In A Chamber Connected Passage Traversing The Structure Patents (Class 165/54)
  • Patent number: 6908039
    Abstract: A heat exchange system and method for heating outside air provided to a structure are disclosed. The system uses and recovers heat from waste products that are being exhausted from the structure. A heated products source generates heated waste products as a result of combustion. An exhaust duct passes the heated waste products through a heat exchanger before exhaustion from the structure. An intake duct that supplies fresh outside air to the structure also passes through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger couples the exhaust duct and the intake duct and transfers otherwise unused heat from the waste products to the outside air to increase the overall efficiency of the heated product source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David Charles Lyons, Richard Donald Berg, Robb Edward Bennett
  • Patent number: 6889750
    Abstract: An apparatus for ventilation systems which include an element for the transfer of heat from warm exhaust air (taken from inside a building) to cooler exterior fresh air which is drawn into the building. During a defrost cycle, interior air may circulate through both of the fresh air and exhaust air paths for delivery back into the building, i.e. the warm interior air, used as defrost air, may be able to circulate from the interior of the building into the ventilation apparatus and back to the interior of the building. The apparatus can thus use interior air as defrost air while diminishing or avoiding the creation of a negative air pressure in the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Venmar Ventilation Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic Lagace, Jean-Francois Grondin, Pierre Cusson, Michel Julien, Daniel Marcoux
  • Publication number: 20040226685
    Abstract: A stackable spacer element for use in a energy recovery core formed by stacking a plurality of relatively thin energy transfer media (e.g. sheets, panels, or plates (un-perforated exchanger sheets) so as to define a plurality of stacked energy transfer stages providing air passages for two separate air flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: VENMAR VENTILATION INC.
    Inventors: Martin Gagnon, Martin Gamelin, Michel Julien
  • Patent number: 6802361
    Abstract: A ceiling panel structure (10, 310) is mounted on a ceiling surface (201) downstream of an air-outlet (211) of a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus (indoor unit) (200) having an air-inlet (210) at a central portion and the conditioning air-outlet (211) at a peripheral portion. The ceiling panel structure minimizes the smudging of the ceiling surface, and is applicable even to the pre-mounted or existing air-conditioning apparatus. The ceiling panel structure (10, 310) can be mounted on the ceiling surface (201) outside of the air-conditioning apparatus (200), and has a deflection induction portion (47, 347) substantially rigid against the airflow to deflect a part (S1, S2) of the conditioning air blown out through the air-outlet (211) of the air-conditioning apparatus (200) back to the room air-inlet (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Air Techno Company Limited
    Inventor: Iwayoshi Hatanaka
  • Publication number: 20040194909
    Abstract: A system including active heat balance device and fluid transmission pipelines provided inside a solid, liquid, or gaseous thermo carrier with comparatively reliable thermo reservation capacity in the nature to reclaim heat from the fluid flowing in opposite direction by releasing heat to the fluid of relatively lower temperature flowing through the pipelines, or to absorb the heat to cool the fluid of relatively higher temperature flowing through the pipelines in the opposite direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 6789618
    Abstract: An air handling system including at least one terminal unit for maintaining a serviced volume at a predetermined temperature below the temperature of the air supplied by the central source of the air handling system is provided through the use of a refrigerant means in the form of a passive thermal energy recovery device which provides heat transfer between the outgoing and inflowing air streams provided by the a central air handling system. The heat transfer between air streams is regulated as a function of air velocity and temperature differentials as measured at various points in system which are related specifically to the serviced volume. Environmental control within the serviced volume is exercised by controlling face and bypass dampers to regulate the air flow through the passive heat exchanger and the air exchange rate is controlled by modulating the operation of the dampers or by regulating the air flow into or out of the serviced volume by way of supply and/or exhaust louvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Frederick J. Pearson
  • Patent number: 6789612
    Abstract: A cooling device for cooling an inner part of an approximately sealed box includes a casing and a heat exchanger disposed in the casing. Plural inside air passages through which air inside the box flows and plural outside air passages through which air outside the box flows are alternately adjacently arranged in the heat exchanger. In the cooling device, both outside air introduction port and outside air discharge port are provided in an outer side plate of the casing, and a drain space is provided between the heat exchanger and the outer side plate of the casing so that outside air passages communicate with the outside air discharge port through the drain space. Thus, even when rain water is introduced into the casing from the outside air discharge port, almost rain water flows downwardly through the drain space, and it can restrict rain water from being introduced into the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Kiyoshi Kawaguchi, Koji Kishita
