CN117780665A

CN117780665A - Bypass ventilator

Info

Publication number: CN117780665A
Application number: CN202311259671.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·麦金尼
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 2022-09-28
Filing date: 2023-09-27
Publication date: 2024-03-29
Also published as: EP4345394A1; US20240102674A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bypass ventilator. The ventilator includes a housing including a first flow path extending from a first inlet to a first outlet and a second flow path extending from a second inlet to a second outlet. The housing further includes a partition defining a first chamber therein. The ventilator further comprises a second chamber. The first flow path extends through the first chamber and the second chamber, and the second flow path extends through the first chamber. The ventilator further includes a movable damper disposed in the first flow path and configured to divide an amount of the first fluid flowing therein between the first chamber and the second chamber. The second chamber and the movable damper are configured in a removable portion adapted to be assembled in place of the cover portion of the housing of the ventilator.

Description

Bypass ventilator

Technical Field

Exemplary embodiments relate to the field of ventilators for supplying fresh air and exhausting dirty air from an enclosed space. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a ventilator having a removable portion that allows the ventilator to be converted to a bypass ventilator when assembled with the ventilator.

Background

Ventilators are often preconfigured with energy recovery cores or heat recovery cores at the point of sale. Such ventilators provide balanced ventilation, which requires the same amount of dirty air to be expelled from the area under ventilation as fresh air pumped into the area. However, during times or seasons in which the surrounding environment is pleasant, energy recovery or heat recovery may not be required. Conventionally, a bypass option is provided in the ventilator that allows air to bypass the ventilator core. However, such ventilators with bypass options are expensive and many people may not be affordable. Thus, a need exists for a way to allow for easy and economical conversion of conventional ventilators into bypass ventilators.

Disclosure of Invention

A ventilator is disclosed that includes a housing including a first flow path extending from a first inlet to a first outlet and a second flow path extending from a second inlet to a second outlet. The housing further includes a partition defining a first chamber therein. The ventilator further comprises a second chamber. The first flow path extends through the first chamber and the second chamber, and the second flow path extends through the first chamber. The ventilator further includes a movable damper disposed in the first flow path and configured to divide an amount of the first fluid flowing therein between the first chamber and the second chamber. The second chamber and the movable damper are configured in a removable portion adapted to be assembled in place of the cover portion of the housing of the ventilator.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the movable damper may be configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the movable damper may be configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber. In the second position, the movable damper may be configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the movable damper may be positioned such that the first and second flow paths intersect in at least one of the first and second chambers.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the movable damper may be positioned such that the first and second flow paths do not intersect in any of the first and second chambers.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the ventilator may further comprise a ventilator core configured to be removably fitted in the first chamber and comprising at least one first passageway and at least one second passageway. The at least one first passageway may be in fluid communication with the first flow path and the at least one second passageway may be in fluid communication with the second flow path.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the ventilation core may be any of a blank core, a heat energy recovery core, and a heat and moisture recovery core.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the ventilator further comprises one or more fans disposed upstream or downstream of the first chamber for moving any or both of the first fluid and the second fluid flowing in the second flow path through the housing along respective flow paths.

According to an additional or alternative embodiment, the ventilator further comprises a first fan arranged in the first flow path upstream or downstream of the first chamber and a second fan arranged in the second flow path. The first fan and the second fan may be configured to control the flow of the first fluid and the second fluid flowing in the second flow path to achieve balanced ventilation.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the assembly of the removable portion with the second chamber and the movable damper, and the assembly of the first recovery core, or the second recovery core, or a combination thereof, converts the ventilator into a heat recovery ventilator or an energy recovery ventilator.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the cover portion of the housing does not include the second chamber and the movable damper.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the movable damper includes a damper configured to move between a first position and a second position. The shutter is operable by an actuator.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the movable damper includes a movable door configured to slide between a first position and a second position. The movable door is operable by an actuator.

