as described above, like numerals indicating like parts

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 8C, the coil 316 can be an “A” coil, an “A-frame” coil, or an inverted “V-frame” type of coil that is similar to that of the coil 316 depicted in FIG. 8B.

Heated water can be supplied to the coil and to heating elements of the system 1004 by a hot water source Ht (any disclosed or described herein, including, e.g., but not limited to, any shown or described for FIGS. 7-8B above).

FIG. 8D depicts a system 1005 according to the present invention with a coil according to the present invention (any disclosed herein; optionally a coil 316 as described above). Optionally, the system 1005 may also have a plurality of optional heating elements 312a, 312b and other parts or elements as described above, like numerals indicating like parts

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 8D, the coil 316 can be a “V” coil, a “V-frame” coil, or an inverted “A-frame” type of coil that is similar to that of the “A-frame” coil 316 depicted in FIG. 8B.

Heated water can be supplied to the coil and to heating elements of the system 1005 by a hot water source Ht, as in FIG. 8C.

Optionally, in the systems 1002-1005, an alternative embodiment of a coil according to the present invention may be configured as a single slab type coil that extends generally across an air supply section, e.g. but not limited to a section like the section 320.

In certain aspects and embodiments, the present invention provides an air treatment system that both cools (or conditions and/or dehumidifies) air and heats air, selectively as desired. Such a system may have one heat exchange coil according to the present invention or two heat exchange coils according to the present invention, or more; or such a system according to the present invention may have one coil according to the present invention and one coil that is solely for cooling air.

In certain particular aspects and embodiments, such an air treatment system according to the present invention includes a housing, cabinet or enclosure with a main drain pan therein and an inner space including upper and lower parts or, in one aspect, halves; an outdoor blower unit that is provided under the main drain pan to discharge air flowing through a first coil (heated air or cooled air) to an outdoor area or side, and a base pan adjacent the system's bottom. Above the main drain pan is, inter alia, a second coil and associated apparatus, with an optional associated fan. (Any fan in any embodiment herein is optional).

It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a system according to the present invention for heating air and cooling air which employs a coil according to the present invention that has channel(s) for use in flowing fluid for cooling air and for flowing fluid to heat air. In some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of such a system with such a coil, a channel for fluid to heat air is positioned in a coil among, between, or encompassed by channels used for flowing fluid for cooling air. Such channels can extend through a mass or arrangement of fins, etc. used to facilitate heat exchange between fluid in a channel and air outside the system. It is within the scope of this invention to so position such a channel for heating fluid that parts of the channels for cooling fluid serve to protect and/or segregate tubing used in the heating fluid channel, to facilitate heating of air, to provide structure between such channel(s) and the exterior of a system, or some combination of these functions. It is within the scope of the present invention to provide such a coil (any suitable coil herein) in which heated fluid, such as e.g. water, flows through a heated fluid pathway, tube, channel, etc. to heat a fluid pathway or pathways adjacent or nearby used periodically for the flow of a cooling fluid (which cooling fluid may or may not be present) and the heated fluid heats the cooling fluid pathway(s) and associated structures to enhance and/or facilitate the heating of air flowing through the system.

FIG. 9A shows a coil 4000 according to the present invention that has a bank of fins 4005 through which pass three cooling channels each with respective tubing 4001, 4002, and 4004 (e.g. “tube” in FIG. 9B) extending therethrough from top to bottom. Each tubing has an inlet b through which fluid is introduced into the tubing, and an outlet c through which fluid flows from the tubing. Any suitable known cooling system or air conditioning system can be used to provide cooling fluid-, gas, vapor or liquid—to the tubings 4001, 4002, 4004.

A tubing 4003 passes through a heating fluid channel that extends from the top of the bank 4005 to the bottom, and has an upper inlet 4003b into which heated fluid flows and lower outlet 4003c from which fluid exits the tubing 4003.