  • Publication number: 20040104008
    Abstract: A compact air-ventilator with high efficiency thermal exchanger and air filter in which the thermal exchanger utilise a light-weight assembly of parallelly stacked thin metallic plates with pre-formed spaces. The high efficiency air filter includes a combination of filter elements including a mesh grid, an activated carbon layer and a HEPA filter. This air-ventilator can be built-in as part of an air-conditioner or as a stand alone unit to provide additional air circulating to conventional air-conditioners to improve indoor air quality. The thermal exchanger as well as the filters can be made with modular design to allow for easy periodic maintenance and replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Kui Wong Yeung
  • Patent number: 6684939
    Abstract: A compact air-ventilator with high efficiency thermal exchanger and air filter in which the thermal exchanger utilise a light-weight assembly of parallelly stacked thin metallic plates with pre-formed spaces. The high efficiency air filter includes a combination of filter elements including a mesh grid, an activated carbon layer and a HEPA filter. This air-ventilator can be built-in as part of an air-conditioner or as a stand alone unit to provide additional air circulating to conventional air-conditioners to improve indoor air quality. The thermal exchanger as well as the filters can be made with modular design to allow for easy periodic maintenance and replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Housely Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kui Wong Yeung
  • Patent number: 6669555
    Abstract: A mobile temperature controlled container having an enclosed indoor section that closes against the one wall of the container. A blower wheel compartment is contained within the housing which has a spiral-shaped lower section that communicates with an upper discharge section. A blower wheel is mounted within the lower section of the compartment and the front of the enclosure is closed by a cover. The cover contains a circular inlet opening adjacent the blower wheel and a rectangular outlet nozzle located adjacent the discharge section of the compartment. The nozzle is arranged to discharge conditioned air into the container and has a vane thereon for optimizing the discharge flow into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Richie Charles Stauter, Robert Stephen Simeone, Yiming Yu, David Christian Brondum
  • Patent number: 6662590
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a heating and/or air conditioning unit for commercial vehicles and includes two modules. One of the modules houses a heat exchanger unit and another module houses a blower unit. The air conditioning unit also defines an inlet and an outlet for conveying air through the modules. The individual modules are connected together and are relatively air tight. Each of the modules is assembled from a number of wall sections. Edge strips extend along the edges of the modules connecting the modules. The individual wall sections are inserted into the edge strips, which removably couple adjoining modules and the wall sections of individual modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventor: Klaus Kamuf
  • Publication number: 20030217834
    Abstract: A room air conditioner is provided which includes a compressor, a condenser coil, an evaporator coil, a wall positioned between the condenser coil and the evaporator coil, a chassis for supporting said compressor, condenser coil and wall, with the evaporator coil being secured to and supported by the wall, and at least a portion of the evaporator coil extending forwardly of a front edge of the chassis. The chassis is preferably formed of metal while the wall is preferably formed at least partially of plastic, in an upper and a lower mating piece. A plastic front panel may be positioned in front of the evaporator coil and secured to the wall. A series of air conditioners can be provided with a single sized chassis, but differing sized evaporator coils, to provide models with different cooling capacities utilizing a single sized chassis, with smaller cooling capacity air conditioners having a smaller size than larger capacity air conditioners of the series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Timothy J. Campbell, Jatin C. Khanpara
  • Patent number: 6644384
    Abstract: A method and system for high density modular cooling system is disclosed. Cooling coils and fans are interleaved so as to cover all usable space with the enclosed area behind the interleaved cooling coils and fans acting as a plenum. A cooling fluid is circulated through the cooling coils by the interleaved fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Lennart Stahl
  • Patent number: 6612365
    Abstract: A heating-element accommodating-box cooling apparatus includes: an indoor air passage 5 for fetching air in a heating-element accommodating box and returning it to the heating-element accommodating box; an outdoor air passage 9 for fetching outdoor air and exhausting the fetched outdoor air to the outside; a partition plate 10 provided so that both of the air passages become independent of each other; a fan unit 3 for conveying air in the outdoor air passage 9 and the indoor air passage 5; and a heat exchange element 4 disposed at a point of intersection between the two passages to exchange the sensible heat of the outdoor air and the indoor air, wherein the heating-element accommodating-box cooling apparatus is mounted exteriorly on a panel of the heating-element accommodating box. Consequently, it is possible to effect cooling of the heating-element accommodating box with energy saving, and the space for installation of the cooling apparatus in the box is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Saishu, Mutsuhiko Matsumoto, Yoshikazu Tada, Yoshihisa Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6575228
