WO2015044884A1

WO2015044884A1 - Air exchanging apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2015044884A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/064811
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Pellegrini
Original assignee: Moratelli, Helmut
Priority date: 2013-09-25
Filing date: 2014-09-24
Publication date: 2015-04-02
Also published as: ITVR20130219A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an air exchanging apparatus (10) including a first conveying device (12) for conveying a first air flow (F1) and a second conveying device (13) for conveying a second air flow (F2). The air exchanging apparatus includes a heat exchanger (15) configured to allow a heat exchange between the first air flow (F1) conveyed by the first conveying device (12) and the second air flow (F2) conveyed by the second conveying device (13). Each of the first conveying device (12) and the second conveying device (13) is configured to convey air by means of suction.

Description

AIR EXCHANGING APPARATUS

DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to an air exchanging apparatus.

An air exchanging apparatus is an apparatus intended to allow renewal of inside air (so-called "stale air") by means of replacement with outside air (so-called "fresh or clean air") with recovery of most of the heat and moisture from the hotter air. Usually this apparatus is used in a building in order to reduce the energy consumption of a building.

A so-called passive building, with zero energy consumption, may use an apparatus according to the present disclosure.

In particular, the air exchanging apparatus according to the present disclosure is an apparatus which is able to renew stale air from inside a room or space with fresh air, namely expel the stale air outside and, at the same time, introduce fresh air from outside while recovering, as required, the heat and moisture. In particular, the air exchanging apparatus is configured to allow, when needed, a heat exchange between the stale air flow and the clean air flow, in order to obtain the recovery of heat from the hotter air. For example, during the winter period, when the inside air is hotter than that the outside air, the stale air is expelled by means of pumping after exchanging heat with the colder fresher air from the outside. During the summer period when the outside air is hotter than the inside air, the hotter clean air is pumped into the internal environment only after it has released the heat to the stale air which is expelled. These air exchanging apparatus are placed in the attic or in an area separate from the room or space where the air exchange takes place, such as a cellar. As a result, in order to allow air exchange from the room or space containing the stale air it is required to use pipes which connect the room or space to the apparatus.

In particular, the present disclosure is based on the recognition by the inventor that the heat exchange is usually achieved in an efficient manner by using high air flows and that, for this reason, a reduction in the size of the apparatus is at the moment not permitted since a reduction in the size results in a reduction in the cross-section of the air ducts and therefore a reduction in the air flowrate, to the detriment of the heat exchange efficiency, which is reduced. As a consequence, at present the apparatus available are large in size and are unsuitable for rapid and low-cost installation in buildings as well as for installation inside the same room where renewal of the air is required.

In order to overcome this drawback, it is required to increase the pumping of air into the exchanger, with the risk, however, that the apparatus is unable to withstand the pressures which are generated.

The starting point of the present disclosure is therefore the technical problem of providing a small-size air exchanging apparatus which may easily incorporated in a living space, without however adversely affecting heat recovery.

This technical problem may be solved by means of an air exchanging apparatus as defined in claim 1 and by a method as claimed in claim 17.

Particular embodiments forming the subject of the present disclosure are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.

In particular, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the air exchanging apparatus includes a first conveying device for conveying a first air flow and a second conveying device for conveying a second air flow. A heat exchanger is configured to allow a heat exchange between the first air flow conveyed by the first conveying device and the second air flow conveyed by the second conveying device. Each of the first conveying device and the second conveying device is configured to convey air by means of suction.

In particular, according to the present disclosure, by means of a configuration of the apparatus for suction operation, the volume and the dimensions may be kept small, without adversely affecting the heat exchange and the noise level of the machine itself may also be kept low.

In order to simplify the construction and assembly of the air exchanging apparatus, the first conveying device and the second conveying device are two identical devices which are arranged side by side and overturned relative to each other. In fact, each of the first conveying device and the second conveying device has an area, or side, intended for heat exchange. In this way, by overturning one device with respect to the other one, the two areas intended for heat exchange may be facing, adjacent to one another.