Also disclosed is a removable part for a ventilator adapted to be fitted in place of a removable cover part of a housing of the ventilator, the removable part comprising a second chamber. When the removable portion is assembled in place of the removable cover portion of the housing of the ventilator, a first flow path extending from the first inlet to the first outlet extends through the first chamber, and the second chamber of the ventilator. A second flow path extending from the second inlet to the second outlet extends through the first chamber. The removable portion further includes a movable damper. When the removable portion is assembled in place of the removable cover portion of the housing of the ventilator, the movable damper is disposed in the first flow path and is configured to divide an amount of the first fluid flowing therein between the first chamber and the second chamber.

According to additional or alternative embodiments, the movable damper is configured to move between the first position and the second position when the removable portion is assembled in place of the removable cover portion of the housing of the ventilator. In the first position, the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber. In the second position, the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber.

A method for converting a ventilator into a bypass ventilator is also disclosed. The method includes providing a ventilator comprising: a housing including a first flow path extending from the first inlet to the first outlet and a second flow path extending from the second inlet to the second outlet. The method further includes providing a removable portion, the removable portion including: a second chamber. When the removable portion is assembled in place of the removable cover portion of the housing of the ventilator, a first flow path extending from the first inlet to the first outlet extends through the first chamber, and the second chamber of the ventilator. A second flow path extending from the second inlet to the second outlet extends through the first chamber. The ventilator further includes a movable damper. When the removable portion is assembled in place of the removable cover portion of the housing of the ventilator, the movable damper is disposed in the first flow path and is configured to divide an amount of the first fluid flowing therein between the first chamber and the second chamber. The method further includes moving the movable damper from the first position to the second position. In the first position, the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber. In the second position, the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include the ability to provide an entry level low cost ventilator that can be later upgraded to bypass ventilators if desired. Furthermore, the core of the ventilator is removable and configurable. In other words, the ventilator may be used for heat recovery or energy recovery purposes as desired. The disclosed ventilator may be used as a bypass ventilator during seasons where heat/energy recovery is not required, saving energy due to lower airflow resistance from bypassing the airflow path within the ventilator away from the core.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity unless expressly stated otherwise. These features and elements, as well as the operation thereof, will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive in nature.

Drawings

The following description should not be taken as limiting in any way. Referring to the drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary ventilator having a ventilator core with bypass function via a moving damper according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a top view of the exemplary ventilator of FIG. 1, showing a moving damper, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of an exemplary movable damper having an accessory in a rolling door configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary method flow diagram of a method for converting a ventilator to a bypass ventilator in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method is provided herein, by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a ventilator 100. The ventilator 100 may include a housing 10, the housing 10 having a first flow path 13 therethrough extending from a first inlet 12 to a first outlet 14 and a second flow path 17 therethrough extending from a second inlet 16 to a second outlet 18. The first inlet 12 and the first outlet 14 may be disposed on opposite sides of the housing 10, and the second inlet 16 and the second outlet 18 may be disposed on opposite sides of the housing 10. Ventilator 100 may be configured to ventilate a space (e.g., within a building). For example, the first flow path 13 may include fresh outdoor air brought into the space within the building as ventilation air, and the second flow path 17 may include dirty indoor air exhausted from the space within the building, or vice versa (e.g., where the second flow path 17 represents fresh outdoor air and the first flow path 13 represents dirty indoor air to be exhausted). The housing 10 may include a partition 20 defining a first chamber 24. The ventilator 100 may be configured such that the first flow path 13 and the second flow path 17 intersect in the first chamber 24.

The housing 10 of the ventilator 100 may be made of any suitable material. For example, the housing 10 may be formed from one or more different materials such as metals (e.g., aluminum, galvanized steel, etc.), plastics (e.g., polymers such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), etc.), composite materials (e.g., polymer resins and one or more fillers such as, for example, epoxy resins and fiberglass), or natural materials such as wood, etc. The housing 10 and the separator 20 may be formed together, such as in a casting or molding process, or may be formed and assembled separately, such as in a sheet metal forming and assembling process.

Optionally, ventilator 100 may include one or more fans (not shown here) for moving fluid through housing 10 along first flow path 13 and/or along second flow path 17. Further, one or more fans may be disposed upstream or downstream of the first chamber 24 and may be independently or consistently controlled. The fan may be controlled, such as by a controller, to ensure balanced ventilation, i.e., to expel the same amount of dirty air from the building as the fresh air is pumped in.

