Device and method for managing indoor air quality via filtration and dehumidification

• US 20080022705A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Roger Dale Clearman
• Original Assignee: Roger Dale Clearman
• Inventors: Clearman, Roger Dale
• Application Number:
  US11/492,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/173
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/1405 in which the humidity of the air is exclusively affected by contact with the evaporator of a closed-circuit cooling system or heat pump circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 using dry filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light

Abstract

A device and method are specified for managing indoor air quality. More particularly, to promote health, comfort, and air quality, a device and method are proposed for filtering and dehumidifying air in an indoor environment, e.g., air that flows through an HVAC system.

Claims

1. In an environment supplied by an airflow, a method comprising:

Determining a satisfactory level of an environmental humidity;

Monitoring said environmental humidity;

So long as said environmental humidity exceeds said satisfactory level;

continuously filtering said airflow to remove particulate matter therefrom, and continuously dehumidifying said airflow to remove moisture therefrom;

When said environmental humidity reaches a satisfactory level, ceasing to continuously filter and dehumidify said airflow.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said dehumidifying comprises:

causing said airflow to pass a first time through an air-to-air heat exchanger to lower the temperature of said airflow;

causing said airflow to pass through an evaporative dehumidification coil stage to remove moisture from said airflow;

causing said airflow to pass a second time through said air-to-air heat exchanger to raise the temperature of said airflow; and

causing said airflow to pass through a condensing reheat coil stage.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising adding to said airflow a supply of air from outside said environment.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising irradiating said airflow.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said filtering comprises:

causing said airflow to pass through a pre-filtering stage to remove larger particulate matter therefrom;

causing said airflow to pass through a fine-filtering stage to remove smaller particulate matter therefrom;

removing from said airflow at least about 99.97% of all particulate matter greater than about 0.3 microns in diameter.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said filtering comprises:

causing said airflow to pass through a pre-filtering stage to remove larger particulate matter therefrom;

causing said airflow to pass through a fine-filtering stage to remove smaller particulate matter therefrom;

removing from said airflow at least about 99.97% of all particulate matter greater than about 0.3 microns in diameter.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said dehumidifying comprises:

causing said airflow to pass a first time through an air-to-air heat exchanger to lower the temperature of said airflow;

causing said airflow to pass through an evaporative dehumidification coil stage to remove moisture from said airflow;

causing said airflow to pass a second time through said air-to-air heat exchanger to raise the temperature of said airflow; and

causing said airflow to pass through a condensing reheat coil stage.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising adding to said airflow a supply of air from outside said environment.

9. A method according to claim 6, further comprising irradiating said airflow.

10. A method according to claim 7, further comprising adding to said airflow a supply of air from outside said environment.

11. For an environment, a device comprising:

A blower to divert an airflow from said environment and cause said airflow to pass through said device;

An intake stage for receiving said airflow into said device;

A filtration stage coupled to said airflow intake stage;

A dehumidification stage coupled to said filtration stage;

An output stage for returning said airflow to said environment;

A control stage for monitoring at least one characteristic of said environment and for regulating operation of said device.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said dehumidification stage comprises an air-to-air heat exchanger for pre-cooling said airflow;

a compressor for compressing a refrigerant;

a dehumidification coil for removing moisture from said airflow; and

a reheat coil.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said filtration stage comprises a pre-filter for removing larger particulate matter from said airflow and a fine filter for removing smaller particulate matter from said airflow.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said intake stage comprises means for receiving a supplemental airflow from outside said environment and combining said supplemental airflow with said airflow received from said environment.

15. A device according to claim 14, further comprising an ultraviolet lamp for irradiating said airflow and at least a part of said device.

16. For an environment to which a duct network is connected, a device comprising:

A blower to divert an airflow from said duct network and cause said airflow to pass through said device;

An intake stage for receiving said airflow into said device;

A filtration stage coupled to said airflow intake stage;

A dehumidification stage coupled to said filtration stage;

An output stage for returning said airflow to said duct network;

A control stage for monitoring at least one characteristic of said environment and for regulating operation of said device.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein said filtration stage comprises a pre-filter for removing larger particulate matter from said airflow and a fine filter for removing smaller particulate matter from said airflow.

18. A device according to claim 17, further comprising an ultraviolet lamp for irradiating said airflow and at least a part of said device.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein said intake stage comprises means for receiving a supplemental airflow from outside said environment and said ductwork, and combining said supplemental airflow with said airflow received from said ductwork.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein said dehumidification stage comprises an air-to-air heat exchanger for pre-cooling said airflow;

a compressor for compressing a refrigerant;

a dehumidification coil for removing moisture from said airflow; and

a reheat coil.