Fresh air cooling device

• US 9,714,770 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2014
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoffman Enclosures Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Hoffman Enclosures Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Michael Steven, Thibedeau, Jeffrey Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister, Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): COTOV, JONATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US14/231,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20150276249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 454251
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/005 mounted on the floor; standing on the floor
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0087 with humidification means
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0006 using low temperature external supply air to assist cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/52 of the outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/10 by separation, e.g. by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an air conditioning unit and a ventilator. The ventilator has an impeller to draw outside air into an enclosure and cause air within the enclosure to be exhausted to the outside. The ventilator can be tied into the air conditioning unit'"'"'s control system and act to supplement the cooling and ventilation needs of the space. Alternatively, the ventilator can have a separate integral control system. By having a separate control system, the ventilator can operate as a stand-alone device.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system including an air conditioning unit and a ventilator, the ventilator comprising:

at least one intake vent capable of receiving cool ambient air;

an exhaust vent capable of discharging warm air to the ambient environment;

a supply vent that provides cool air to an enclosure connected to the ventilator;

a return vent that receives warm air from the enclosure;

a filter;

an impeller;

at least one inlet damper;

at least one outlet damper; and

a ventilator control system, wherein the air conditioning unit includes a separate control system configured to interface with and control the ventilator to pull cool ambient air from the at least one intake vent to flow through the filter and to the supply vent and pushes warm air from the enclosure to flow from the return vent to the exhaust vent, the ventilator control system configured to control the ventilator when the separate control system fails.

2. The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the at least one inlet damper and at least one outlet damper are motorized and configured to interface with the separate control system and the ventilator control system to change the position of the at least one inlet damper and at least one outlet damper.

3. The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the separate control system includes at least one of a temperature sensor, an enthalpy sensor, and a humidity sensor.

4. The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the separate control system includes an inside temperature sensor and an outside temperature sensor.

5. The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the separate control system includes an inside enthalpy sensor and an outside enthalpy sensor.

6. The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the separate control system can include an inside humidity sensor and an outside humidity sensor.

7. The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the filter is hydrophobic.

8. The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the air conditioning unit and the ventilator are both side-mounted to the enclosure.

9. The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the air conditioning unit is operable according to a full economizer, mixed economizer and mechanical cooling mode.

10. A ventilator for an enclosure comprising:

at least one intake vent capable of receiving cool ambient air;

an exhaust vent capable of discharging warm air to the ambient environment;

a supply vent that provides cool air to an enclosure connected to the ventilator;

a return vent that receives warm air from the enclosure;

a filter;

an impeller;

at least one inlet damper; and

at least one outlet damper;

wherein the ventilator includes an integral control system configured to operate independently from an air conditioning unit control system, wherein the integral control system is further configured to pull cool ambient air from the at least one intake vent to flow through the filter and to the supply vent and pushes warm air from the enclosure to flow from the return vent to the exhaust vent.

11. The ventilator of claim 10 wherein the impeller is configured to pull cool ambient air into an interior space of the ventilator until the interior space is sufficiently pressurized to cause the at least one inlet damper to open and allow the cool ambient air to exit through the at least one inlet damper and flow into the enclosure.

12. The ventilator of claim 11 wherein the impeller is further configured to push the cool ambient air into an interior space of the enclosure causing the cool ambient air to mix with air in the interior space of the enclosure to make warm air and wherein the impeller is configured to push cool ambient air into the interior space of the enclosure until the interior space is sufficiently pressurized to cause the at least one outlet damper to open and allow the warm air to flow from the return vent to the exhaust vent.

13. The ventilator of claim 10 wherein the at least one inlet damper and at least one outlet damper are motorized and configured to interface with the integral control system to change the position of the at least one inlet damper and at least one outlet damper.

14. The ventilator of claim 10 wherein the filter is hydrophobic.

15. The ventilator of claim 10 wherein the ventilator is side-mounted to the enclosure.

16. The ventilator of claim 10 wherein the impeller is separate from an air conditioning unit impeller so that the ventilator is operable independently from the air conditioning unit.