Dedicated outdoor air system with pre-heating and method for same

A method of operating an energy exchange system having a supply air flow path that allows supply air to be supplied to an enclosed structure and an exhaust air flow path that allows exhaust air from the enclosed structure to be exhausted to the atmosphere, the method comprising:

• heating a first liquid within an internal chamber of a boiler;
• pumping the first liquid from the boiler to at least one first pre-heater disposed within one or both of the supply air flow path and the exhaust air flow path;
• pre-heating air within the one or both of the supply air flow path and the exhaust air flow path with the first liquid within the at least one first pre-heater;
• and
• pumping the first liquid from the at least one first pre-heater back to the boiler.

A Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) comprising:

• a heater configured to be disposed within a supply air flow path;
• a first pre-heater configured to be upstream from the heater within the supply air flow path, wherein the first pre-heater is configured to pre-heat the supply air through heat transfer with a first liquid that circulates through the first pre-heater;
• and
• a boiler operatively connected to the first pre-heater, wherein the boiler is configured to heat the first liquid.