    Abstract: A ventilation and dehumidification system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space. The system is comprised of a desiccant wheel for dehumidifying incoming air by exchanging moisture from an inflow current of air with an outflow current of air. The desiccant wheel is both regenerated and defrosted by a regenerative heater which is placed to heat the outflow current of air before the outflow current passes through the desiccant wheel. The system includes blowers in order to motivate the inflow and outflow currents of air. The system may also include heat recovery means such as a heat transfer wheel or a motionless heat transfer core. The blowers can be arranged so as to create an air pressure differential between the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber so that any leakage of air between the two chambers will occur from the inflow chamber to the outflow chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Mississippi State Research and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ron S. Ragland, Leisha J. Rotering, Russell A. Straate, Brad A. Terlson
  • Publication number: 20030075304
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) for exchanging heat between two gaseous fluids (A, B) which are guided in channels. The inventive device has a housing-like module (2) in which an evaporator chamber (5) is separated from a condenser chamber (6) in such a way that it is gas tight. Several heat exchanger tubes (15) extend out of said evaporator chamber (5), via a test area (9) configured between the two chambers (5, 6), via the condenser chamber (6) and into an inspection chamber (14). The inspection chamber (14) is separated from the condenser chamber (6) in such a way that it is gas tight, and the heat-exchanger tubes are replaceable. The longitudinal sections (16) of the heat exchanger tubes (15) situated in the evaporator chamber (5) are protected against corrosion, whilst the longitudinal sections (18) situated in the condenser chamber (6) have fins (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Frank Adamczyk
  • Patent number: 6536514
    Abstract: A method for preparing a heat exchanger, comprising forming a moisture-permeable film having an air-impermeable function on a single side of a plate-shaped porous member to provide a gas-impermeable member for heat exchange, bonding a spacer corrugated for forming a fluid passage to a side of the gas-impermeable member with the moisture-permeable film formed thereon to provide a plurality of heat exchanger constituent elements, and layering the heat exchanger constituent elements so that the spacer in each of the heat exchanger constituent elements forms a fluid passage in each layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichi Sugiyama, Hidemoto Arai, Kenji Mizoguchi
  • Publication number: 20030051861
    Abstract: A compact air-ventilator with high efficiency thermal exchanger and air filter in which the thermal exchanger utilise a light-weight assembly of parallelly stacked thin metallic plates with pre-formed spaces. The high efficiency air filter includes a combination of filter elements including a mesh grid, an activated carbon layer and a HEPA filter. This air-ventilator can be built-in as part of an air-conditioner or as a stand alone unit to provide additional air circulating to conventional air-conditioners to improve indoor air quality. The thermal exchanger as well as the filters can be made with modular design to allow for easy periodic maintenance and replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Kui Wong Yeung
  • Publication number: 20030042012
    Abstract: An air handling system including at least one terminal unit for maintaining a serviced volume at a predetermined temperature below the temperature of the air supplied by the central source of the air handling system is provided through the use of a refrigerant means in the form of a passive thermal energy recovery device which provides heat transfer between the outgoing and inflowing air streams provided by the a central air handling system. The heat transfer between air streams is regulated as a function of air velocity and temperature differentials as measured at various points in system which are related specifically to the serviced volume. Environmental control within the serviced volume is exercised by controlling face and bypass dampers to regulate the air flow through the passive heat exchanger and the air exchange rate is controlled by modulating the operation of the dampers or by regulating the air flow into or out of the serviced volume by way of supply and/or exhaust louvers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Frederick J. Pearson
  • Publication number: 20020153133
    Abstract: The ventilator system and method use a isolating heat exchanger to selectively transfer heat between exhaust air leaving an enclosed space and outside air entering the enclosed space. The system operates in three basic modes, under the control of a microprocessor-based controller which is responsive to the temperatures inside and outside of the enclosed space. In the heating mode, heat is transferred from the exhaust air to the outside air when the enclosed space requires heating. In the cooling mode, heat is transferred from the outside air to the exhaust air when the outside air temperature is higher than that in the enclosed space. In the supplemental cooling mode, heat transfer between the exhaust and outside air is reduced or eliminated when the outside air temperature is below the desired temperature in the enclosed space and cooling is required. In the heating mode, the heat exchanger is selectively heated when necessary to defrost it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Building Performance Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 6460365