As shown in FIG. 9C, for example, a portion 4003d/4003e of the tubing 4003 extending through fins 4005 is between portions 4002a of the tubing 4002 and portions 4004a of the tubing 4004.

FIG. 9D illustrates one nonlimiting example of a tubing TG extending through a mass of fins, etc. FN.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are front and rear perspective views, respectively, of one embodiment of an air treatment system 2000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 2000 has a housing 100 with a front frame 200 defining part of a front portion of the system and a rear frame 300 defining a rear portion. An exhaust guide unit 400 for exhausting external to the housing 100 is connected to the rear frame 300.

The system 2000 has a lower coil 510 according to the present invention and an upper coil 870 according to the present invention. It is within the scope of this invention to delete either coil and its associated apparatuses, connections, and structures related thereto.

FIG. 10D is an exploded perspective view of an internal structure of one particular embodiment of a system 2000; e.g. with parts and structures as shown, e.g., in known U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,248, fully incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes.

As shown in FIGS. 10A-10E and 11A-11C, the system 2000 has an external air inlet 302 is formed at an upper half of the rear frame 300. The external air inlet 302 defines a passage through which the external air (indoor air) is introduced into the system.

The exhaust guide unit 400, which is optional, connected to the rear frame, exhausts heat exchanged air in the system to an outdoor side.

A lower base pan 500 is coupled to lower ends of the front and rear frames 100 and 300 and supports a plurality of parts. A plurality of optional wheels 502 are installed on a bottom of the base pan 500.

The first coil 510 is installed on a top-central part of the base pan 500. This coil may be any coil described or disclosed herein according to the present invention useful for, selectively, heating or cooling air.

A compressor 520 is installed at a side of the coil 510 at an end part of the base pan 500 and supported by a triangular shape compressor frame 522. The compressor frame 522 is installed on the base pan 500. An accumulator 530 is installed beside the compressor 520. The accumulator 530 filters a liquid refrigerant so that a gaseous refrigerant can be introduced into the compressor 520. An optional condensed water detection unit 540 is installed in front of the compressor 520. The condensed water detection unit 540 detects condensed water when it is collected on a top surface of the base pan 500 by a predetermined amount and displays the detected result.

An optional condensed water pump 550 is further installed on a right front end of the base pan 500. The condensed water pump 550 pumps out collected condensed water in the base pan 500 to a sub-drain pan 750. A condensed water pipe 560 is connected to the condensed pump 550. The condensed water pipe 560 functions as a passage for guiding the condensed water pumped by the condensed water pump 550 to the sub-drain pan 750. A lower end of the condensed water pipe 560 is connected to the condensed pump 550 and an upper end is connected to the sub-drain pan 750.

The base pan 500 is provided at a left-top surface with a unit seating part 503. A blower unit 600 is on the top surface of the base pan 500 at a side of the coil 510. The blower unit 600 generates suction at a side to suck the air passing through the first coil 510 and discharge the sucked air. The blower unit 600 includes a lower orifice 610 and a lower air guide 620 that define a housing groove 640, a lower fan 630 generating wind by rotating in the housing groove 640, and a lower motor 660 providing a rotational force to the lower fan 630. The lower orifice 610 supports a plurality of components including a lower blower unit 800 and guides the air passed through the first coil 510. A circular lower orifice hole 612 is formed at a central part of the lower orifice 610.

A lower air guide 620 is installed at a left side of the lower orifice 610. The lower air guide 620 guides the air flow together with the lower orifice 610. The flower fan 630 for forcedly generating the airflow is located between the lower orifice 610 and the lower air guide 620. Therefore, the housing groove 640 is defined by the lower orifice 610 and the lower air guide 620 to guide the air flowing by the lower pan 630.

Exhaust guides 650 corresponding to each other are further formed on the respective lower orifice and lower air guide 610 and 620. The exhaust guide 650 functions to guide the air from the housing groove 640 to the exhaust guide unit 400. An upper end of the exhaust guide 650 has a shape corresponding to that of a lower end of the exhaust guide unit 400.

The main drain pan 700 is installed on a part of the front frame 100. The main drain pan 700 is formed to collect condensed water generated from the second coil 870. The air system is generally divided into indoor and outdoor sides. The main drain pan 700 functions to divide the air conditioner into the indoor and outdoor sides. The sub-drain pan 750 is installed under the main drain pan 700. The sub-drain pan 750 is a part for collecting and dispensing condensed water fed by the condensed pump 550.

The indoor blower unit 800 is installed at an upper side of the main drain pan 700. The indoor blower unit 800 directs the indoor air introduced into the air system through the external air inlet. A front outer appearance of the indoor blower unit 810 is provided with an upper air guide 810 for guiding the air forced by an upper fan 850. The upper air guide 810 is installed across the upper side of the main drain pan 700. The upper fan housing 820 is installed to enclose the upper fan 850. The upper motor 830 provides a rotational force to the upper fan 850. The upper fan 850 is received in the upper fan housing 820. The upper fan 850 is provided to force external air into the air system through the intake grille 310.

The second coil 870 is installed at a rear side of the upper orifice 860. The second coil 870 is provided to allow air introduced through the intake grille 310 to heat exchange with the fluid in the coil, e.g. heated water or refrigerant, and is installed on the main drain pan 700.

Controls are, e.g. as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,615,248.

FIG. 10C is shows the front frame separated from the rear frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Optionally, the first coil can serve as part of a condenser apparatus and the second coil can serve as part of an evaporator apparatus. Appropriate conduits, pipes, and tubing are connected between the compressor 520, the first coil 510, and the second coil 870.

Any suitable heated water source may be provided for the system 2000 to provide heated fluid, e.g. water or any suitable heat exchange fluid, to either or both of the coils 510 and/or 870. Any pump or pumps for pumping such heated fluid may be provided in or on the housing 100, or spaced apart from it. As shown in FIG. 10E, heated water may be provided to the system 2000 by a heated water source HWS, a heated water source HWR, and/or a heated water source HWE.

The heated water source HWS may be like any such source described or disclosed herein from which heated water is pumped and/or flows to the system 2000 and is then pumped back to the heated water source. The heated water HWR may be like any such source described or disclosed herein from which heated water is pumped to the system 2000 and is then flows (by gravity, pumping, or both) to a drain or to an exhaust or evacuation pipe, conduit, reservoir, tank, container, or sump. The heated water HWE may be like any such source described or disclosed herein from which heated water is flows or is pumped to the system 2000 and heat is provided to the source HWE with power generated by a solar power system, etc. (i.e. a system that is not electrically powered and not powered by burning natural gas or coal, or some other hydrocarbon or carbon).

FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a system 5000 according to the present invention. A coil 5010 according to the present invention is positioned on a pan 5012 in a housing 5014 and is, optionally, stabilized with a bracket 5029s connected to the coil and to the housing. An air conditioning system 5016, with parts exterior to the housing 5014, provides cooling fluid to the coil 5010. A pump 5020 pumps heated water from a heated water source 5030 (which may be any heated water source disclosed or described herein for any other system according to the present invention). A blower apparatus 5040 with a motor 5042 pulls air into the housing 5014 and through the coil 5010 for heating the air or for cooling the air. The thus-treated air is then blown out from the housing 5014 (indicated by arrows 5018).

The coil 5010 is shown as an “A” coil with two sides 5010a and 5010b (see FIG. 12A). It is to be understood that it is within the scope of the present invention for any suitable coil according to the present invention to be used in the system 5000; including, but not limited to, any coil disclosed herein according to the present invention, including but not limited to an “M” coil,” “V” coil, flat coil or slab coil, or coils. It is within the scope of the present invention, with any coil according to the present invention, to use any fins, etc.s with heat exchange tubes through which heat exchange fluid flows to enhance heat exchange between fluid flowing through the tubes and air to be cooled or to be heated. The fins etc. may be of any suitable type. It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a coil with any suitable desired number of heated fluid pathway(s) and any desired number of cooling fluid pathway(s).

