Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
  • F24F3/12—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
  • F24F3/14—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
  • F24F3/147—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F6/00—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification
  • F24F6/02—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by evaporation of water in the air
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F6/00—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification
  • F24F6/12—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by forming water dispersions in the air
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F12/00—Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening
  • F24F12/001—Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening with heat-exchange between supplied and exhausted air
  • F24F12/006—Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening with heat-exchange between supplied and exhausted air using an air-to-air heat exchanger
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
  • F24F13/22—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate
  • F24F13/222—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate for evacuating condensate
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F6/00—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
  • Y02B30/56—Heat recovery units

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method, in a ventilation system, of transferring heat and humidity from departing exhaust air to incoming supply air, and comprises the steps that heat is extracted from the exhaust air in an exhaust air side of a heat exchanger, that the extracted heat is at least partly transferred to the supply air in a supply air side of a heat exchanger, and that humidity carried by the exhaust air is bonded in the exhaust air side and at least partly transferred to the supply air.
• the present invention also relates to an apparatus, in a ventilation system, for transferring heat and humidity from departing exhaust air to incoming supply air, and comprises a heat exchanger with a supply air side and an exhaust air side, and means for bonding humidity and at least partly transferring this humidity to the supply air.
• the humidity migrates through the wall and is supplied, at least partly, to the supply air.
• a heat exchanger of this type cannot be regulated as regards the humidification of the supply air, for which reason major problems may occur in certain weather conditions. Further, the transfer of humidity in a heat exchanger of this type is incomplete as the major part of the condensation takes place in the coldest part of the heat exchanger where the air on the opposite side of the heat exchanger wall due to the low temperature has a bad ability to absorb humidity.
• the present invention has for its object to formulate the method intimated by way of introduction so that a humidification of the supply air may take place utilising the thermal content of the exhaust air for vaporisation.
• the present invention further has for its object to formulate the method so as to ensure good possibilities of accurate regulation of the relative humidity in the supply air, and also in addition good possibilities for cleaning.
• the present invention has for its object to design the apparatus so that analogous objects will be attained.
• the objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained concerning the method if this is characterised in that the humidity is bonded by condensation in the exhaust air side of the heat exchanger, that the precipitated condensate is accumulated, that at least a part of the condensate is atomised to form a mist or aerosol of minute airborne water particles in the liquid phase and is supplied to the supply air in or at the supply air side of the heat exchanger.
• the means for bonding and transferring humidity comprise a condensation surface in the exhaust air side which is cooled by the supply air, accumulation and conduction means for accumulating the condensate, an atomiser for atomising or finely dividing the condensate into a mist or aerosol of minute, airborne water particles in the liquid phase, the accumulation and conduction means being disposed to emit condensate to the atomiser.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art heat exchanger
• Fig. 2 shows the heat exchanger according to Fig. 1 , but modified according to the present invention.
• Fig. 3 shows a lower region of a slightly modified embodiment of the heat
• reference numeral 1 relates to a heat exchanger which operates in counter flow and which has an exhaust air side 2 and a supply air side 3.
• the exhaust air side may also be entitled the warm side of the heat exchanger and the supply air side be entitled its cold side.
• the exhaust air 4 flows in accordance with the arrows from above and downwards in the Figure from an exhaust air inlet 5 to an exhaust air outlet 6.
• the supply air 7 flows according to the broken line arrows in a direction from beneath from a supply air inlet 8 in an upward direction to a supply air outlet 9.
• the partition 10 between the exhaust air side 2 and the supply air side 3 consists of a thermally conductive material, which is gas-tight and impermeable to water, such as copper, aluminium or certain plastics qualities.
• the wall thickness of the partition is so slight that the wall may be designated a foil.
• the incoming supply air 7 at the supply air inlet 8 is at 0°C and has a relative humidity of 80%, at least the lower regions of the partition in the Figure will have a temperature in the proximity of 0°. If the incoming exhaust air is then assumed to be at a temperature of 22°C and has a relatively humidity of approx. 50%, a
• the partition also constitutes a condensation surface, where reference numeral 12 intimates droplets of deposited condensate, i.e. distilled water.
• reference numeral 12 intimates droplets of deposited condensate, i.e. distilled water.
• the air departing from the supply air outlet 9 will be at a temperature in the proximity of 20°C, but will have a relative humidity which has fallen drastically from the original 80% to a level of the order of magnitude of 20%.
• the heat exchanger according to Fig. 1 has been supplemented for application of the present invention. Corresponding parts and details carry corresponding reference numerals in both Figures.
• the accumulator 11 terminates in a vent for accommodating the condensate.
• an atomiser 15 which possesses the property of atomising or finely dividing water in the liquid phase into extremely minute, air-borne particles in the liquid phase.
• the atomiser emits a fine water mist or aerosol 13, where the individual water particles are so small that they do not adhere to those surfaces which the particles may possibly come into contact with, and further the particles remain floating in the air for lengthy periods of time.
• the atomiser 15 is in communication with the accumulator 11 , so that at least a part of the condensate may be transferred over to the atomiser 15 via its inlet 14.
• the outlet of the atomiser 15 for mist or aerosol 13 is positioned at the inlet 8 to the supply air side 3 of the heat exchanger, the floating water particles in the mist or aerosol 13 will accompany the flow according to the arrows 7 so that the temperature is gradually raised and so that vaporisation of the minute water particles takes place.
• the vapour generation heat is taken from the heat that is emitted from the exhaust air 4 in the exhaust air side 2 of the heat exchanger.
• the process may be controlled in such a manner that no water particles in the liquid phase remain in the supply air 7 at its outlet 9.
• the advantage will be afforded that bacteria cannot be spread into the space in which the supply air is emitted.
• the above-disclosed temperature and humidity conditions are representative of a winter climate in southern Sweden. During other annual seasons, there may be a reason not to humidify the incoming outdoor air 7 to the same extent as during the winter climate. For this reason, the communication between the accumulator 11 and the atomiser 15, in particular its inlet 14, is provided with regulator equipment by means of which the flow can be regulated or completely throttled.
• the atomiser 15 proper is connected to a regulator system by means of which the emitted quantity of mist or aerosol per unit of time may be governed in response to the relative humidity in the space in which the supply air is emitted.
• the atomiser 15 may be of a plurality of different types and include an atomiser nozzle which is supplied with water at high pressure. Another alternative may be to atomise or finely divide incoming water into the relevant mist or aerosol with the aid of compressed air, or with the aid of a rotary disk or a cup. However, the most practical form of atomiser would probably seem to be an atomiser including a piezoelectric plate 16 which is energised with high frequency a.c. voltage. Regardless of the method of operation of the atomiser 15, it is important that the airborne water particles be minute, less than 100 ⁇ , and preferably of the order of magnitude of between 3 and 20 ⁇ .
• the water with which the atomiser 15 is supplied is a condensate, it is free of dissolved salts such as those that normally occur in mains water. This implies that no precipitation of salt particles in the air can take place, since the condensate is pure distilled water.
• Fig. 3 shows, on a larger scale, the lower region of heat exchanger designed with an example of a piezoelectric atomiser 15.
• the piezoelectric plate has been given reference numeral 16, while its connection terminals to a source of a.c. voltage are not shown.
• the accumulator and conductor means 11 and 14 have further been given a slightly different constructive design than that which is shown in Fig. 2. It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that a level adjustment may take place in the water container 17 which is included in the atomiser 15. In addition, the departing water mist or aerosol is shown by means of the arrows 13.
• mist or aerosol distributor 18 which spreads the mist or aerosol and creates turbulence.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
• Devices For Blowing Cold Air, Devices For Blowing Warm Air, And Means For Preventing Water Condensation In Air Conditioning Units (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (1)

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Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2009
  • 2009-12-21 SE SE0901592A patent/SE534398C2/sv unknown
• 2010
  • 2010-12-07 US US13/517,298 patent/US20120255705A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-12-07 WO PCT/SE2010/000288 patent/WO2011078757A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-12-07 EP EP10839878.5A patent/EP2516934A4/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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