The term "two identical devices" is understood as meaning that the two devices such as those described above and having the same structure and the same functionality as that indicated above (and defined in claim 1 and optionally in the dependent claims) are arranged side by side so that a device is overturned through 180° about a vertical axis with respect to the other one so that the areas intended for heat exchange are arranged side by side and able to allow heat exchange. It is to be understood that two devices which have undergone nonfunctional or aesthetic modifications with respect to each other are also to be considered identical. Basically, the two devices in question are devices having at least the same functions which are described within the scope of the present disclosure, namely the present description and/or the claims.

In one embodiment, in order to limit as far as possible the dimensions, each of the first conveying device and the second conveying device includes, in a support housing, a respective suction fan, an inlet port, a discharge port and an assembly of air ducts for the passage of air, said air ducts extending between the inlet port and the discharge port. Basically, the inlet port and the discharge port and the suction fan form part of the conveying device and therefore pipes are not provided. In a more specific embodiment the suction fan is incorporated inside the respective support housing between the inlet port and the discharge port. When the two conveying devices are joined together to form the air exchanging apparatus, the two housings are arranged side by side and overturned relative to each other so that the inlet ports are located on opposite sides of the air exchanging apparatus and may therefore be exposed such that one is on the inner side of the building and the other one is on the outer side of the building.

In one embodiment, the support housing has a box-shaped form and has two opposite (front and rear) faces and side walls. The heat exchange area may be arranged on one of the two faces and the inlet port and the discharge port may be arranged, each on a side wall, or on the other one of the two faces of the support housing, depending on the location of the air exchanging apparatus.

In one embodiment, inside the air exchanging apparatus, the air suction path is designed and configured to obtain the best heat exchange and at the same time limit the overall dimensions as far as possible. In particular, for this purpose the suction path, which extends between the inlet port and the discharge port, has a winding form. For example the suction path includes a first suction portion extending in a first suction direction from the inlet port, and a second suction portion extending in a second suction direction and a third suction portion extending in a third suction direction orthogonal to said first direction and to said second direction. The heat exchange occurs when said air flow travels along the second portion of the suction path and deviates in the third direction.

Even more particularly, in one embodiment, the third direction of the suction path is parallel to an axis of rotation of the suction fan. As a result the fan is of the axial load type. In this way the fan may be arranged along the suction path immediately downstream of the heat exchange, so as to form a very compact air exchanging apparatus.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to form the aforementioned path in three orthogonal directions, the aforementioned assembly of air ducts includes a body having at least one main duct defining a main intake chamber that extends from the inlet port in the first direction, and a plurality of secondary ducts defining a plurality of passages which extend, in a comb-like manner, from the main duct in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The secondary ducts are separated from each other by means of an interspace. Each of the secondary ducts has a longitudinal slot facing the heat exchange zone, so as to allow the air to flow towards a deviation chamber in the aforementioned third direction of the suction path. From this deviation chamber the flow is also intended to be deviated again by 180° still in the third direction, but in the opposite sense towards the suction fan and the discharge port.

Further characteristic features and modes of use forming the subject of the present disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description of a number of preferred exemplary and non-limiting embodiments thereof. It is evident, however, that each example of embodiment may have one or more of the advantages listed above; in any case it is not required that each embodiment should have simultaneously all the advantages listed.

Reference will be made to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a view in schematic form of an air exchanging apparatus mounted on a wall, in which the first air flow and second air flow are indicated;

Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of an air exchanging apparatus in one embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 shows an axonometric view of an air exchanging apparatus in one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a symmetry of the apparatus is indicated;

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of a conveying device for an air exchanging apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of a first conveying device and a part of a second conveying device for an air exchanging apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6 shows an exploded view on larger scale of a part of a conveying device for an air exchanging apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 7 shows an axonometric view of an assembly of air ducts of an air exchanging apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a symmetry of the assembly and a direction of air flows is indicated;

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a conveying device for an air exchanging apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 9 shows another cross-sectional view of a conveying device for an air exchanging apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a direction of air flows indicated;

Figure 10 shows a top view of part of an assembly of ducts of an air exchanging apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 11 shows a bottom view of part of an assembly of ducts of an air exchanging apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 12 shows another top view of part of an assembly of ducts of an air exchanging apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 13 shows a view of a suction fan according to the present invention.