In certain aspects, a heated fluid pathway through a coil (e.g. a tubing, conduit, channel, or pipe extending from a top of coil to a bottom of a coil, or vice versa, or side-to-side) is located adjacent or between two, or more, cooling fluid pathways. This can, in these particular aspects, provide structural protection for heated fluid pathways, enhance heat exchange between heated fluid and air, and facilitate desired flow of any resulting condensate on a coil's exterior into a pan below a coil. With such location of a heated fluid pathway, adjacent or nearby cooling fluid pathway(s) (with or without cooling fluid therein) can be heated by heat from the heated fluid. Thereby enhancing or facilitating the heating of air flowing over the coil.

It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a pump or pumps for pumping heated fluid from a heated fluid source, locating the pump(s) on a coil or within or outside of a coil; or locating the pump(s) either within a housing or cabinet of a system, or located outside such a housing or cabinet. As shown in FIGS. 12, 12A, and 12D, the pump 5020 of the system 5000 is positioned on top of the coil 5010 within the housing 5014 and receives hot water from the source 5030 from tubing 5023. The pump 5020 pumps the heated water from the source 5030, through tubing 5024 and its branches 5024a, 5024b to sides 5010a and 5010b, respectively, of the coil 5010, into heated fluid tubing 5019a and 5019b, respectively; and then back to the source 5030 through from the tubings 5019a and 5019b to exit tubing 5025 through its branches “c” and “d.”

A control system 5080 controls the blower motor, the heated water system, the air conditioning system, and/or a selector valve, if present, for controlling flow of heated fluid to and from the coil. In certain particular aspects, the control system includes a part, subsystem, or module which includes a typical thermostat device or apparatus, e.g. as is present in homes, apartments, and buildings and the pump or pumps of a system according to the present invention are controlled by the thermostat device or apparatus, so that when the ambient temperature falls below a desired level, the pump(s), e.g. pump 5020, is/are actuated to pump heated fluid from a heated fluid source to the coil and then the blower is activated to flow air over the coil to heat the air.

As is commonly true for known coils, exterior tubing connections or pipe connectors, or hollow “hairpins,” connect portions of the fluid pathways through the coil so that fluid flows from one portion of a tubing, etc. through a hairpin to another portion of the tubing etc. Hairpins 5029b are used with the tubing 5019b and hairpins 5029a are used with the tubing 5019a (one side shown, the opposite side having more of the same hairpins); and the pump 5020 pumps fluid from one tubing portion to another through the hairpins. Hairpins may be made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, metal (hardfaced or not, inside or outside), plastic, fiberglass, composite, and ceramic material; and, as indicated in FIG. 12E, in certain particular aspects, hairpins for use with tubing for heated water pathways may be made of copper and those for use with tubing for cooling fluid may be made of aluminum. Associated tubing, etc. used for cooling fluid flow pathways may be, in one aspect, made of aluminum; and the tubing etc. for the heated fluid pathways may be made of copper.

Optionally (not shown), the heated water can flow by gravity, with or without assistance from a pump or pumps. Optionally (not shown), the water can flow (or be pumped) to a drain, reservoir, or exhaust instead of back to a source.

As shown in FIG. 12F, an optional selector valve 5022 (shown schematically) is set to allow fluid to be pumped from the tubing 5023 to the tubing 5024; and, as shown in FIG. 12G, the selector 5022 is set to prevent such flow. This valve may be deleted.

Cooling fluid supplied by the air conditioning system 5016 is provided to tubing in pathways 5049a-5049d through the coil 5010 from the air conditioning system 5016 in an “IN” line 5016a and then fluid is returned to the system 5016 from lines 5033a-5033c to an “OUT” line 5016b. Suitable hairpins HS are used for intercommunicating these pathways.