Ventilator 100 may include a removable ventilator core. The ventilation core may be any one of a blank core, a heat recovery core, and an energy recovery core. In some applications, the ventilator core may be a fitting that is assembled by replacing an existing ventilator on an as-needed basis.

Ventilator 100 may include a ventilator core 30, the ventilator core 30 including a plurality of first passageways 31 in fluid communication with the first flow path 13 and a plurality of second passageways 32 in fluid communication with the second flow path 17. The plurality of first passages 31 and the plurality of second passages 32 may be separated by a separator (not shown). The separator may include a membrane configured to allow mass and/or energy to be transferred across the membrane. For example, a vapor permeable polymer membrane (e.g., comprising polypropylene, etc.) may allow thermal energy and water molecules (e.g., water molecules comprising a liquid phase and/or a vapor phase) to be transferred across the membrane while preventing the transfer of other substances. When the divider allows for the transfer of water and thermal energy between adjacent flow paths, ventilator core 30 may be referred to as an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV). The divider may comprise other materials, such as aluminum, which may allow for transfer of thermal energy but without mass transfer across the divider. When the divider allows for transfer of thermal energy between adjacent flow paths without concomitant mass transfer, ventilator core 30 may be referred to as a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV). As disclosed herein, any of the recovery cores may be configured as an ERV or HRV.

The ventilation core 30 may also be a blank core. The blank core may be configured with one or more flow passages therethrough for passing a first fluid along the first flow path 13 and a second fluid along the second flow path 17 while not allowing mass transfer and minimizing heat transfer between adjacent fluids. Since heat and/or mass transfer between intersecting fluids is not an objective of the blank core, the size of one or more flow passages of the blank core (e.g., cross-sectional flow area, which may be considered open space available for fluid flow along a given flow passage of the core) may be increased relative to the HRV or ERV core. The blank core may be configured to minimize the interfacial surface area between intersecting fluids to facilitate adiabatic operation. Enlarging the flow path of the billet core may reduce the pressure drop therethrough compared to the recovery core. Furthermore, because there is no heat or mass transfer between adjacent fluids passing through the blank core, the separator may include a thermally insulating material (e.g., fiberglass, mineral wool, cellulose, natural fibers, polymeric foam (such as polystyrene foam, polyisocyanurate foam, etc.)).

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a top view of a section of ventilator 100, showing ventilator core 30 and first and second flow paths 13 and 17. Referring now to fig. 1 and 2, the ventilator 100 may include a second chamber 26 in the housing 10. The first flow path 13 may extend through both the first chamber 24 and the second chamber 26, and the second flow path 17 may extend through the first chamber 24. In use, the second chamber may serve as a bypass path for the first fluid to flow through the first flow path 13 to bypass the ventilator core 30.

The ventilator 100 may include a movable damper 28 disposed in the first flow path 13. The movable damper 28 may be configured to divide an amount of the first fluid flowing therein (e.g., along the first flow path 13) between the first chamber 24 and the second chamber 26. For example, the movable damper 28 may be positioned downstream of the first inlet 12 and configured to move between a first position 21 that substantially blocks the second chamber 26 from the first flow path 13 and a second position 22 that substantially blocks the first chamber 24 from the first flow path 13. The movable damper 28 and the housing 10 may be configured to cooperatively substantially seal one of the first chamber 24 or the second chamber 26 from the first flow path 13. For example, in the first and/or second positions, the movable damper 28 may be configured to abut against one or more interior portions of the housing 10 (e.g., closed against one or more lips formed on one or more interior walls of the housing 10), against a frame of the ventilator core 30, or another sealing surface disposed between the first inlet 14 and at least one of the first and/or second chambers 24, 26. The movable damper 28 may be positioned such that the first and second flow paths 13, 17 pass through the housing 10 without intersecting in either chamber (e.g., allowing some leakage through the damper when in the first or second positions 21, 22). For example, the movable damper 28 may be positioned in the first position 21 such that a majority of the fluid flowing along the first flow path 13 passes through the first chamber 24 via the ventilator core 30, while the second flow path 17 extends completely through the first chamber 24, or vice versa. In another example, the movable damper 28 may be positioned in the second position 22 such that a majority of the fluid flowing along the first flow path 13 bypasses the ventilator core 30 through the second chamber 26.