    Abstract: The present invention provides an indoor unit of a package air conditioner sustaining a high air cooling efficiency and improved exterior appearance by constituting the front lower panel of indoor unit with a plate and a frame and making the imbibed indoor air dispersed evenly over the entire heat exchanger through a first air inlet port provided between the plate and the frame and second air inlet ports on the side of the frame. The front lower panel 11 of the indoor unit 10 according to the present invention is consisted of a frame 11a installed on the front lower portion of the main body and of a plate 11b placed with an inclination of the predetermined angle for the frame 11a and has a first air inlet port 12 and second air inlet ports 12′ through which the indoor air is flown, wherein the first air inlet port 12 is formed between the plate 11b and the frame 11a and the second air inlet ports 12′ is formed on the side portion of the frame 11a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Mando Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Jung-suk Kim
  • Publication number: 20020139514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for ventilation systems which include an element for the transfer of heat from warm exhaust air (taken from inside a building) to cooler exterior fresh air which is drawn into the building. The present invention in particular provides an apparatus whereby, during a defrost cycle, interior air may circulate through both of the fresh air and exhaust air paths for delivery back into the building, i.e. the warm interior air, used as defrost air, may be able to circulate from the interior of the building into the ventilation apparatus and back to the interior of the building. The apparatus can thus use interior air as defrost air while diminishing or avoiding the creation of a negative air pressure in the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Frederic Lagace, Jean-Francois Grondin, Pierre Cusson, Michel Julien, Daniel Marcoux
  • Publication number: 20020134544
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus and method for cooling enclosures containing electronic equipment. More particularly, one aspect of the present invention comprises a low cost passive heat removal system that utilizes a plurality of flat tubing or low profile extrusions. The flat tubing or low profile extrusions are arranged in parallel to create an air-to-air passive heat exchanger which may be incorporated into an air conditioning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. The flat tubes or low profile extrusions offer a greater surface area and more efficient cooling than conventional folded fin designs having the same overall dimensions or volume. Moreover, the flat tubes or low profile extrusions may be manufactured with dimples, fins, or other surface enhancements with little additional labor or manufacturing steps. The air-to-air passive heat exchanger may be arranged in various configurations including cross flow, counterflow or concurrent flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Thermotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger S. DeVilbiss, Kathryn Ostrom, Overton L. Parish, Tony Quisenberry
  • Patent number: 6434963
    Abstract: An air cooler has a casing containing two air flow paths through one of which cooled fresh air is supplied to a house, while the other receives stale air from the house. An efficient heat exchanger pre-cools the fresh air with the heat extracted from the stale air, Further cooling is achieved by evaporative cooling of water from two honeycomb structures respectively spanning the two air flow paths. A pump circulates cooled water to the upper end of one of the structures from the lower end of the other structure which receives, at its upper end, the water which has percolated down through the upper structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: John Francis Urch
  • Publication number: 20020084059
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a cooler first air flow and a warmer second air flow is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger unit having a housing containing a plurality of heat exchanger plates stacked together to form a stack. Each heat exchanger plate has four corners and an aperture located adjacent each comer, the heat exchanger plates being dimensioned and configured such that the apertures of the heat exchanger plates overlap to form a first, second, third and fourth air passageways in the stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Herbert Rittberger, Shui-Wei Wong
  • Publication number: 20020079085
    Abstract: A turbine recuperator includes a housing and a support member positioned within the housing. A passage extends between the housing and the support member. A plurality of heat transfer cells are secured to the support member. Each cell includes a corrugated sheet folded over onto itself, with the sides that are folded over being secured to the support member. The ends of the sheets are sealed to define a chamber. An inlet header is in fluid communication with each chamber through a plurality of inlets formed in the support header. An outlet header is in fluid communication with each chamber through a plurality of outlets formed in the support header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventor: Lawrence Edward Rentz
