Method and system for improve-efficiency air-conditioning

• US 10,086,324 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2015
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enverid Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enverid Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Meirav, Udi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US14/845,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20150375157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 96108, 96130, 96148
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/02 by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0462 Temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/14 by absorption
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/0442 with volume control at a constant temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/60 by adding oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/10 of nitrous oxide (N2O)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

Systems and methods for circulating air in an enclosed environment are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system includes an inlet to receive air from outside of the enclosed environment and an air handling unit coupled to the inlet and also configured to receive circulated air from the enclosed environment. The air handling unit can be configured to affect a temperature of at least one of the received outside air and the received circulated air. Based on the received outside air and the received circulated air, the air handling unit can be further configured to generate air for supplying to the enclosed environment.

Claims

1. A building air treatment system configured for use with a heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building, comprising:

an inlet configured to receive air from outside of an enclosed environment of a building for supply thereto;

an HVAC system configured to heat and/or cool an airflow received from the enclosed environment;

a controller;

at least one sensor configured to provide a signal determinative of a level of at least one contaminate contained in the air of the enclosed environment to the controller; and

a scrubbing system having at least one adsorbent,

wherein the scrubbing system is configured to;

receive at least a portion of the airflow and expose the at least a portion to the adsorbent so as to reduce the concentration of the at least one contaminant in the air of the enclosed environment by adsorption thereof by the adsorbent, and

receive a purging substance and be cycled to purge the adsorbent so as to desorb the adsorbed at least one contaminate therefrom;

and wherein the controller is configured to control an intake rate of outside air into the enclosed environment based upon a level of the at least one contaminate in the air of the enclosed environment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the purging substance comprises a gas.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the HVAC system is configured to heat the purging substance.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein controller is configured to control the intake rate of outside air so as to reduce the energy consumption required by heating or cooling outside air by the HVAC of the building.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the exposing of the at least a portion of the airflow to the adsorbent and controlling of the intake of outside air is configured to maintain a desired level of the contaminant for the air of the enclosed environment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control at least one of the HVAC system and scrubbing system to maintain a desired level of the contaminant for the air of the enclosed environment.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the scrubbing system comprises a plurality of beds, wherein each bed is configured to intercept a portion of air for scrubbing.

8. A building air treatment method configured for use with a heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building, comprising:

providing the system of claim 1;

receiving an airflow containing at least one contaminate from the enclosed environment of the building;

monitoring the level of the at least one contaminate in the airflow;

monitoring at least one of a temperature and a humidity of the airflow;

heating or conditioning the received airflow upon the airflow requiring a change in temperature and/or humidity;

exposing at least the portion of the received airflow to the at least one adsorbent, the adsorbent configured to remove at least a portion of the at least one contaminate; and

controlling the intake rate of outside air into the enclosed environment based upon the level of the at least one contaminate in the airflow.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising cyclically purging the at least one adsorbent material so as to desorb the adsorbed at least one contaminate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein purging comprises exposing the at least one adsorbent to a purging substance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the purging substance comprises a gas.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the purging substance is heated by a component of the HVAC system of the building.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the intake rate of outside air is controlled so as to reduce the energy consumption required by heating or cooling outside air by the HVAC of the building.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the exposing of the at least a portion of the airflow to the adsorbent material and controlling of the intake of outside air is configured to maintain a desired level of the contaminant for the air of the enclosed environment.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein purging the at least one adsorbent material is accomplished via at least one of a temperature swing adsorption cycle, a concentration swing adsorption cycle, and a pressure swing adsorption cycle.

16. A building air treatment system configured for use with a heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building, comprising:

an inlet configured to receive air from outside of an enclosed environment of a building for supply thereto;

an HVAC system configured to heat and/or cool an airflow received from the enclosed environment;

a controller;

at least one sensor configured to provide a signal determinative of a level of at least one contaminate contained in the air of the enclosed environment to the controller; and

a scrubbing system having at least one adsorbent,

wherein the scrubbing system is configured to;

receive only a portion of the airflow and expose the portion to the adsorbent so as to reduce the concentration of the at least one contaminant in the air of the enclosed environment by adsorption thereof by the adsorbent, and

receive a purging substance and be cycled to purge the adsorbent so as to desorb the adsorbed at least one contaminate therefrom;

and wherein the controller is configured to control an intake rate of outside air into the enclosed environment based upon a level of the at least one contaminate in the air of the enclosed environment.