The present invention provides, by way of example and not by way of limitation, the subject matter, inter alia, disclosed in the Paragraphs A-T below.

• • A. Any and every new system disclosed herein, including, but not limited to, any system shown on any drawings figure or figures herein and/or described in the text herein.
  • B. Any and every new coil disclosed herein, including, but not limited to, any coil shown on any drawings figure or figures herein and/or described in the text herein.
  • C. Any and every new method disclosed herein for using a coil according to the present invention or multiple such coils.
  • D. Any and every new method disclosed herein for using a system according to the present invention to heat air, cool air, or both.
  • E. A coil with a fluid pathway through which heated fluid is flowable, e.g. but not limited to heated water, to heat air flowing over and/or through the coil, and the coil also through which cooling fluid is flowable to cool air.
  • F. A system with a coil or coils as in Paragraph E and including a heated water source for providing the heated water; optionally the heated water flowing by gravity to the coil(s) or optionally the heated water pumped by a pump, or both; and, when the heated water is pumped, the system including the pump.
  • G. The coil of Paragraph E and/or the system of Paragraph F wherein the heated water source is one, or a combination of, a hot water system for providing hot water, the hot water system being an existing hot water system of a house, of a building or of a facility, from which hot water is flowable and/or can be pumped, the hot water either returnable to the hot water system or not.
  • H. Any system herein with a pump, the system including a housing for containing parts of the system, the pump on the housing or the pump within the housing, and optionally the pump on a coil or within a portion of a coil or encompassed by a part or parts of a coil, or between parts of a coil.
  • I. A coil according to the present invention as any coil in any of Paragraphs A-H and J-T herein or as any coil described herein, the coil having at least one heated fluid pathway and at least two cooling fluid pathways, the heated fluid pathway among, between, encompassed by, or surrounded by portions of cooling fluid pathways, and/or the heated fluid pathway located as such is located in any of drawing FIG. 2, 3B, 6A-6C, 9A, 9B, or 12A.
  • J. A method using any coil, coils, system or systems of any of Paragraphs A-I or K-T.
  • K. A coil for use in treating air, the air flowable over and/or through the coil, the coil having at least one or a plurality of fluid flow pathways for heated fluid for use in heating air, and at least one or a plurality of fluid flow pathways for cooling fluid for use in cooling air.
  • L. A coil for use in treating air, the air flowable over and/or through the coil, the coil having a fluid flow pathway for heated fluid for use in heating air, and a plurality of fluid flow pathways for cooling fluid for use in cooling air, the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid more interior to the coil than the plurality of fluid flow pathways for cooling fluid, or the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid among the plurality of fluid flow pathways for cooling fluid, or one of the fluid flow pathways for cooling fluid closer to an outer edge of the coil than the fluid pathway for heated fluid.
  • M. A coil for use in treating air, the air flowable over and/or through the coil, the coil having a fluid flow pathway for heated fluid for use in heating air, and a fluid flow pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air, the coil having an outer edge, the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid further from the edge than the fluid flow pathway for fluid for use in cooling air.
  • N. A coil for use in treating air, the air flowable over and/or through the coil, the coil having a first outer edge and a second outer edge spaced apart from the first outer edge, a fluid flow pathway for heated fluid for use in heating air, a first fluid flow pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air, a second fluid flow pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air; the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid further from the first outer edge than the first fluid flow pathway for fluid for use in cooling air, and the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid further from the second outer edge than the second fluid flow pathway for fluid for use in cooling air.
  • O. A system for treating air, the system for selectively treating air to cool air or to treat air to heat air, the system having a coil according to the present invention, including but not limited to a coil as in any of Paragraphs A-N and P-T, or any coil described herein according to the present invention.
  • P. A system as in any of Paragraphs A-O above or Q-T below, or any system described herein in which heated water is supplied from a source to a coil or coils according to the present invention in which the source is a heated water source from which heated water flows and/or is pumped to the system and is then flowed and/or pumped back to the source; a heated water source from which heated water flows and/or is pumped to the system and is then flowed and/or pumped to a drain, reservoir or exhaust; or a system with both such sources of heated water each of which sources can each be used alone or which can be used together.
  • Q. A heat exchanger comprising a finned tube heat exchanger, the heat exchanger further comprising:
    • a multiplicity of fin plates in spaced relation; and
    • a plurality of heat transfer tubes passing through said fin plates and in contact with said fin plates to allow a heat transfer medium flowing through said heat transfer tubes to exchange heat with air flowing across surfaces of said fin plates; and
    • the plurality of heat transfer tubes having at least one, one or a plurality of heated fluid transfer tubes through which heated fluid from a heated fluid source is flowable to heat air.
  • R. The heat exchanger of Paragraph Q for heating air in a space, the heat exchanger further comprising a control system, the control system including thermostat apparatus for selectively setting a desired temperature for the air in the space.
  • S. The heat exchanger of either Paragraph Q or R further comprising a heater fluid source, e.g. but not limited to a heater water source, for providing heated fluid as the heat transfer medium.
  • T. A method for heating air using any heat exchanger of any of Paragraphs Q-S.