  • Patent number: 6401802
    Abstract: A heat-recovery unit includes an outer housing and a heat-recovery cell with two separate air passages therethrough opening on faces of the cell. The upstream face of each passage is adjacent and inclined at 90° to the downstream face of the other passage. A turret on the housing at each inlet and outlet is rotatable about its axis and has an angled coupling rotatable on the turret about an axis at right-angles to the axis of the turret. The inlet, upstream turrets each contain a filter and the outlet, downstream turrets each contain a centrifugal fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
    Inventor: Neil Douglas Cottingham
  • Patent number: 6394174
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and a method for reclaiming process water in a manufacturing plant and more particularly, relates to a system and a method for reclaiming process water from a cooling tower exhaust gas which contains at least 80% relative humidity by utilizing a heat exchanger equipped with cooling elements that are cooled by a flow of exhaust gas formed by a general exhaust and a scrubber exhaust from a semiconductor fabrication facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
    Inventor: Yi-Jang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6389772
    Abstract: A universal building unit comprising a plurality of members connected to each other by at least one adjustable plate. There is also at least one panel connected to the plurality of members. In this case, the plurality of members, the adjustable plate, and the panels all connect together to form a universal building unit that can be repeatedly constructed and combined with adjacent building units to form a building structure. These building units also contain a heating and cooling system for heating and cooling each unit within the structure. In addition, these units can be combined in any manner to create stairs, walls, doors, fixed and movable partitions, windows, roofs, or any other type of building component. These building units comprise a series of simple, easy to install fittings and steel profiles to create framing for any type of building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventors: William B. Gleckman, Jacques Racine
  • Publication number: 20020050338
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for ventilation systems which include an element for the transfer of heat from warm exhaust air (taken from inside a building) to cooler exterior fresh air which is drawn into the building. The present invention in particular provides an apparatus whereby, during a defrost cycle, interior air may circulate through both of the fresh air and exhaust air paths for delivery back into the building, i.e. the warm interior air, used as defrost air, may be able to circulate from the interior of the building into the ventilation apparatus and back to the interior of the building. The apparatus can thus use interior air as defrost air while diminishing or avoiding the creation of a negative air pressure in the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Frederic Lagace, Jean-Francois Grondin, Pierre Cusson, Michel Julien, Daniel Marcoux
  • Publication number: 20020040775
    Abstract: An air-to-air heat recovery system for use with a building ventilation system includes first and second heat exchange banks and at least one damper module. Each damper module includes a damper disposed within a substantially rectangular housing having first, second, third, and fourth ports. The first port is connected to the ventilation system exhaust line, the second port is connected to the ventilation system supply line, the third and fourth ports are connected to the first ends of the first and second heat exchange banks, respectively. The damper is periodically reciprocated between first and second positions, directing air flow between the first port and the third port and between the second port and the fourth port in the first position, and directing air flow between the first port and the fourth port and between the second port and the third port in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventor: Harry C. Bassilakis
  • Patent number: 6347527
    Abstract: An integrated compression based heating/cooling, humidification and mid or high efficiency heat recovery ventilation system is provided. The integrated system is a centralized apparatus that offers a very efficient method for heating/cooling with more winter and summer humidity control plus offering heat recovery ventilation in a structure having a regulated indoor temperature and specific ventilation/energy recovery rate. The heating and cooling section of the apparatus would most commonly be configured as a forced air geothermal or air-to-air heat pump. The heat recovery ventilation section of the apparatus will incorporate a heat recovery chamber complete with a primary passive cross flow heat recovery core. Plus, a secondary refrigeration based high efficiency reversible energy recovery evaporator/condenser coil. The integrated system will also incorporate a humidification system designed to operate during the winter heating season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Inventors: Louis J. Bailey, Ralph Haan
  • Publication number: 20020017107
