Ventilator system and method
First Claim
1. A ventilator device for selectively introducing outside air into and exhausting air from an enclosed space, said device comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
an exhaust air conduit and a fresh air conduit for said heat exchanger;
an exhaust air mover for moving exhaust air through said exhaust conduit and said heat exchanger;
a fresh air mover for moving fresh air through said fresh air conduit and said heat exchanger;
a programmed controller;
said controller being programmed to direct said exhaust air and said outside air through said heat exchanger to exchange heat between said exhaust air and said outside air in a first mode of operation, and to switch, irrespective of the set or measured temperature of the enclosed space to a second mode of operation in which said exchange of heat is reduced or eliminated, in accordance with a profile, stored in memory, which is a function of the time-varying heating and cooling needs of said enclosed space, in which said profile includes a first outdoor air temperature below which said enclosed space needs heating and an instruction to switch between said modes when said temperature is reached, and including an outdoor air temperature sensor for delivering an outdoor temperature signal to said controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The ventilator system and method use a heat exchanger to selectively transfer heat between fresh outside air entering and exhaust air leaving an enclosed space whenever energy can be recovered from the exhaust air by doing so. The system uses a microprocessor-based controller which stores one or more profiles indicating the time-varying needs of the enclosed space for heating and cooling. The transfer of heat between the exhaust and fresh air is reduced or eliminated simply by reducing the speed of or stopping the exhaust air handler while the fresh air handler continues to run. Evaporative cooling for the exhaust air can be provided, and an all-plastic plate type heat exchanger preferably is used, together with an air handler at the exhaust outlet of the heat exchanger to pull exhaust air through the heat exchanger.
121 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A ventilator device for selectively introducing outside air into and exhausting air from an enclosed space, said device comprising:
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a heat exchanger; an exhaust air conduit and a fresh air conduit for said heat exchanger; an exhaust air mover for moving exhaust air through said exhaust conduit and said heat exchanger; a fresh air mover for moving fresh air through said fresh air conduit and said heat exchanger; a programmed controller; said controller being programmed to direct said exhaust air and said outside air through said heat exchanger to exchange heat between said exhaust air and said outside air in a first mode of operation, and to switch, irrespective of the set or measured temperature of the enclosed space to a second mode of operation in which said exchange of heat is reduced or eliminated, in accordance with a profile, stored in memory, which is a function of the time-varying heating and cooling needs of said enclosed space, in which said profile includes a first outdoor air temperature below which said enclosed space needs heating and an instruction to switch between said modes when said temperature is reached, and including an outdoor air temperature sensor for delivering an outdoor temperature signal to said controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A ventilator device for selectively introducing outside air into and exhausting air from an enclosed space, said device comprising:
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a heat exchanger; an exhaust air conduit and a fresh air conduit for said heat exchanger; an exhaust air mover for moving exhaust air through said exhaust conduit and said heat exchanger; a fresh air mover for moving fresh air through said fresh air conduit and said heat exchanger; a programmed controller; said controller being programmed to direct said exhaust air and said outside air through said heat exchanger to exchange heat between said exhaust air and said outside air in a first mode of operation, and to switch to a second mode of operation in which said exchange of heat is reduced or eliminated, in accordance with a profile, stored in memory, which is a function of the time-varying heating and cooling needs of said enclosed space in which said profile includes a defrost mode set point, a heating mode set point, and a cooling mode set point, each of said set points being field programmable, and a default value for each of said set points. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification