All climate heat exchanger unit with adjustable temperature and defrost control

Abstract

A plurality of parallel heat pipes extends between supply and exhaust ducts leading to and from an industrial or habitable enclosure. The heat pipes are mounted on, but at a fixed angular offset from, an axis about which they can be angularly rotated within the exhaust and supply ducts. Their mounting is also at an angular inclination to gravitational force to assure unidirectional operation. In this arrangement, the heat input is into the lower side of the heat pipes for proper operation. For two-season operation, rotation of the heat pipes by 180.degree. ensures that the lower side of the heat pipes will always be in the warmer duct, whether exhaust or supply. Temperature control of incoming air is obtained by slight angular rotation of the heat pipes so that a part of each air stream in the exhaust and supply ducts bypasses the heat pipes. Defrost control is also obtained by a similar slight angular rotation of the heat exchanger, although a complete 180.degree. turn is possible; however, with the unidirectional nature of the unit, after defrosting, the unit must be turned back 180.degree. to its original position. Complete bypass is obtained by a 90.degree. turn.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.