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US 5,131,238 AGranted
Air conditioning apparatus
OwnerGershon Mecklerinventor
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OwnerGershon Mecklerinventor
Estimating the term…
Air conditioning apparatus for a building having an electrical grid operatively connected to receive electricity from a utility is disclosed. The apparatus includes compression refrigeration apparatus with an electric motor connected to drive a compressor, absorption refrigeration apparatus, a cogenerator, an air handler, induction mixing units, a system for circulating air to be conditioned through the air handler and then to said induction mixing units, apparatus for transferring heat from air in the air handler to ice, a heat transfer system connecting the absorption refrigeration apparatus to pump heat to a heat sink from air in the induction mixing units or from air in the air handler, electric circuitry connecting the electric motor of the compression refrigeration apparatus to the building electrical grid for energization, and a heat transfer system for transferring heat generated by the cogenerator into energizing relationship with the absorption refrigeration apparatus. The compression refrigeration apparatus is operable to make ice, while the cogenerator is operable to generate electricity and heat. The cogenerator is connected to provide electricity to the electrical grid of the building, and the induction mixing units include a fan for causing a flow of recirculated air from a space to be conditioned, and, when conditioned air is circulated thereto, for delivering to the space a mixture of conditioned air and recirculated air.
Air conditioning apparatus comprising a plurality of induction mixing units which include means operable to cause a flow of recirculated air from the space they serve, and, when dehumidified air is delivered thereto, to deliver to the space a mixture of dehumidified air and recirculated air, each of said induction mixing units additionally including means for cooling air recirculated by said induction mixing units, dehumidified air delivered to said induction mixing units, or the mixture of the two before the mixture is delivered to the space by said induction mixing units, means comprising a dehumidifier which employs a desiccant for dehumidifying air, means for circulating air to be dehumidified to said dehumidifier, means for circulating dehumidified air to said induction mixing units at a rate per unit of area in the spaces served by said induction mixing units which varies between a predetermined minimum rate greater than zero and a maximum rate, the maximum rate being substantially less than that which would be required to maintain the design temperature in each of the spaces at the maximum design cooling load with air at a dry bulb temperature of 55.degree. F., means operable to control its moisture content and temperature so that the dehumidified air is incapable, at the rate at which it is required for humidity control, of maintaining the desired space temperature at the maximum design cooling load, means operable to control the rate at which dehumidified air is delivered by each of said induction mixing units to the space it serves to one not less than the predetermined minimum rate and higher than that minimum when required to maintain a monitored condition of the space within control limits, means comprising a heat exchanger and means for transferring heat therefrom, said heat exchanger being operable to transfer heat from the desiccant of said dehumidifier or from dehumidified air, means for converting a fuel into shaft work and heat, means operably connecting said converting means to perform work required in a building served by the apparatus, and means for regenerating the desiccant of said dehumidifier, said last-named means including means for transferring heat from said converting means into regenerating relationship with the desiccant.
Apparatus for air conditioning a plurality of spaces in a building, said apparatus comprising an induction unit which includes means operable to cause a flow of recirculated air from each of the spaces and to return the recirculated air to the spaces, means comprising a dehumidifier which employs a desiccant for dehumidifying air, means for circulating air to be dehumidified to said dehumidifier, means for circulating dehumidified air to said induction mixing units at a rate per unit of area in the spaces served by said induction mixing units which varies between a predetermined minimum rate greater than zero and a maximum rate, the maximum rate being substantially less than that which would be required to maintain the design temperature in each of the spaces at the maximum design cooling load with air at a dry bulb temperature of 55.degree. F., means operable to control its moisture content and temperature so that the dehumidified air is incapable, at the rate at which it is required for humidity control, of maintaining the desired space temperature at the maximum design cooling lead, means operable to control the rate at which dehumidified air is delivered by each of said induction mixing units to the space it serves to one not less than the predetermined minimum rate and higher than that minimum when required to maintain a monitored condition of the space within control limits, means for cooling air recirculated by said induction units, dehumidified air delivered to the spaces, or both, means comprising a heat exchanger operable to transfer heat from the desiccant of said dehumidifier or from dehumidified air that is circulated to the spaces, means for transferring heat from said heat exchanger, means including a heat pump and means operable to burn a fuel, to discharge heat derived from burning the fuel, and to transfer energy derived from burning the fuel into energizing relationship with said heat pump, said heat pump being operably connected to transfer heat from at least one of said means for cooling air and said heat exchanger, and means for regenerating the desiccant of said dehumidifier, said last-named means including means for transferring heat discharged from said fuel-burning means into regenerating relationship with the desiccant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.