INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR HEATING, COOLING AND HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATION

• US 20020017107A1
• Filed: 12/02/1998
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Louis J. Bailey, Ralph Haan
• Original Assignee: Louis J. Bailey, Ralph Haan
• Inventors: BAILEY, LOUIS J., HAAN, RALPH
• Granted Patent: US 6,347,527 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/238.7
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 12/003 using a heat pump
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 12/006 using an air-to-air heat exchanger F24F12/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2012/007 using a by-pass for bypassing the heat-exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/001 in which the air treatment in the central station takes place by means of a heat-pump or by means of a reversible cycle reversible cycle for humidifying and drying air F24F3/147
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/14 by humidification; by dehumidification
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/001 Compression cycle type
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0046 using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/14 using nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/021 Indoor unit or outdoor unit with auxiliary heat exchanger not forming part of the indoor or outdoor unit
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/02741 using one four-way valve
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/06 characterised by the source of low potential heat
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/04 Desuperheaters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/40 Geothermal heat-pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/52 Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/56 Heat recovery units

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.

Claims

1. An integrated forced air heating, cooling, and heat recovery ventilation apparatus for a space, said apparatus comprising, in combination within one system:

a stale air return inlet connectable to stale air return ducting, a stale air exhaust outlet connectable to stale air exhaust ducting, a fresh air inlet connectable to fresh air inlet ducting, a fresh air outlet connectable to an indoor supply air duct, and an air-to-air heat exchanger connected to said stale and fresh air elements to exchange heat between stale air and fresh air;

a mechanical vapor compression based heating and cooling means positioned between an indoor return air duct and said indoor supply air duct, for selectively heating or cooling air; and

a heat recovery ventilation system.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an integrated humidification system.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, where said system is unitary.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, where said system is split.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, where said mechanical vapor compression based heating and cooling means comprises a geothermal closed loop means using a closed underground loop as an energy source and transferred to the space through a vapor compression heat pump system.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, where said mechanical vapor compression based heating and cooling means comprises a geothermal open well means using an open well or water as an energy source and transferred to the space through a vapor compression heat pump system.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, where said mechanical vapor compression based heating and cooling means comprises a water source using a pre-existing open or internal closed loop water supply as an energy source and transferred to the space through a vapor compression heat pump system.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, where said mechanical vapor compression based heating and cooling means comprises air to air means using outdoor air as an energy source and transferred to the space through a vapor compression heat pump system.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, where said heat recovery ventilation section comprises a primary passive heat exchanger core.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an integrated humidification system.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a reversible evaporator/condenser secondary heat exchanger.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a reversible evaporator/condenser secondary heat exchanger.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hot air quick defrost system.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an integrated condensate drain assembly for a vapor compression system and a heat recovery ventilator.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, having an air mixing chamber to mix and distribute heated or cooled fresh air from a heat recovery ventilation and vapor compression systems.

16. An integrated heating, cooling and heat recovery ventilation system substantially as described in the preceding description and in the drawings.