US20200263897A1

US20200263897A1 - Air handler cabinet and method of treating air

Info

Publication number: US20200263897A1
Application number: US16/748,991
Authority: US
Inventors: Randall James Guignard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Four Seasons Inc
Priority date: 2019-01-22
Filing date: 2020-01-22
Publication date: 2020-08-20

Abstract

A an air handler system, and a method of treating air with the system, the system including a heat exchanger portion configured to draw in room air and outside air to be applied to a heat exchanger, the outside air being drawn from an area adjacent to a room containing the air handler system, and an HVAC portion to perform heating and cooling to air to be circulated into the room, wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to deliver the outside air treated by the heat exchanger to the HVAC portion to be heated and cooled along with room air drawn into the HVAC portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/795,320, filed on Jan. 22, 2019, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present general inventive concept relates to an air handler cabinet, and, more particularly, to an air handler cabinet to incorporate fresh air drawn directly to the air handler cabinet.

BACKGROUND

Air handler cabinets are common systems used in environments such as academic institutions to heat and cool the air in individual rooms. One issue faced by such institutions is the required adherence to relatively recent governmental regulations requiring percentages of fresh air to be incorporated into the system treated air. Conventionally, this may require a separate and/or additional series of duct work to provide the fresh air to the system. Additions of such duct work to existing systems are problematic in a variety of ways, as they are intrusive, expensive, and unattractive. Therefore, there is a desire to be able to provide fresh air without the additional inconvenience and cost of providing additional duct work, and to provide such a system within the same space already occupied by existing systems.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, an air handling system is provided that incorporates fresh air collected and treated at the location of the system. In various example embodiments, the fresh air is treated by a heat exchanger and selectively drawn into an HVAC portion of the system.
Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present general inventive concept.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by an air handler system including a heat exchanger portion configured to draw in room air and outside air to be applied to a heat exchanger, the outside air being drawn from an area adjacent to a room containing the air handler system, and an HVAC portion to perform heating and cooling to air to be circulated into the room, wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to deliver the outside air treated by the heat exchanger to the HVAC portion to be heated and cooled along with room air drawn into the HVAC portion
The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by a method of treating air in an air handler system, the method including drawing outside air from an outside area proximate the air handler system into a heat exchange chamber, treating the outside air with a heat exchanger in the heat exchange chamber, selectively drawing the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber into an HVAC chamber, treating a mixture of the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber and indoor air drawn into the HVAC chamber from the room with an HVAC unit in the HVAC chamber, and passing air from the HVAC unit into the room.
Other features and aspects may be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following example embodiments are representative of example techniques and structures designed to carry out the objects of the present general inventive concept, but the present general inventive concept is not limited to these example embodiments. In the accompanying drawings and illustrations, the sizes and relative sizes, shapes, and qualities of lines, entities, and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. A wide variety of additional embodiments will be more readily understood and appreciated through the following detailed description of the example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an air handler system according to an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 without the front air intake panels;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a vertically oriented air handler system according to an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial block diagram of an air handler system according to an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 5 illustrates a heat exchanger portion of an air handler system according to another example embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of treating air according to an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and illustrations. The example embodiments are described herein in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.
The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modification, and equivalents of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. The progression of fabrication operations described are merely examples, however, and the sequence type of operations is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Also, description of well-known functions and constructions may be simplified and/or omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.
Note that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, an air handling system is provided that incorporates fresh air collected and treated at the location of the system, rather than having to be supplied by ductwork from a place remote to the air handling system. In various example embodiments, the fresh air is treated by a heat exchanger in a first portion of the system, and then selectively drawn into an HVAC portion of the system. Example embodiments may provide such a system in a cabinet, which in some cases can be the same cabinet as the existing system, that draws air from the room in which the system is located along with air from outside the room's exterior wall. The air from those two sources may be treated by the heat exchanger so that hot external air can be cooled to be closer to the temperature of the room air, and so that cold external air can be warmed to be closer to the temperature of the room air, before the air is passed over to the HVAC portion, which in some example embodiments may simply be a conventional or standardized HVAC system. Thus, fresh air is incorporated into the otherwise treated air in a convenient fashion, without added ductwork, and in an energy conserving way.