In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and the embodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claims are well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends set forth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It is realized that changes are possible within the scope of this invention and it is further intended that each element or step recited herein is to be understood as referring to the step literally and/or to all equivalent elements or steps. It is intended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible in whatever form it may be utilized. The invention described herein is new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 102 and satisfies conditions for patentability in § 102. The invention described herein is not obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 103 and satisfies the conditions for patentability in § 103. The Doctrine of Equivalents may be relied on to determine and assess the scope of the invention. All patents and applications identified herein are incorporated fully herein for all purposes.

The word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded and the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

Claims

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A system for treating air,

the system having a coil,

the coil having fluid pathway structure through which fluid is flowable, the fluid comprising heat exchange fluid,

a housing within which the coil is disposed, and

a pump, the pump within the housing on the coil.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising

the pump for selectively pumping heating fluid through the fluid pathway structure of the coil to heat air, or the pump for pumping cooling fluid through the fluid pathway structure of the coil to cool air.

23. The system of claim 21 further comprising

a first source for supplying heating fluid to the fluid pathway structure for flow to the coil.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising

the pump in fluid communication with the fluid pathway structure for pumping the heating fluid from the first source to the coil and from the coil,

the pump for pumping the heating fluid from the coil back to the first source or from the coil to a location outside the housing.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the first source is one of:

a first heated water source from which heated water is flowable to the system and is then flowable back to the first source;

a second heated water source from which heated water is flowable and is then pumpable to the system and is then flowable to a drain, reservoir or exhaust; or

a heated water source which comprises both a first heated source and a second heated source which can both be used together or one of which can be used separately.

26. The system of claim 21 further comprising

a second source for supplying cooling fluid to the coil,

the fluid pathway structure including cooling fluid pathway structure for the cooling fluid to flow to the coil and from the coil.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising

the pump in fluid communication with the cooling fluid pathway structure for pumping the cooling fluid from the second source to the coil and from the coil,

the pump for pumping the cooling fluid from the coil back to the second source, or from the coil to a location outside the housing.

28. The system of claim 21 further comprising

a control system, the control system for selectively controlling the pump and including thermostat apparatus for selectively setting a desired temperature for the air adjacent the system.

29. The system of claim 21 further comprising

a heated water source for providing heated water to the pump for pumping to the coil, the heated water flowing by gravity from the heated water source to the pump.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising

the heated water source is a hot water system for providing hot water, the hot water system being an existing hot water system of a house, of a building or of a facility, from which hot water is flowable, the hot water returnable to the hot water system or not.

31. The system of claim 21 further comprising

the coil for use in treating air, the air flowable with respect to the coil, the fluid pathway structure having at least one fluid pathway for heated fluid for use in heating air, and at least one fluid pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air.