With reference to the accompanying figures, the reference number 10 denotes generally an air exchanging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The air exchanging apparatus 10 includes a first conveying device 12 for conveying a first air flow F1 and a second conveying device 13 for conveying a second air flow F2, and a heat exchanger 15 configured to allow a heat exchange between the first air flow F1 conveyed by the second conveying device 12 and the second air flow F2 conveyed by the second conveying device 13.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure each of the first conveying device 12 and the second conveying device 13 is configured to convey air by means of suction. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, such as that shown in the figures, the first conveying device 12 and the second conveying device 13 are two identical devices arranged side by side and overturned relative to each other, about an axis as shown in Figure 3. More particularly, each of the first conveying device 12 and the second conveying device 13 has an area, or side, S intended for heat exchange. In this way, by providing two identical devices positioned overturned relative to each other, the two areas S intended for heat exchange may be facing adjacent to one another. Moreover, as a result of overturning, the flows inside the respective first conveying device 12 and second conveying device 13 may be directed in the opposite sense, namely in the opposite direction to the flow.

Even more particularly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, such as that shown in the drawings, each of the first conveying device 12 and the second conveying device 13 includes, in a support housing 20, a respective suction fan 22, an inlet port 23, a discharge port 24 and an assembly of air ducts for the passage of air, generally indicated by the number 25, said air ducts extending between the inlet port 23 and the discharge port 24.

The inlet port 23 and the discharge port 24 emerge directly from the support housing 20 and are exposed respectively towards a room or space (outer or inner depending on the side of the apparatus), without requiring therefore external pipes for conveying the air.

As can be seen from the figures, in order to limit as far as possible the overall dimensions, the suction fan 22 is incorporated inside the respective support housing 20 between the inlet port 23 and the discharge port 24.

In particular, in an embodiment such as that shown, the support housing 20 is made of light metallic material, which may be acoustically and thermally insulated using a film of adhesive closed-cell Neoprene with a thickness of about 1 mm. This housing may have, positioned thereon, different openings coinciding with the various ports and hatches of the passive conditioning machine, which are described in the present disclosure and are specifically designed to make installation and the machine itself as versatile as possible. Basically, the inlet port 23 and the discharge port 24 are obtained by cutting the support housing 20 and are arranged in the support housing 20 depending on the area concerned.

In one embodiment, such as that shown, the support housing 20 has a box- shaped form and has two opposite (front and rear) faces and side walls. The heat exchange area S may be arranged on one of the two faces and the inlet port 23 and the discharge port 24 may be arranged, each on a side wall, or on the other one of the two faces of the support housing 20, depending on the location of the air exchanging apparatus.

Even more particularly, in order to contain the suction fan 22, in one embodiment such as that shown in the figures, the assembly of air ducts 25 includes a body 28 which is symmetrical with respect to a plane (see Figure 7) and therefore includes two parts which are symmetrical with each other. In particular, the body 28 includes, for each symmetrical part, a main duct 29 defining a main intake chamber 30 which extends from the inlet port 23, in a first direction.

The body 28 further comprises, for each symmetrical part or laterally opposite side, a plurality of secondary ducts 31 defining a plurality of passages 32 extending in a comb-like manner from the main duct 29, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The secondary ducts 31 have a longitudinal slot 33 directed towards the heat exchange area S so as to determine an air flow in a third direction which is orthogonal both to the first direction and to the second direction mentioned above for introduction of the air into the main duct 29 and into the secondary ducts 31. This third direction is identified as a downwards direction in Figure 8.

It should be pointed out that the body 28 may be obtained by means of a symmetrical and mirror-image arrangement of two identical blocks each comprising the main duct 29 and the secondary ducts 31. The secondary ducts 31 are separated from each other by means of open through-flow interspaces intended to allow the air to pass through.