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an air handler system according to an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept, and FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 without the front air intake panels. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the air handler system 10 includes a cabinet 14 that may be configured to substantially match the dimensions and look of a previously installed system cabinet so as to fit in substantially the same footprint occupied by the previous system, and/or may include at least portions of the previous system cabinet. The cabinet 14 of the system 10 includes a first vented panel 18 to provide intake air from the room in which the system 10 is installed to a heat exchanger portion 22 of the system 10, and a second vented panel 30 to provide intake air from the room to a HVAC portion 34 of the system 10. In this example embodiment, the heat exchanger portion 22 is provided in a heat exchanger chamber 26 that is separated from a HVAC chamber 38 in which the HVAC portion 34 of the system 10 is located. With such a bifurcation, the heat exchanger portion 22 is able to bring in air from outside the classroom and bring the temperature up or down as needed, before sending the drawn in air to the HVAC portion 34. A fan 42 is provided in a wall 46 dividing the heat exchanger chamber 26 and HVAC chamber 38. The fan 42 can be selectively controlled to bring in a desired quantity of air from the heat exchanger chamber 26 to the HVAC chamber 38 to be treated by the HVAC portion 34 of the system 10. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the heat exchanger portion 22 of the system 10 includes an energy recovery wheel 50 that is situated to divide the heat exchanger chamber 26 into a first portion which intakes the outside air, and a second portion which intakes the classroom air. With such a configuration, the air from the classroom may be used by the energy recovery wheel 50 to help treat the air drawn from outside the classroom. Thus, outside air and inside air may be mixed in the heat exchanger chamber 26 and selectively drawn into the HVAC chamber 38 to be conditioned and sent out to the classroom through an exhaust vent 54. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, The first vented panel 18 and second vented panel 30 may be hinged for easy access to the respective chambers 26,38 behind the panels 18,30, but in other embodiments a single panel may be provided that opens to provide access to both chambers 26,38. Although not illustrated, an intake opening is provided at the rear of the cabinet 14 to bring in outside air to the heat exchanger portion 22 of the system 10. An opening may be made in the wall to bring in the air from the outside, and thus there is little aesthetic change by changing from the old system to the new system 10 to provide fresh air from the outside to be mixed in with the air conditioned by the HVAC portion 34. As illustrated, a color-customizable countertop 58 may be provided atop the cabinet 14 to give extra storage or work space to a classroom environment in which the system 10 is provided. The countertop may have a hygienic and east to clean surface so as to provide a better classroom environment than a conventional system cabinet. Also, one or more filters may be provided at various places along the system 10 to further clean the air being conditioned by the system 10. For example, a filter may be provided proximate the opening through which outside air is drawn, proximate the fan 42 in the bifurcating wall 46, and so on. It is understood that the arrangement of the various components illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 may be altered in a number of ways without departing from the scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, the heat exchanger portion 22 may include an energy recovery wheel 50 that is oriented substantially horizontally to divide the heat exchanger chamber 26 into top and bottom portions for the respective entry of outside air and classroom air. Also, a vertical cabinet 62 may be provided for the system to better match a previously installed system, the vertical cabinet still having the separated heat exchanger and HVAC chambers. FIG. 3 illustrates a vertically oriented air handler system according to an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the ventilation for the chambers is provided at the top and bottom of the cabinet 62, but various other configurations may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present general inventive concept. The systems according to example embodiments of the present general inventive concept can provide quiet operation to prevent student distraction, and may be available in vertical or horizontal orientations, with cabinets that may be custom made to fit seamlessly into the classroom. Various example embodiments may provide cabinets in different styles such as stainless steel, powder coated, and laminated casework. Front-opening panels allow easy access for filter changes, and the inclusion of a standardized HVAC system in the HVAC chamber 38 allows for simple maintenance, the system 10 providing a precise temperature control system and energy efficient heat recovery system. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, air ventilation is provided in the opening panels of the cabinet, but such ventilation can be provided at other portions of the cabinet. Such front ventilation may be especially desirable in a slim style VRF unit ventilator that may be manufactures to be 20 inches deep to fit into smaller spaces, in which the main return air in the front panel makes for easy access, and energy recovery in the air return to the heat exchanger chamber increases the efficiency of the overall unit operation.
FIG. 4 illustrates a partial block diagram of an air handler system according to an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the system 66 includes a cabinet 70 having a heat exchanger chamber 74 with a heat exchanger 78 arranged therein, and an HVAC chamber 82 with an HVAC system 86 arranged therein. The heat exchanger chamber 74 has an inlet 90 to draw air in from the outside, and that air is used in conjunction with the indoor air by the heat exchanger 78 to condition the air before it is drawn into the HVAC chamber 82. A fan 94 is provided in a wall 98 dividing the two chambers 74,82 such that the air treated by the heat exchanger may be selectively drawn into the HVAC chamber 82. A controller 102 is provided to control various operations of the system 66, including selectable variable speed operation of the fan 94. Although the controller 102 is illustrated as being inside the cabinet 70, it can just as easily be located outside the cabinet 70, and may be in communication with a remotely located thermostat, and/or a sensor configured to sense various attributes of the air being drawn into either or both of the chambers 74,82. Air collected from outside the room, which may pass through a portal created in the wall or window, is passed through the inlet or opening 90 in the air handler cabinet 70 that may include a filter to remove pollutants, particulates, etc., and to the heat exchanger 78. The heat exchanger 78 may be one of a host of different types and configurations. In some example embodiments the heat exchanger 78 may be a stacked type of heat exchanger in which air from outside passes in a first direction, while air from inside the room that enters through another intake opening in the air handler cabinet 70 and may be passed through the heat exchanger 78 in a second direction, such that the outside air is brought closer to room temperature. In other example embodiments, the heat exchanger 78 may be an energy recovery wheel that rotates such that elements proximate the entry point of the outside air rotate around to other positions around the perimeter of the energy recovery wheel to provide the heat exchange function. In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the heat exchanger chamber 74 in which the heat exchange process is taking place is bifurcated from HVAC chamber 82 containing the conventional HVAC processing. In that additional chamber 82 containing the conventional HVAC processing, one or more additional intake openings, or vents, may be provided so that air from the room is passed through directly to the HVAC unit 86 for treatment. Thus, air from the heat exchanger chamber 74 or compartment may be selectively drawn into the HVAC chamber 82 according to a desired or required level of fresh air to be added. Older, conventional systems typically have a condenser, multiple evaporators, and variable refrigerant flow (VRF), but no fresh air component. As schools are now required to introduce at least some minimum level of fresh air, systems according to the present general inventive concept are able to provide VRF and also incorporate a direct outside air system (DOAS), without additional sets of ductwork being provided throughout the school. This may be referred to as a “centralized system.” In the various example embodiments described herein, the portion of the system including the heat exchanger may be referred to interchangeably as the heat exchanger portion or chamber, or energy recovery unit (ERU) portion or chamber, and the portion of the system including the conventional air treatment and other operations may be referred to interchangeably as the HVAC portion or chamber, or VRF portion or chamber.
The new regulations not only require a fresh air component, but also requires the fresh air to be treated, e.g., to be temperature conditioned, to remove humidity, to remove particulates, and so on. In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, fresh outside air is brought in and treated in the heat exchange portion of the system, which may be referred to as an energy recovery ventilator. In some embodiments, a third of the air sent to the HVAC portion of the system may be brought in from the outside, and run across the heat exchanger to be treated for temperature, humidity, etc. The air then may be run through the remaining portion of the air handler and delivered to the classroom as fully treated air, absent the need for centralized ductwork. Thus, the system provides an energy recovery ventilator and variable refrigerant flow or volume without a centralized ductwork. In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, some air is drawn from the room and some air is drawn from outside, and both are passed through (over, etc.) a heat exchanger. During this process some of the air (the “stale” air from the room) is also passed to the outside. In various example embodiments, the air drawing from the room is kept separate from the drawn outside air by a dividing baffle. A vent may be formed in between the heat exchange chamber and the HVAC chamber to pass the treated air therethrough. A fan may be provided to the vent in between the two chambers, and may be configured such that the fan is controlled to bring a quantity of the treated air into the HVAC chamber according to a sensed quality of the air in the room or at another point in the air handler system. In other words, this fan or blower moves the treated air to the VRF air handler side. In various example embodiments, a thermostat on the wall of the room communicates with a controller in the air handler system. The controller may also be in communication with a central system located remotely from the present air handler cabinet. Such a central system may communicate with an outdoor unit (e.g., a condensing unit) to supply refrigerant for VRF. Thus, multiple controllers may be configured to communicate with the one central system. In such a system, one condensing unit may supply refrigerant to, for example, up to 12 VRF units. Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may provide a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor or the like to sense, for example, CO2, to control the ventilation signals in order to selectively add more or less of the treated outside air.
FIG. 5 illustrates a heat exchanger portion of an air handler system according to another example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the heat exchanger in the heat exchanger chamber is a plate type heat exchanger 106 that treats the outside air drawn into the system. The plate type heat exchanger 106 may be provided with partial walls on one or more sides, and/or above and below, to separate the heat exchange chamber into separate portions for intake of outside air and intake of classroom air. In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, fans 94 may be provided in the wall 98 to provide air communication to the HVAC chamber from both portions of the heat exchange chamber, so as to provide more control of the conditioning and mixture of air coming from the heat exchange chamber.
In various example embodiments, if the thermostat senses that the temperature is higher than a desired level, it controls the VRF to be turned on. Just before the VRF comes on, the VOC sensor and controller may, for example, control the system to bring in room air if the air is determined to be sufficiently “clean,”, or to bring in outside air if the air is “dirty.” The fan or fans between energy recovery unit (heat exchanger chamber) and the VRF (in the HVAC portion) may be variable speed to control how much of the treated outside air is passed through to the HVAC portion. In some example embodiments, only enough fresh air may be brought in to meet the prescribed air quality requirements. In various example embodiments the air provided to the HVAC portion of the system is substantially all introduced from the room through one or more vents in the HVAC chamber of the system when the fan between chambers is not in operation, and when the fan between chambers is in operation room air is drawn in through a vent in the heat exchange chamber to be used to treat air drawn from outdoors and into the heat exchange chamber. Filters and other possible air treatment components may be provided in the heat exchange chamber and/or in the vent between the two chambers to remove humidity and/or particulates from the treated air. In some embodiments the system may include an ion generator that creates bipolar ionization unit in the HVAC chamber neutralize odors or other undesirable elements. In various example embodiments, the heat exchange chamber is configured such that only the outside air that has been treated is passed from the heat exchange chamber to the HVAC chamber, and the stale air drawn in to the heat exchange chamber is expelled to the outside. In various example embodiments the vents provided to the respective heat exchange and HVAC chambers may be configured so as to provide a prescribed mix of stale air drawn into the system during air treatment. For example, ⅓ of the drawn stale air may be drawn into the heat exchange chamber, while ⅔ of the drawn stale air may be drawn into the HVAC chamber. Some of the various example components and configurations that may be employed in different example embodiments of the present general inventive concept are illustrated in the drawings described in this description.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of treating air according to an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. In operation 610 air from an outside area proximate the air handler system is drawn in from outside into a heat exchange chamber. In operation 620 the air drawn in from outside is treated by a heat exchanger, which may use air drawn from the room in which the system is located to help treat the drawn in outside air. In operation 630 the air treated by the heat exchanger is selectively drawn into the HVAC chamber. The control of the amount of heat exchanger treated air drawn into the HVAC chamber, or whether any is drawn at all, may be by a controller which may communicate with one or more sensors that detect various qualities of the air currently being conditioned by the HVAC unit and/or the heat exchanger. In operation 640 the HVAC unit treats a mixture of air from the heat exchanger chamber and air drawn directly from the room, and passes the treated air into the room.
Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may provide an air handler system including a heat exchanger portion configured to draw in room air and outside air to be applied to a heat exchanger, the outside air being drawn from an area adjacent to a room containing the air handler system, and an HVAC portion to perform heating and cooling to air to be circulated into the room, wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to deliver the outside air treated by the heat exchanger to the HVAC portion to be heated and cooled along with room air drawn into the HVAC portion. The heat exchanger portion may be configured to expel the room air drawn into the heat exchanger portion outside the room after being passed through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger portion may be configured in a first chamber, and the HVAC portion may be configured in a second chamber. The system may further include at least one heat exchanger portion vent to draw the room air into the first chamber, at least one HVAC portion vent to draw the room air into the second chamber, at least one heat exchanger portion outside air vent to draw the outside air in to the first chamber, and at least one connecting vent to provide air communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. The system may further include at least one fan provided to the connecting vent to propel the treated outside air from the first chamber into the second chamber. The system may further include a controller to control the fan to selectively propel the treated outside air from the first chamber into the second chamber. The system may further include a sensor to sense one or more air qualities in the room and to control the fan according to the sensed air qualities. The heat exchanger portion may be configured to remove humidity and/or particulates from the outside air. The heat exchanger may be an energy wheel. The heat exchanger portion may be provided in a first chamber that is separated into first and second areas by the energy wheel. The heat exchanger may be a plate exchanger.
Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept may provide a method of treating air in an air handler system, the method including drawing outside air from an outside area proximate the air handler system into a heat exchange chamber, treating the outside air with a heat exchanger in the heat exchange chamber, selectively drawing the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber into an HVAC chamber, treating a mixture of the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber and indoor air drawn into the HVAC chamber from the room with an HVAC unit in the HVAC chamber, and passing air from the HVAC unit into the room. The treating of the outside air with the heat exchanger in the heat exchange chamber may include drawing indoor air from the room into the heat exchange chamber to be used in the heat exchange along with the outside air drawn into the heat exchange chamber. The selectively drawing the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber into the HVAC chamber may include detecting one or more air qualities of the treated outside air being drawn from the heat exchange chamber and/or the indoor air being drawn into the HVAC chamber.
Numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, regardless of the content of any portion of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated.
It is noted that the simplified diagrams and drawings included in the present application do not illustrate all the various connections and assemblies of the various components, however, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement such connections and assemblies, based on the illustrated components, figures, and descriptions provided herein, using sound engineering judgment. Numerous variations, modification, and additional embodiments are possible, and, accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.
While the present general inventive concept has been illustrated by description of several example embodiments, and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the general inventive concept to such descriptions and illustrations. Instead, the descriptions, drawings, and claims herein are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and additional embodiments will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description and drawings. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.

Claims

1. An air handler system comprising:

a heat exchanger portion configured to draw in room air and outside air to be applied to a heat exchanger, the outside air being drawn from an area adjacent to a room containing the air handler system; and

an HVAC portion to perform heating and cooling to air to be circulated into the room;

wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to deliver the outside air treated by the heat exchanger to the HVAC portion to be heated and cooled along with room air drawn into the HVAC portion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to expel the room air drawn into the heat exchanger portion outside the room after being passed through the heat exchanger.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured in a first chamber, and the HVAC portion is configured in a second chamber.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one heat exchanger portion vent to draw the room air into the first chamber;

at least one HVAC portion vent to draw the room air into the second chamber;

at least one heat exchanger portion outside air vent to draw the outside air in to the first chamber; and

at least one connecting vent to provide air communication between the first chamber and the second chamber.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising at least one fan provided to the connecting vent to propel the treated outside air from the first chamber into the second chamber.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a controller to control the fan to selectively propel the treated outside air from the first chamber into the second chamber.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a sensor to sense one or more air qualities in the room and to control the fan according to the sensed air qualities.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to remove humidity and/or particulates from the outside air.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is an energy wheel.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the heat exchanger portion is provided in a first chamber that is separated into first and second areas by the energy wheel.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a plate exchanger.

12. A method of treating air in an air handler system, the method comprising:

drawing outside air from an outside area proximate the air handler system into a heat exchange chamber;

treating the outside air with a heat exchanger in the heat exchange chamber;

selectively drawing the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber into an HVAC chamber;

treating a mixture of the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber and indoor air drawn into the HVAC chamber from the room with an HVAC unit in the HVAC chamber; and

passing air from the HVAC unit into the room.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the treating the outside air with the heat exchanger in the heat exchange chamber includes drawing indoor air from the room into the heat exchange chamber to be used in the heat exchange along with the outside air drawn into the heat exchange chamber.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the selectively drawing the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber into the HVAC chamber includes detecting one or more air qualities of the treated outside air being drawn from the heat exchange chamber and/or the indoor air being drawn into the HVAC chamber.