32. The system of claim 21 further comprising

the coil for use in treating air, the air flowable with respect to the coil, the fluid pathway structure having a fluid flow pathway for heated fluid for use in heating air, and a plurality of fluid flow pathways for cooling fluid for use in cooling air, the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid disposed

more interior to the coil than the plurality of fluid flow pathways for cooling fluid,

among the plurality of fluid flow pathways for cooling fluid, or

one of the fluid flow pathways for cooling fluid closer to an outer edge of the coil than the fluid pathway for heated fluid.

33. The system of claim 21 further comprising

the fluid pathway structure having

a fluid flow pathway for heated fluid for use in heating air, and

a fluid flow pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air,

the coil having an outer edge, the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid further from the edge than the fluid flow pathway for fluid for use in cooling air.

34. The system of claim 21 further comprising,

the coil having a first outer edge and a second outer edge spaced apart from the first outer edge,

the fluid pathway structure including a fluid flow pathway for heated fluid for use in heating air, a first fluid flow pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air, a second fluid flow pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air, the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid further from the first outer edge than the first fluid flow pathway for fluid for use in cooling air, and the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid further from the second outer edge than the second fluid flow pathway for fluid for use in cooling air.

35. A system for treating air,

the system having a coil, the coil having fluid pathway structure through which fluid is flowable, the fluid comprising heat exchange fluid,

a housing within which the coil is disposed, and

a pump, the pump within the housing and disposed so that at least a portion thereof is encompassed by part of the coil,

the pump for selectively pumping heating fluid through the fluid pathway structure of the coil to heat air, or the pump for pumping cooling fluid through the fluid pathway structure of the coil to cool air,

a first source for supplying heating fluid to the fluid pathway structure for flow to the coil,

wherein the first source is a hot water system for providing hot water, the hot water system being an existing hot water system of a house, of a building or of a facility, from which hot water is flowable,

the first source being one of a first heated water source from which heated water is flowable to the system and is then flowable back to the first source, a second heated water source from which heated water is flowable and is then pumpable to the system and is then flowable to a drain, reservoir or exhaust, or a heated water source which comprises both a first heated source and a second heated source which can both be used together or one of which can be used separately,

the pump in fluid communication with the fluid pathway structure for pumping the heating fluid from the first source to the coil and from the coil,

the pump for pumping the heating fluid from the coil back to the first source or from the coil to a location outside the housing,

a second source for supplying cooling fluid to the coil,

the fluid pathway structure including cooling fluid pathway structure for the cooling fluid to flow to the coil and from the coil,

the pump in fluid communication with the cooling fluid pathway structure for pumping the cooling fluid from the second source to the coil and from the coil,

the pump for pumping the cooling fluid from the coil back to the second source, or from the coil to a location outside the housing, and

a control system, the control system for selectively controlling the pump and including thermostat apparatus for selectively setting a desired temperature for the air adjacent the system.

36. A coil for an air treatment system, the coil comprising

coil structure disposable within a housing, and

a pump, the pump disposable within the housing.

37. The coil of claim 36 further comprising

the coil for use in treating air, the air flowable with respect to the coil, the coil having fluid pathway structure having at least one fluid pathway for heated fluid for use in heating air, and at least one fluid pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air,

the coil having a first outer edge, the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid further from the first outer edge than the fluid flow pathway for fluid for use in cooling air.

38. The coil of claim 37 further comprising

the coil having a second outer edge spaced apart from the first outer edge,

the fluid pathway structure including

the at least one fluid flow pathway for cooling air comprising a first fluid flow pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air and a second fluid flow pathway for cooling fluid for use in cooling air,

the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid further from the first outer edge than the first fluid flow pathway for fluid for use in cooling air, and

the fluid flow pathway for heated fluid further from the second outer edge than the second fluid flow pathway for fluid for use in cooling air.