The second chamber 26 and the movable damper 28 may be configured in the removable portion 300. The removable portion 300 may be configured to fit in place of a cover portion (not shown herein) of the housing 10 that is devoid of the second chamber 26 and the movable damper 28.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the movable damper 28 may include a baffle. The shutter is movable between a first position 21 and a second position 22. The shutter is operable by an actuator. The actuator may be any actuator, such as a motor. The baffle may be configured to partially or completely enclose any of the first and second chambers 24, 26.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of an exemplary movable damper 28 of the accessory 100. The movable damper 28 has a rolling shutter door type configuration and may include a movable door 350. The movable door 350 may include a flexible sheet 72 that is slidable between the pair of parallel arranged rails 82 and guided in the pair of parallel arranged rails 82. The flexible sheet 72 may further include perforations 76 along its edges that may engage one or more gears 78. As gear 78 rotates, flexible sheet 72 may move along rail 82. The gear 78 may be operated by an actuator. The actuator may be any actuator, such as a motor. The movable door 350 may be configured to slide between the first position 21 and the second position 22 to selectively allow air to flow through the first chamber 24 and the second chamber 26, respectively. Specifically, the flexible sheet 72 may be configured to slide between the first position 21 and the second position 22. The flexible sheet 72 may be configured to partially or completely enclose any of the first and second chambers 24, 26.

The flexible sheet 72 may be made of plastic, or rubber material. The flexible sheet 72 may be sufficiently elastic to be stretched and twisted while being sufficiently tough to at least partially block airflow.

It is to be understood that although the exemplary embodiment of the second chambers and dampers has been explained with reference to a single second chamber 26 and a single damper 28 being configured on the removable portion 300, it is possible to configure the ventilator 100 for two second chambers and two dampers being configured on two removable portions, each set of second chambers and corresponding dampers being configured with different flow paths 13 and 17 to control the flow of the first and second fluids through the ventilator core 30.

Thus, the assembly of the removable portion 300 with the second chamber 26 and the movable damper 28 converts the ventilator 100 into a bypass ventilator.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary method flow diagram of a method 400 for converting ventilator 100 into a bypass ventilator. The method 400 may include providing a ventilator, such as the ventilator 100 shown in fig. 1, at step 402. The ventilator 100 may include a housing 100, the housing 100 including a first flow path 13 extending from a first inlet 12 to a first outlet 14 and a second flow path 17 extending from a second inlet 16 to a second outlet 18.

The method 400 may include providing a removable portion 300 at step 404. Removable portion 300 includes second chamber 26. When the removable portion 300 is assembled in place of the removable cover portion of the housing 10 of the ventilator 100, the first flow path 13 extending from the first inlet 12 to the first outlet 14 extends through the first chamber 24, and the second chamber 26 of the ventilator 100. A second flow path 17 extending from the second inlet 16 to the second outlet 18 extends through the first chamber 24. The ventilator 100 further includes a movable damper 28. When the removable portion 300 is assembled in place of the removable cover portion of the housing 10 of the ventilator 100, the movable damper 28 is disposed in the first flow path 13 and is configured to divide the amount of the first fluid flowing therein between the first and second chambers 24, 26.

At step 406, the method 400 may further include moving the movable damper 28 from the first position 21 to the second position 22. In the first position 21, the movable damper 28 is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber 24. In the second position 22, the movable damper 28 is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber 26.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A ventilator, comprising:

a housing comprising a first flow path extending from a first inlet to a first outlet, and a second flow path extending from a second inlet to a second outlet; and a partition defining a first chamber therein;

a second chamber in which the first chamber is located,

wherein the first flow path extends through the first chamber and the second chamber, and the second flow path extends through the first chamber; and

a movable damper disposed in the first flow path and configured to divide an amount of a first fluid flowing therein between the first chamber and the second chamber,

wherein the second chamber and the movable damper are configured in a removable portion adapted to fit in place of a cover portion of a housing of the ventilator.

2. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein the movable damper is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber, and wherein in the second position the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber.

3. The ventilator of claim 2, wherein the movable damper is positioned such that the first flow path and the second flow path intersect in at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber.

4. The ventilator of claim 2, wherein the movable damper is positioned such that the first and second flow paths do not intersect in any of the first and second chambers.

5. The ventilator of claim 1, further comprising a ventilator core configured to removably fit in the first chamber and comprising at least one first passageway and at least one second passageway, wherein the at least one first passageway is in fluid communication with the first flow path and the at least one second passageway is in fluid communication with the second flow path.

6. The ventilator of claim 5, wherein the ventilator core is any one of a blank core, a heat recovery core, and a heat and moisture recovery core.

7. The ventilator of claim 1, further comprising one or more fans disposed upstream or downstream of the first chamber for moving any or both of the first fluid and the second fluid flowing in the second flow path through the housing along respective flow paths.

8. The ventilator of claim 1, further comprising a first fan disposed upstream or downstream of the first chamber configured in the first flow path and a second fan disposed in the second flow path, the first fan and the second fan configured to control the flow of the first fluid and the second fluid flowing in the second flow path to achieve balanced ventilation.

9. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein the cover portion of the housing does not include the second chamber and the movable damper.

10. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein the movable damper comprises a damper configured to move between a first position and a second position, and wherein the damper is operable by an actuator.

11. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein the movable damper comprises a movable door configured to slide between a first position and a second position, wherein the movable door is operable by an actuator.

12. A removable portion for a ventilator adapted to be assembled in place of a removable cover portion of a housing of a ventilator, the removable portion comprising:

a second chamber, wherein a first flow path extending from a first inlet to a first outlet extends through the first chamber of the ventilator and the second chamber when the removable portion is assembled in place of a removable cover portion of a housing of the ventilator, and wherein a second flow path extending from a second inlet to a second outlet extends through the first chamber; and

a movable damper, wherein the movable damper is disposed in the first flow path and is configured to divide an amount of a first fluid flowing therein between the first chamber and the second chamber when the removable portion is assembled in place of the removable cover portion of the housing of the ventilator.

13. The removable portion of claim 12, wherein the movable damper is configured to move between a first position and a second position when the removable portion is assembled in place of a removable cover portion of a housing of the ventilator, wherein in the first position the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber, and wherein in the second position the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber.

14. The removable portion of claim 13, wherein the movable damper is positioned such that the first flow path and the second flow path intersect in at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber.

15. The removable portion of claim 13, wherein the movable damper is positioned such that the first and second flow paths do not intersect in any of the first and second chambers.

16. The removable portion of claim 12, wherein the cover portion of the housing of the ventilator does not include the second chamber and the movable damper.

17. The removable portion of claim 12, wherein the movable damper comprises a damper configured to move between a first position and a second position, and wherein the damper is operable by an actuator.

18. The removable portion of claim 12, wherein the movable damper comprises a movable door configured to slide between a first position and a second position, wherein the movable door is operable by an actuator.

19. A method of converting a ventilator to a bypass ventilator, comprising:

providing a ventilator comprising: a housing comprising a first flow path extending from a first inlet to a first outlet and a second flow path extending from a second inlet to a second outlet;

providing a removable portion comprising: a second chamber, wherein a first flow path extending from a first inlet to a first outlet extends through the first chamber of the ventilator, and the second chamber when the removable portion is assembled in place of a removable cover portion of a housing of the ventilator, and wherein the second flow path extending from a second inlet to a second outlet extends through the first chamber; and a movable damper, wherein the movable damper is disposed in the first flow path and is configured to divide an amount of a first fluid flowing therein between the first chamber and the second chamber when the removable portion is assembled in place of the removable cover portion of the housing of the ventilator; and

moving the movable damper from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber, and wherein in the second position the movable damper is configured to divert a majority of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber.