# US 4,396,406 A · Unitary matrix, valve and fan housing for energy recovery

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- Number: US 4,396,406 A
- Document ID: US4396406A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/332,021
- Filed: 1981-12-18
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1977-05-06
- Assignees: Combustion Research Corporation
- Inventors: Arthur C. W. Johnson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396406A

## CPC

- F24F 3/1411: {by absorbing or adsorbing water, e.g. using an hygroscopic desiccant}
- F24F 3/1429: {alternatively operating a heat exchanger in an absorbing/adsorbing mode and a heat exchanger in a regeneration mode}
- F24F 12/001: {with heat-exchange between supplied and exhausted air}
- F24F 2003/1458: {using regenerators}
- Y02B 30/56: Heat recovery units
- Y10S 165/901: Heat savers
- Y10S 165/909: Regeneration
- 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
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

An improved high performance ventilation system for application with relatively small temperature-controlled structures for recovering a high percentage of sensible and latent thermal energy from the exhausted air for return via the fresh air stream. Two matrices of thermally absorbent, expanded honeycomb material are alternately interconnected with fan driven supply and exhaust paths via a valve device to store energy in one matrix while retrieving it from the other. The matrices, valve and fans are contained within a single compact highly portable housing which can be installed on the floor, beneath the ceiling and on the roof of the intended structure. Constant air flow direction is maintained in the ventilated area. The valve may be thermostat controlled. The housing is manufactured with a modular design allowing final on-site assembly in a number of varying configurations.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An energy ventilation system for an enclosure, said system including:
supply and exhaust ducting extending within said enclosure;
a matrix box consisting of an outer open ended housing and internal intersecting and longitudinally-extending partition walls whereby the housing is partitioned into four quadrants, each defining an elongated channel within said outer housing;
air supply fan means mounted in a first of said channels producing air flow therethrough;
exhaust fan means mounted in a second of said channels producing air flow therethrough;
a heat storing matrix located in each of a third and fourth of said channels;
valve means alternately positionable to establish an air flow path through each of said first and second channels and opposite ones of said third or fourth channels, said valve means including a unitary moveable vane positioned at one end of said matrix box housing contiguous with said partitions and moveable between a first position wherein the vane is in alignment with one of said partition walls and a second position wherein the vane is in alignment with the other of said partition walls to establish air flow paths through said first, second, third and fourth channels;
means for cyclically moving said valve means between said alternate positions;
transition housing means disposed at the other end of said matrix box housing for connecting each of said third and fourth channels to a fresh air source;
means connecting said first channel to said supply ducting; and
means connecting said second channel to said exhaust ducting;
whereby said cyclical operation of said valve means causes alternate exhaust and supply air flow through each of said third and fourth channels and over each of said heat storing matrixes and whereby heat may be exchanged between said exhaust air flow and said supply air flow.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ventilation system according to claim 1 wherein said transition housing means connecting said third and fourth channel to a fresh air source further includes a separate weather shield mounted to said transition housing means and having outlets in communication with a respective one of said transition passages.