    Abstract: An integrated compression based heating/cooling, humidification and mid or high efficiency heat recovery ventilation system is provided. The integrated system is a centralized apparatus that offers a very efficient method for heating/cooling with more winter and summer humidity control plus offering heat recovery ventilation in a structure having a regulated indoor temperature and specific ventilation/energy recovery rate. The heating and cooling section of the apparatus would most commonly be configured as a forced air geothermal or air-to-air heat pump. The heat recovery ventilation section of the apparatus will incorporate a heat recovery chamber complete with a primary passive cross flow heat recovery core. Plus, a secondary refrigeration based high efficiency reversible energy recovery evaporator/condenser coil. The integrated system will also incorporate a humidification system designed to operate during the winter heating season.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: LOUIS J. BAILEY, RALPH HAAN
  • Patent number: 6345667
    Abstract: In a ceiling embedded indoor unit for an air conditioner, blower noise is prevented while maintaining a high air conditioning capacity. The ceiling embedded indoor unit is provided with a U-shaped heat exchanger placed in a casing embedded in a ceiling. The U-shaped heat exchanger includes two side portions, a portion connecting the side portions at one end, and blowers arranged in an inner space of the heat exchanger. A decorative panel is mounted to a lower surface of the casing that has two elongated air outlet ports in correspondence to the side portions of the heat exchanger and an air suction port formed between the air outlet ports. A control apparatus controls the number of rotations of the blower near the valley portion of the U-shaped heat exchanger to be higher than the blower near the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hata, Takashi Sano, Shinichi Kosugi
  • Publication number: 20020014323
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) for exchanging heat between two gaseous fluids (A, B) which are guided in channels. The inventive device has a housing-like module (2) in which an evaporator chamber (5) is separated from a condenser chamber (6) in such a way that it is gas tight. Several heat exchanger tubes (15) extend out of said evaporator chamber (5), via a test area (9) configured between the two chambers (5, 6), via the condenser chamber (6) and into an inspection chamber (14). The inspection chamber (14) is separated from the condenser chamber (6) in such a way that it is gas tight, and the heat-exchanger tubes are replaceable. The longitudinal sections (16) of the heat exchanger tubes (15) situated in the evaporator chamber (5) are protected against corrosion, whilst the longitudinal sections (18) situated in the condenser chamber (6) have fins (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: FRANK ADAMCZYK
  • Publication number: 20010052412
    Abstract: The output of known cooling equipment cabinets fitted with air-to-air heat exchangers is not sufficient for hot climates. The proposed cooling system is bipartite, comprising a first set of cooling equipment that provides for closed cooling air circulation inside the cabinet, and a second set of cooling equipment that provides for open cooling air circulation inside the cabinet. For most of the year, cooling of the cabinet can be handled with the first set of cooling equipment, which consists of an air-to-air heat exchanger (100). For the short period of time that the heat exchanger alone cannot ensure sufficient cooling of the air inside the cabinet, the second set of cooling equipment will be employed to provide through-flow air circulation. This is achieved by drawing air into the cabinet through a filter (104) and blowing warmed-up air out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Harri Tikka
  • Patent number: 6328095
    Abstract: A ventilation system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space, the system capable of supplying substantially more air to the space than is removed by the system in order to prevent depressurization inside the space. Passing through the unit housing is an inflow chamber, an outflow chamber, and a make-up air duct. Two blowers, an intake blower and an exhaust blower, are placed within the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber in order to motivate inflow and outflow currents of air. A damper acts to open and close the make-up air duct. When the damper is in an open position and the intake blower operates at a higher speed than the exhaust blower the system increases the air pressure within the conditioned space. A heat transfer wheel is disposed within both the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber to exchange heat between the two currents of air. A pre-heater is placed in the make-up air duct to be used in cold weather conditions to heat the air which bypasses the heat recovery wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Felber, Timothy J. Kensok, Ron S. Ragland, Leisha J. Rotering, Timothy J. Smith, Russell A. Straate, Brad A. Terlson
  • Publication number: 20010042610
    Abstract: A heat exchange system and method for heating outside air provided to a structure are disclosed. The system uses and recovers heat from waste products that are being exhausted from the structure. A heated products source generates heated waste products as a result of combustion. An exhaust duct passes the heated waste products through a heat exchanger before exhaustion from the structure. An intake duct that supplies fresh outside air to the structure also passes through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger couples the exhaust duct and the intake duct and transfers otherwise unused heat from the waste products to the outside air to increase the overall efficiency of the heated product source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: David Charles Lyons, Richard Donald Berg, Robb Edward Bennett
  • Publication number: 20010042614
    Abstract: There is provided a boiling cooling system that exchanges heat between a higher-temperature fluid and a lower-temperature fluid through boiling heat transfer of a refrigerant sealingly contained within the boiling cooling system. The boiling cooling system includes a heat absorbing unit, a heat radiating unit, a vapor transfer pipe and a liquid return pipe. The refrigerant in the liquid state generally fills up to a top of an interior space of an upper tank of the heat absorbing unit and also generally fills up to a top of an interior space of a lower tank of the heat radiating unit while the boiling cooling system is not operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6311344
    Abstract: The subject of this invention is a sauna ventilation system which is built into the stove (1) as a single part belonging to it. The ventilation system includes, where required, a heat recovery unit (4), air inlet, circulation, and outlet ducts with ventilators (16 and 21) and air filters (22), outlet and inlet air impellers (17), air humidifier and mixture systems (19 and 20), condensed water removal system (12 and 14) and moisture sensor equipment (15) and operating equipment (3). The sauna fire prevention system is also connected to the stove, which is built into, and integrated with the stove as a single part belonging to it. The fire prevention system includes the fire extinguishing system (59), in which water is directed towards the location of the fire and/or its surrounding area by spray and/or by jet. The integrated system is controlled by the operating, regulating and programming equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: Jorma Komulainen
  • Publication number: 20010032714
    Abstract: The ventilating system includes evaporative cooling of the exhaust air before it enters a heat exchanger to cool incoming fresh outside air. A suction fan pulls exhaust air through the heat exchanger and, in combination with a flow restrictor, reduces the pressure on the exhaust air and augments the evaporative cooling. The use of a pusher fan to force outside air through the heat exchanger ensures that any leakage in the heat-exchanger results in outside air entering exhaust air and minimizing the chances of contamination by leaking exhaust air into the incoming fresh air. The heat exchanger is made economically by heat-forming cavities in relatively thick thermo-plastic sheets, interleaving them with other thermoplastic sheets having separate gas flow conduit structures, and securing the sheets together. Preferably, the heat-exchanger is an opposed-flow heat-exchanger giving improved heat-transfer efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Publication number: 20010030036
    Abstract: A heat recovery ventilator comprising four rectangular regenerative heat exchangers, two blowers, a rotating air switch all disposed in a compact rectangular housing. The regenerative heat exchangers are stationary with stationary seals between the outside and inside climate. One of the blowers blows a stale airstream out through the heat exchangers; the other blower blows a fresh airstream in through the heat exchangers. The rotating air switch operates in conjunction with the two blowers producing the necessary flow reversal through each regenerative heat exchanger to allow heat and moisture exchange between the stale airstream and the fresh airstream. The rotating air switch is completely on the inside climate side of the regenerative heat exchangers preventing freeze up in cold weather. The rotating air switch uses clearance seals. A high efficiency particulate air filtration filter may be disposed within the housing in the path of the fresh airstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: Elas Tek, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. DeGregoria, Thomas J. Kaminski
  • Publication number: 20010025700
    Abstract: A heat-recovery unit includes an outer housing and a heat-recovery cell with two separate air passages therethrough opening on faces of the cell. The upstream face of each passage is adjacent and inclined at 90 ° to the downstream face of the other passage. A turret on the housing at each inlet and outlet is rotatable about its axis and has an angled coupling rotatable on the turret about an axis at right-angles to the axis of the turret. The inlet, upstream turrets each contain a filter and the outlet, downstream turrets each contain a centrifugal fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Smiths Group PLC
    Inventor: Neil Douglas Cottingham
  • Patent number: 6289974
    Abstract: A heat recovery ventilator includes four rectangular regenerative heat exchangers, two blowers, a rotating air switch all disposed in a compact rectangular housing. The regenerative heat exchangers are made of a pleated HEPA filter material. The HEPA filter material captures at least 99.97% of particles having a diameter greater than 0.3 microns. Alternatively, the HEPA filter material is rated at least 85% Dust-Spot Efficiency percentage as measured by ASHRAE Standard 52.1-1992, Dust-Spot Procedure. The regenerative heat exchangers are stationary with stationary seals between the outside and inside climate. One of the blowers blows a stale airstream out through the heat exchangers; the other blower blows a fresh airstream in through the heat exchangers. The rotating air switch operates in conjunction with the two blowers producing the necessary flow reversal through each regenerative heat exchanger to allow heat and moisture exchange between the stale airstream and the fresh airstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: ElasTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. DeGregoria, Thomas J. Kaminski
  • Publication number: 20010018964
    Abstract: A heat recovery ventilator includes four rectangular regenerative heat exchangers, two blowers, a rotating air switch all disposed in a compact rectangular housing. The regenerative heat exchangers are made of a pleated HEPA filter material. The HEPA filter material captures at least 99.97% of particles having a diameter greater than 0.3 microns. Alternatively, the HEPA filter material is rated at least 85% Dust-Spot Efficiency percentage as measured by ASHRAE Standard 52.1-1992, Dust-Spot Procedure. The regenerative heat exchangers are stationary with stationary seals between the outside and inside climate. One of the blowers blows a stale airstream out through the heat exchangers; the other blower blows a fresh airstream in through the heat exchangers. The rotating air switch operates in conjunction with the two blowers producing the necessary flow reversal through each regenerative heat exchanger to allow heat and moisture exchange between the stale airstream and the fresh airstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: ElasTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. DeGregoria, Thomas J. Kaminski
  • Publication number: 20010018963
    Abstract: A modular climate control unit for use with circulating coolant. The unit includes two tangential fans oriented vertically and disposed one over the other. The fans direct air over an aluminum fin/copper fan coil assembly which is in thermal communication with both water coming from and returning to a central water heating or cooling system. The unit is compact and fits between two studs between a wall; air is directed into and out of it through parallel vertical louvers. The orientation of the tangential fans increases unit efficiency while reducing noise levels. The unit is easily accessed for maintenance within the wall and can direct air to an adjacent room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Parker Wheat, Barry Spouge, Gary Webster
  • Publication number: 20010015273
    Abstract: Apparatus for recovering heat from a gas flow defines a heat transfer space through which the gas flow can be directed, the heat transfer space having a first region and a second region, a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A first valve arrangement alters the direction of gas flow through the heat transfer space, the first valve arrangement having a first condition in which the first region is upstream of the second region and a second condition in which the second region is upstream of the first region. First and second heat exchangers are disposed in the first and second regions respectively of the heat transfer space. A second valve arrangement connects each heat exchanger selectively either to a first heat transfer medium flow circuit or to a second heat transfer medium flow circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventor: Ted Bergman
  • Publication number: 20010013404
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for ventilation systems which include an element for the transfer of heat from warm exhaust air (taken from inside a building) to cooler exterior fresh air which is drawn into the building. The present invention in particular provides an apparatus whereby, during a defrost cycle, interior air may circulate through both of the fresh air and exhaust air paths for delivery back into the building, i.e. the warm interior air, used as defrost air, may be able to circulate from the interior of the building into the ventilation apparatus and back to the interior of the building. The apparatus can thus use interior air as defrost air while diminishing or avoiding the creation of a negative air pressure in the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: Frederic Lagace, Jean-Francois Grondin, Pierre Cusson, Michel Julien, Daniel Marcoux
  • Patent number: 6257317
    Abstract: A heat recovery ventilator comprising four rectangular regenerative heat exchangers, two blowers, a rotating air switch all disposed in a compact rectangular housing. The regenerative heat exchangers are stationary with stationary seals between the outside and inside climate. One of the blowers blows a stale airstream out through the heat exchangers; the other blower blows a fresh airstream in through the heat exchangers. The rotating air switch operates in conjunction with the two blowers producing the necessary flow reversal through each regenerative heat exchanger to allow heat and moisture exchange between the stale airstream and the fresh airstream. The rotating air switch is completely on the inside climate side of the regenerative heat exchangers preventing freeze up in cold weather. The rotating air switch uses clearance seals. A high efficiency particulate air filtration filter may be disposed within the housing in the path of the fresh airstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: ElasTek
    Inventors: Anthony J. DeGregoria, Thomas J. Kaminski
  • Patent number: 6209622
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for ventilation systems which include an element for the transfer of heat from warm exhaust air (taken from inside a building) to cooler exterior fresh air which is drawn into the building. The present invention in particular provides an apparatus whereby, during a defrost cycle, interior air may circulate through both of the fresh air and exhaust air paths for delivery back into the building i.e. the warm interior air, used as defrost air, may be able to circulate from the interior of the building into the ventilation apparatus and back to the interior of the building. The apparatus can thus use interior air as defrost air while diminishing or avoiding the creation of a negative air pressure in the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Venmar Ventilation Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic Lagace, Jean-Francois Grondin, Pierre Cusson, Michel Julien, Daniel Marcoux