# US 2014/0190037 A1 · System and method for providing conditioned air to an enclosed structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190037 A1 - Document ID: US20140190037A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/737,473 - Filed: 2013-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: Venmar CES, Inc. - Applicants: Venmar Ces, Inc. - Inventors: Blake Norman Erb; Mohammad Afshin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190037A1 ## CPC - F28D 21/0015: {Heat and mass exchangers, e.g. with permeable walls} - F24F 3/1417: {with liquid hygroscopic desiccants} - F24F 3/147: with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air - F24F 12/006: {using an air-to-air heat exchanger (F24F12/002 takes precedence)} - F28D 9/00: Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall {(F28F3/083, F28F3/086 take precedence)} - F28D 19/045: {with radial flow through the intermediate heat-transfer medium} - Y02B 30/56: Heat recovery units - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An energy exchange system is configured to provide dry supply air to an enclosed structure. The system may include an energy transfer device having a first portion configured to be disposed within a supply air flow path and a second portion configured to be disposed within a regeneration air flow path. The energy transfer device is configured to decrease a humidity level of supply air. The energy transfer device is configured to be regenerated with regeneration air. The system may also include a first heat exchanger configured to be disposed within the supply air flow path downstream from the energy transfer device and within the regeneration air flow path upstream from the second portion of the energy transfer device. The first heat exchanger is configured to transfer sensible energy between the supply air and the regeneration air. The supply air is configured to be supplied to the enclosed structure after passing through the energy transfer device and the first heat exchanger. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An energy exchange system configured to provide supply air to an enclosed structure, the system comprising: an energy transfer device having a first portion configured to be disposed within a supply air flow path and a second portion configured to be disposed within a regeneration air flow path, the energy transfer device being configured to decrease a humidity level of the supply air, and wherein the energy transfer device is configured to be regenerated with regeneration air; and a first heat exchanger configured to be disposed within the supply air flow path downstream from the energy transfer device and within the regeneration air flow path upstream from the second portion of the energy transfer device, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer sensible energy between the supply air and the regeneration air, wherein the the energy exchange system is configured to supply the supply air to the enclosed structure after the supply air passes through the energy transfer device and the first heat exchanger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The energy exchange system of claim 1, wherein the enclosed structure comprises a grain bin for retaining grain, and wherein the energy exchange system is configured to supply the supply air to the grain bin in order to dry grain. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The energy exchange system of claim 1, further comprising one or more bypass ducts configured to be disposed within one or both of the supply air flow path or the regeneration air flow path, wherein the one or more bypass ducts are configured to bypass at least a portion of one or both of the supply air and the regeneration air around the energy transfer device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The energy exchange system of claim 1, further comprising a heater configured to be disposed within a portion of regeneration air flow path upstream from the energy exchange device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The energy exchange system of claim 1, wherein the energy transfer device comprises a desiccant wheel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The energy exchange system of claim 1, wherein the energy transfer device comprises a supply liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) configured to be positioned within the supply air flow path, and a regeneration LAMEE configured to be positioned within the regeneration air flow path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The energy exchange system of claim 1, further comprising a heater configured to be positioned within the supply air flow path downstream from the first heat exchanger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The energy exchange system of claim 1, further comprising a housing that contains the energy transfer device and the first heat exchanger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The energy exchange system of claim 8, further comprising a wheeled base connected to the housing, wherein the wheeled base is configured to provide a mobile energy exchange system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The energy exchange system of claim 8, wherein the housing is configured to be operatively connected to a plurality of enclosed structures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The energy exchange system of claim 1, further comprising a duct configured to connect a regeneration air inlet of the regeneration air flow path to an air outlet of the enclosed structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The energy exchange system of claim 1, further comprising a second heat exchanger having a first portion that is configured to be disposed within the regeneration air flow path downstream from the first heat exchanger and a second portion that is configured to be disposed within a return air path. ### Claim 13 A method of providing supply air to an enclosed structure, the method comprising: decreasing a humidity level of supply air with an energy transfer device having a first portion disposed within a supply air flow path and a second portion disposed within a regeneration air flow path; transferring sensible energy between the supply air and regeneration air with a first heat exchanger that is within the supply air flow path downstream from the energy transfer device and within the regeneration air flow path upstream from the second portion of the energy transfer device; regenerating the energy transfer device with the regeneration air that passes through the second portion of the energy transfer device disposed within the regeneration air flow path; and supplying the supply air to the enclosed structure after the decreasing and transferring operations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the enclosed structure comprises a grain bin that retains grain, and further comprising drying the grain within the grain bin with the supply air that is supplied to the grain bin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising bypassing at least a portion of one or both the supply air or the regeneration air around the energy transfer device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising heating the regeneration air after the transferring operation and before the regenerating operation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the energy transfer device comprises a desiccant wheel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the energy transfer device comprises a supply liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) configured to be positioned within the supply air flow path, and a regeneration LAMEE configured to be positioned within the regeneration air flow path. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising heating the supply air after the transferring operation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising containing the energy transfer device and the first heat exchanger within a housing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising connecting a wheeled base to the housing. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising operatively connecting the housing to a plurality of enclosed structures. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising connecting a regeneration air inlet of the regeneration air flow path to an air outlet of the enclosed structure with a duct. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising transferring sensible energy between the regeneration air and return air with a second heat exchanger having a first portion disposed within the regeneration air flow path downstream from the first heat exchanger and a second portion disposed within a return air path.