US20100193165A1

US20100193165A1 - Highly efficient environment-friendly air type heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: US20100193165A1
Application number: US12/465,576
Authority: US
Inventors: Yeong-Saeng Kim; Dae-hee Lee
Original assignee: Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation of Inje University
Current assignee: Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation of Inje University
Priority date: 2009-02-02
Filing date: 2009-05-13
Publication date: 2010-08-05
Also published as: KR20100088871A; KR101070648B1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger for exchanging indoor air with outdoor air. The heat exchanger includes a housing which defines a main body of the heat exchanger and has on both sides thereof an indoor air inlet for introducing the indoor air into the housing and an indoor air outlet for discharging the indoor air from the housing. A first plate is inserted into the housing, and has a thin sheet and a protrusion which is provided along an edge of the thin sheet in such a way as to protrude out and is open at predetermined positions on the protrusion to provide an entrance and an exit. A second plate is placed on the upper or lower portion of the first plate, and has a thin sheet and a plurality of protrusions which protrude along the length of the thin sheet in parallel. Here, a plurality of first and second plates is alternately layered.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger and, more particularly, to an eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger which has an air inflow and outflow function, a heat exchange function, and a dust eliminating function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional ventilation fan includes a fan motor which simply discharges contaminated indoor air to the outside, and a shutter which prevents outdoor air from flowing into a room through the ventilation fan.
In the case of ventilating a room, a user opens a window to let fresh air in. Thus, the operational efficiency of an air cooling or heating device is low, and optimum air conditioning operation is impossible.
Further, a conventional heat exchanger includes an exhaust fan to have the exhaust function of discharging indoor air to the outside, an intake fan to have the intake function of drawing air into a room, and a heat exchanger module to have the function of exchanging heat between indoor air and outdoor air.
As for outdoor air sucked in by the intake fan, installing a filter which absorbs fine dust laden in the outdoor air and removes the fine dust has been considered. Generally, the filter is installed in an interior side from the heat exchanger module, especially, a portion through which outdoor air flows into a room.
However, if the filter is placed at an exterior side from the heat exchanger module, rough dust as well as fine dust adheres to the filter, thus causing the filter to clog quickly. Meanwhile, when the filter is arranged at an interior side from the heat exchanger module, a large amount of dust adheres as if there was no filter, so that the passage of outdoor air is blocked. In order to solve the problem, it is required to install a filter, namely, a pre-filter at a side outside the heat exchanger to absorb and eliminate dust.
However, the installation of the pre-filter increases production cost, so that cost is increased and it is difficult to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger, which is capable of discharging contaminated indoor air, introducing fresh indoor air, and performing a heat exchange process, thus minimizing a difference in temperature between indoor air and outdoor air, and always keeping temperature and humidity constant, therefore achieving a pleasant and healthful indoor environment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger, which removes fine dust from outdoor air using a filter unit and can be produced at low cost, thus being practical and superior.
In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger for exchanging indoor air with outdoor air. The heat exchanger includes a housing which defines a main body of the heat exchanger and has on both sides thereof an indoor air inlet for introducing the indoor air into the housing and an indoor air outlet for discharging the indoor air from the housing. A first plate is inserted into the housing, and has a thin sheet and a protrusion which is provided along an edge of the thin sheet in such a way as to protrude out and is open at predetermined positions on the protrusion to provide an entrance and an exit. A second plate is placed on the upper or lower portion of the first plate, and has a thin sheet and a plurality of protrusions which protrude along the length of the thin sheet in parallel. Here, a plurality of first and second plates is alternately layered.
The heat exchanger may further include a filter unit provided in an outdoor air inlet or outdoor air outlet of the heat exchanger to remove dust from outdoor air fed into a room. The filter unit includes a plurality of posts each having a semi-circular cross-section such that an eddy is generated in the introduced outdoor air fed and the dust falls down.
The plurality of posts may be arranged in multiple stages, and front and rear posts may alternate with each other.
A plurality of blowers may be mounted in the indoor air inlet and the indoor air outlet of the housing to ventilate the room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the cover of an eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is open;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the cover of the eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is closed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which first and second plates according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention are separated from each other;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating layered thin sheets and a filter unit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the flow of air passing through the filter unit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an air type heat exchanger according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the cover of an air type heat exchanger according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is open.
Referring to FIG. 1, the air type heat exchanger according to the present invention includes a housing 10, a first plate 30, a second plate 40, a filter unit 60, and other parts.
First, the housing 10 will be described.
The housing 10 defines the main body of the air type heat exchanger. According to the preferred embodiment, the housing 10 of a rectangular shape has on both side surfaces thereof an indoor air inlet 12 through which indoor air flows into the air type heat exchanger, and an indoor air outlet 14 through which air is discharged to the outside.
Further, a blower (not shown) is mounted either inside or outside of each of the indoor air inlet and the indoor air outlet to allow a room to be smoothly ventilated.
Next, the plates 30 and 40 will be described.
Each plate 30 or 40 includes a thin sheet 32 or 42 which has the shape of a rectangular thin plate and a protrusion which is provided on the upper surface of the thin sheet 32 or 42. A plurality of plates 30 and 40 is layered in the housing 10.
The plurality of thin sheets 32 and 42 which are layered in this way defines the passage through which outdoor air is sucked in and discharged to a room, in addition to defining the passage for discharging indoor air through both side surfaces of the plates to the outside.
The plates will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the cover 20 of the air type heat exchanger according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is closed.
The housing 10 which is the main body of the air type heat exchanger is covered with the cover 20. According to the preferred embodiment, a circular opening is formed in an outdoor air inlet 16 or outlet 18 to permit the circulation of outdoor air. The indoor air inlet 12 and the indoor air outlet 14 for exhausting indoor air are provided on both side surfaces of the housing 10, thus enabling indoor air to be naturally discharged to the outside.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the first and second plates 30 and 40 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention are separated from each other.
FIG. 3 shows the state in which the plates layered in the housing 10 (FIG. 1) are separated from each other.
The plates comprise the first plates 30 and the second plates 40. Each first plate 30 includes a thin sheet 32 which has the shape of a thin plate to be layered in the housing 10, and a protrusion 34 which protrudes along the edge of the thin sheet 32 and is open at predetermined positions to provide an entrance 36 and an exit 38. Each second plate 40 is inserted between the top and bottom of the first plates 30, and includes a thin sheet 42 which has the shape of a thin plate, and a plurality of protrusions 44 which protrude in parallel along the length of the thin sheet 42.
In detail, the first and second plates 30 and 40 are alternately layered such that the second plate 40 is superposed on the first plate 30 and the first plate 30 is superposed on the second plate 40.
Thus, the protrusion 34 protruding along the edge of the outer surface of the first plate 30 is in contact with the lower surface of the second plate 40, thus sealing the interior of the first plate 30. Thereby, air can flow only through the entrance 36 and the exit 38 which are open at both sides of the first plate 30.
Further, the plurality of protrusions 44 is arranged in parallel along the second plate 40 in a horizontal direction thereof. The protrusions 44 are in contact with the lower surface of the first plate 30, so that the left and right sides of the second plate 40 are sealed by the protrusions 44. However, a protrusion is not provided on each of the front and rear sides but is open, thus allowing outdoor air to flow in.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the layered first and second plates 30 and 40 and the filter unit 60 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, a plate layer formed by alternately layering the first and second plates 30 and 40 is supported by support members 50 in such a way that the plate layer is seated at a predetermined position in the housing 10.
The support members 50 are attached to the upper, lower, left, right, front and rear surfaces of the plate layer so as to support the plate layer. The support member which is open at its front to allow outdoor air to flow into a room is attached to each of the front and rear surfaces, and the support member which is open at one side to allow indoor air to be discharged to the outside is attached to each of the left and right surfaces.
Further, according to the preferred embodiment, the filter unit 60 may be installed in the outdoor air inlet 16 or outlet 1 8 of the heat exchanger after the plates are layered in the housing 10, thus removing dust from outdoor air.
In detail, the filter unit 60 comprises a plurality of poles each having a semi-circular cross-section to generate an eddy in the introduced outdoor air, thus allowing dust to fall down. Here, the filter unit 60 is installed such that the concave portion of each semi-circular pole faces the air inflow direction.
Particularly, the filter unit 60 comprises the plurality of poles which are arranged in multiple stages. Here, the poles are arranged such that front poles and rear poles alternate with each other.
FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the flow of air passing through the filter unit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows the state in which when outdoor air is introduced into the heat exchanger and passes through the filter unit, the eddy is generated in the outdoor air.
In detail, the eddy is generated when the outdoor air collides with the filter unit. Thereby, when the outdoor air passes through the filter unit, dust laden in the outdoor air is deposited and falls down.
Thus, when outdoor air flows into the heat exchanger, fine dust is removed by the filter unit 60, so that only purified air can be introduced into a room. Since the filter unit 60 has a structure which can be produced at low cost in addition to eliminating dust, it can be seen that the filter unit 60 is a practical and superior device.
Hereinafter, the operation of the heat exchanger according to the present invention will be described.
First, the air type heat exchanger of the present invention is mounted to one side of a wall in such a way as to communicate with the exterior.
Outdoor air is introduced into the heat exchanger through the opening formed in the outdoor air inlet 16, and collides with the filter unit 60 so that fine dust laden in the outdoor air is deposited, before the outdoor air passes through the second plate 40.
Further, the protrusions 44 provided on the upper surface of the second plate 40 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 10 guide the flow of the air, thus allowing the outdoor air to flow into the room. Another filter unit 60 may be also installed in the outdoor air outlet 18, thus secondarily removing fine dust.
When wind is artificially generated using the blower (not shown), air staying in a room flows into the indoor air inlet 12 of the housing 10, and then passes through the first plate 30.
The contaminated indoor air passing through the indoor air inlet 12 of the housing 10 flows through the open portion, which is provided at a predetermined position of the first plate 30 and has no protrusion, to the outside. If the blower (not shown) is installed even in the indoor air outlet 14, the smooth flow of air is realized, so that indoor air can be easily discharged to the outside.
As such, while indoor air which is contaminated and warm is discharged through the first plate 30 to the outside, and cold outdoor air flows through the second plate 40 into a room, the heat exchange process is naturally performed.
Further, while the air fed from the exterior passes through the filter unit 60, fine dust is removed from the air, prior to being introduced into a room. Therefore, owing to purified air, a pleasant indoor environment is realized.
As described above, the present invention provides an eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger, in which first and second thin sheet layers are alternately layered, so that while indoor and outdoor air passes through the thin sheet layers, warm indoor air is discharged to an outside and cold outdoor air is introduced into a room, thus naturally performing a heat exchange process.
Further, the present invention provides an eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger, which has the function of purifying air by removing fine dust from outdoor air flowing into the heat exchanger, and has a simple construction, so that manufacturing cost is low and thus a product is inexpensive and economical.
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger for exchanging indoor air with outdoor air, comprising:

a housing defining a main body of the heat exchanger, and having on both sides thereof an indoor air inlet for introducing the indoor air into the housing and an indoor air outlet for discharging the indoor air from the housing;

a first plate inserted into the housing, and having a thin sheet and a protrusion which is provided along an edge of the thin sheet in such a way as to protrude out, and which is open at predetermined positions on the protrusion to provide an entrance and an exit;

a second plate placed on an upper or lower portion of the first plate, and having a thin sheet and a plurality of protrusions which protrude along a length of the thin sheet in parallel,

wherein a plurality of first and second plates are alternately layered.

2. The eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a filter unit provided in an outdoor air inlet or outdoor air outlet of the heat exchanger to remove dust from outdoor air fed into a room, the filter unit comprising a plurality of posts each having a semi-circular cross-section such that an eddy is generated in the introduced outdoor air fed and the dust falls down.

3. The eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plurality of posts is arranged in multiple stages, and front and rear posts alternate with each other.

4. The eco-friendly high-efficiency heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of blowers is mounted in the indoor air inlet and the indoor air outlet of the housing to ventilate the room.