It may be said that each part of the body 28 is comparable to an organ pipe windchest, consisting of a large box (corresponding to the chamber 30) which receives the air introduced and transmit it to the pipes.

The symmetry of the body 28 is such that introduction of the air may be performed equally well via either one of the two main ducts 29. Therefore, owing to the geometry of the parts described above, it is possible to convey the air both inside the first conveyor 12 and inside the second conveying device 13 and compensate therefore for the rotated position of the first conveyor 12 with respect to the second conveying device 13, such that two identical devices may be used. Moreover, the inlet port 23 may be cut on one side of the support housing 20 in any suitable zone which communicates with the main duct 29. It should be noted that the secondary ducts 31 may have a surface area of 80 square centimeters each, which surface area may change depending on the conditioning apparatus and its intended use.

The assembly of air ducts 25 also comprises a deviation structure 36, or sieve, which is adapted to deviate the air flow from the secondary ducts 31 towards the interspaces 34, namely cause deviation of the flow through 180° in the third direction with an opposite sense. The deviation structure 36 includes a deviation chamber 37 and a plurality of slots 38 adjacent to one another.

The secondary ducts 31 rest on the deviation structure 36. Even more particularly, the deviation structure 36 is arranged so that the slots 38 are aligned with and face the interspaces 34 so that the flow F1 , F2 may pass from the deviation structure into the interspaces 34.

It is also pointed out that the secondary ducts 31 have a prismatic shape tapered towards a central area, namely towards the plane of symmetry and mirror- image arrangement PS. The tapered form defines a surface tapered towards the center of the body 28. Owing to this tapered form, the inclined surface defines a bottom wall for a housing, or area or receiving the suction fan 22. A support 39 for the suction fan is arranged in this central area. ln an embodiment of the present disclosure, such as that shown, the assembly of air ducts 25 and the deviation structure 36 may also include parts with a closed- cell Neoprene lining for reducing an unfavorable lambda of the metal and help achieve sound insulation. The material chosen for manufacture of the assembly of air ducts may be a polymer such as EPS which allows metals and consequent sound and heat insulation padding to be dispensed with. In an alternative embodiment, the assembly of air ducts 25 is made of wooden material.

It is pointed out that the assembly of ducts 25 and the deviation structure 36 and the particular deviation in several directions of the air flow results in a very compact and uniform air exchanging apparatus which has a low weight and provides good insulation for both sound and heat. In fact the air may be introduced on one side of the apparatus, heat expelled in the centre of the apparatus and expelled again on one side of the apparatus. Moreover, the suction fan may be housed above the secondary ducts immediately downstream of the heat exchange zone S.

With respect to each symmetrical part of the body 28, which was compared above to a pipe windchest, it may be formed as one piece by means of CNC thermal cutting which allows the part to be given a characteristic shape considered to be more efficient for the purpose. It is to be understood that modifications may be made to this embodiment in order to improve its aerodynamicity and functionality.

It is pointed moreover that the deviation structure 36 faces the heat exchange area S, namely the other conveying device. In this respect, it is envisaged arranging the aforementioned heat exchanger 15 in the heat exchange area S.

In this connection it is pointed out that any heat exchanger available to the person skilled in the art and able to allow an adequate heat exchange may be used. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat exchanger 15 is a suitably folded paper exchanger, such as that described in European Patent Application No. 09153885.0.

The exchanger 15 may be provided with a gasket 17 for ensuring a seal.

With respect to the suction fan 22, it is commented that, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, each suction fan 22 is a so-called axial load (and not radial load) fan, namely a fan in which the air enters and exits parallel to the axis (third direction mentioned above) around which the blades 50 of the suction fan 22 rotate. The suction fan 12 is housed inside the aforementioned housing and contained inside a collector 15 and communicates with the discharge port 24.

Even more particularly, the suction fan 22 has a not insignificant diameter for example ranging from at least 400 mm, for example 596 mm, and is configured to rotate at low speeds of rotation (infrasonic speeds) so as not to generate a large amount of noise which would then have to be dampened. The profile of the blades 50 of this suction fan 22, which is visible in the drawings, has been designed in order to obtain the maximum yield in a considerably small volume. The profile itself is such as to generate low turbulence levels. This effect is obtained also by means of a particular profile of the blades 50. Large volumes of air, which are necessary for operation of the exchanger 15, are therefore obtained by means of large-size fan.

The drive system for the suction fan 22 is based on the use for example of brushless AC motors with encoders, which are housed inside a central bush 51 of the fan and are not visible in the drawings. Obviously the motors may be modified in order to improve the efficiency of the air exchanging apparatus 10. The motors may have, added thereto, reducers of the known type. The suction fan 22 is housed axially on a fixed axis of rotation coinciding with the rotor spindle, lowering the relative speeds of: the drive shaft and fan hub. The material of the fan consists, for example, of suitable plastic material.

In an embodiment such as that shown, the air exchanging apparatus also includes a bypass system 60 which allows the exchanger 15 to be bypassed so as to obtain rapid and significant heat exchange to be achieved during the night-time hours, for example, namely when heat recovery is not required. The bypass system 60 includes a frame 61 which is positioned inside the collector 35 and provided with an entry hatch 62 closed by means of a shutter 63 and able to be opened as required. The entry hatch 62 directly faces the area housing the suction fan 22 which is fitted inside the frame 61. The entry hatch 62 is therefore also in communication with the discharge port 24. The movement of the shutters 63 for each of the two conveying devices 12, 13 may be performed using pneumatic actuators.

Some operating modes with or without heat recovery of the air exchanging apparatus 10 according to the present disclosure are described as hereinbelow.

The air exchanging apparatus 10 or conditioning apparatus is arranged so that the inlet port 23 of the first conveying device 12 is open, namely in fluid communication, with an inner zone where the stale air is present. The discharge port 24 of the first conveying device 12 is open outwards.

The air exchanging apparatus 10 is moreover arranged so that the inlet port 23 of the second conveying device 13 is open, namely in fluid communication, with an outer zone where fresh or so-called clean air is present. The discharge port 24 of the second conveying device 13 is open inwards.

It can be understood that, owing to the possibility of arranging the discharge ports 24 and the inlet ports 23 in various zones of the support housing 20, the apparatus may be adapted to the mounting zone in the room or space where the air is to be changed.

According to this arrangement, the entry hatch 62 of the bypass system 60 of the first conveying device 12 is directed towards an inner zone where stale air is present. Similarly, the entry hatch 62 of the bypass system 60 of the second conveying device 13 is directed towards the outer zone.

An operating mode with heat recovery takes place as described below.

When the suction fan 22 of the first conveying device 12 and the second conveying device 13 is activated, a first flow of stale air F1 is introduced into the inlet port 23 of the first conveying device 12 and at the same time a second flow F2 of fresh air is introduced into the intake port 23 of the second conveying device 13. The second flow F2 is directed in the opposite direction to the first flow F1 as can be seen in Figure 1.

Each flow F1 , F2 enters into the main duct 29 and flows into the secondary ducts 31 so as to reach the sieve 36 and then exit through the suction fan 22 towards the discharge port 24.

When the air is situated inside the deviation chamber 37, the stale air, which for example is hotter than the clean fresh air, exchanges heat with the clean fresh air and exits through the discharge port only after releasing the heat to the clean fresh air which is then introduced into the internal environment already heated.

Another operating mode, without heat recovery, of the air exchanging apparatus 10 is as described below.

It is envisaged opening the entry hatch 62 of each conveying device 12, 13. In this way the fresh air to be changed is allowed to enter directly via the entry hatch 62 of the second conveying device 13 without passing through the assembly of ducts 25 and through the deviation chamber 37 for heat exchange and similarly the stale air is allowed to exit from the entry hatch 62 of the first conveying device 12.

The subject-matter of the present disclosure has been described hitherto with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that other embodiments relating to the same inventive idea may exist, all of these falling within the scope of protection of the claims which are illustrated hereinbelow.

Claims

1. Air exchanging apparatus (10) including a first conveying device (12) for conveying a first air flow (F1) and a second conveying device (13) for conveying a second air flow (F2), and a heat exchanger (15) configured to allow a heat exchange between the first air flow (F1) conveyed by the first conveying device (12) and the second air flow (F2) conveyed by the second conveying device (13), wherein each of the first conveying device (12) and the second conveying device (13) is configured to convey air by means of suction, wherein the first conveying device (12) and the second conveying device (13) are two identical devices arranged side by side and overturned relative to each other, and wherein each of the first conveying device (12) and the second conveying device (13) has an area, or side, (S) intended for heat exchange and wherein the two areas (S) intended for heat exchange are facing one another.

2. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first conveying device (12) and the second conveying device (13) includes, in a support housing (20), a respective suction fan (22), an inlet port (23), a discharge port (24) and an assembly of air ducts (25) for the passage of air, said air ducts extending between the inlet port (23) and the discharge port (24).

3. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein the suction fan

(22) is incorporated inside the respective support housing (20) between the inlet port

(23) and the discharge port (24).

4. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a suction path extending between the inlet port (23) and the discharge port (24) includes a first suction portion extending in a first suction direction, a second suction portion extending in a second suction direction and a third suction portion extending in a third suction direction, the third suction direction being orthogonal to said first direction and said second direction.

5. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to claim 4, wherein the third direction of the suction path is parallel to an axis of rotation of the suction fan (22).

6. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the apparatus is configured for exchanging heat when said air flow passes along the second portion of the suction path and changes direction of flow from the second direction to the third direction.

7. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the assembly of air ducts (25) includes a body (28) having at least one main duct (29) defining a main intake chamber (30) that extends from the inlet port (23), in a first direction, and a plurality of secondary ducts (31) defining a plurality of passages (32) which extend, in a comb-like manner, from the main duct (29) in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, said secondary ducts (31) being separated from each other by means of an interspace (34).

8. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to claim 7, wherein each of the secondary ducts (31) has a longitudinal slot (33) facing the heat exchange zone (S), so as to allow an air flow along a third direction that is orthogonal both to the first direction and to the second direction.

9. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the body (28) is a symmetrical body and comprises, for each symmetrical part or laterally opposite side, said main duct (29) and said secondary ducts (31), and wherein said secondary ducts (31) of the two symmetrical parts are arranged so as to define a housing region for the suction fan (22).

10. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the assembly of air ducts (25) further comprises a deviation structure (36) or sieve, configured to deviate the air flow from the secondary ducts (31) towards the interspaces (34), said deviation structure (36) including a deviation chamber (37) and a plurality of slots (38) adjacent to one another, wherein the slots (38) are aligned with and face the interspaces (34).

1 1. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the secondary ducts (31) have a prismatic shape tapered towards a central area crossed by a plane of symmetry (PS), and wherein the tapered shape defines a surface inclined towards the center of the body (28), said inclined surface defining a bottom wall of a housing of the suction fan (22).

12. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 11 , wherein each suction fan (22) is an axial load fan in which an air flow is intended to enter and exit parallel to a rotation axis of the fan blades (50).

13. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein each suction fan (22) has a diameter of at least 400 mm.

14. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, including a bypass system (60) for bypassing the heat exchanger (15) without heat recovery.

15. Air exchanging apparatus (10) according to claim 14, wherein the bypass system (60) includes an input port (62) closed by a shutter (63) and facing directly an area housing the suction fan (22).

16. Method for conditioning an environment by means of an air exchanging apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the first air flow (F1) coming from a first space or room is sucked by the first conveying device (12) within the air exchanging apparatus and discharged in a second space or room, different from the first space or room, and wherein the second air flow (F2) conveyed by the second conveying device (13) is sucked from the second space or room and discharged in the first space or room.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the first flow (F1) and the second flow (F2) exchange heat with each other before exiting the air exchanging apparatus.

18. Method according to claim 16, wherein the first air flow (F1) and the second air flow (F2) are sucked and discharged without mutual heat exchange.