System and method for high-efficiency air cooling and dehumidification
OwnerJames L. Cayceinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The system in the present invention is an outside air ventilation cooling and room dehumidification system for use in commercial HVAC applications. The system includes a high-efficiency air filter, chilled water or evaporator precooling coil, a refrigeration compressor, an evaporator coil, a heat exchanger for removing heat and moisture from the air entering the evaporator coil and supplying heat to the air leaving the evaporator coil, a condenser coil located in the discharge airstream that reheats the air, and a fan to move the air through the coils. The heat exchanger can be a phase-change heat-pipe-type heat exchanger; a water cooling/heating coil "runaround loop"; an air-to-air plate-type heat exchanger; or a rotary heat exchanger.
Claims23
A system for controlling air ventilation cooling and dehumidification in a building space, the system having an upstream side and a downstream side and comprising:
- means for admitting air into the system, positioned at the upstream side of the system;
- means for cooling, positioned downstream of the air flow admitting means;
- means for channeling air flow from the air flow admitting means to the cooling means;
- a vapor compression cycle air conditioning means, comprising:
- an evaporator coil positioned downstream of the cooling means;
- a condenser coil in refrigerant communication with, and positioned downstream of, the evaporator coil;
- a refrigeration compressor;
- and
- a refrigerant circuit between the evaporator coil, the condenser coil, and the compressor;
- means for channeling air flow from the cooling means to the evaporator coil;
- means for channeling air flow from the evaporator coil to the condenser coil;
- heat exchanger means for heating air passing between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil;
- means for creating air flow through the system;
- and
- means for permitting air flow to exit the system and for directing existing air flow to the building space, positioned at the downstream side of the system.
A system for controlling air ventilation cooling and dehumidification in a building space, the system having an upstream side and a downstream side and comprising:
- means for admitting air into the system, positioned at the upstream side of the system;
- a first means for cooling, positioned downstream of the air flow admitting means;
- means for channeling air flow from the air flow admitting means to the first cooling means;
- a vapor compression cycle air conditioning means positioned downstream of the first cooling means and comprising:
- an evaporator coil positioned downstream of the first cooling means;
- a condenser coil in refrigerant communication with the evaporator coil;
- and
- a refrigeration compressor in refrigerant communication with the evaporator coil and the condenser coil so that refrigerant passes from the evaporator coil to the compressor and then to the condenser coil;
- means for channeling air flow from the first cooling means to the evaporator coil;
- heating means positioned between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil for heating air passing from the evaporator coil to the condenser coil;
- means for channeling air flow from the evaporator coil to the heating means;
- means for channeling air flow from the heating means to the condenser coil;
- means for creating air flow through the system;
- means for permitting air flow to exit the system;
- and
- means for directing exiting air flow to the building space, positioned at the downstream side of the system.
A system for conditioning outside air for use in an occupied building space, the system comprising:
- a system enclosure having an upstream end having an inlet for receiving outside air and a downstream end having an outlet for passing conditioned air out of the enclosure, the enclosure defining a closed path for air passing between the inlet and the outlet;
- means for creating a flow of air along the closed path;
- an evaporator coil in the air flow path for receiving and cooling passing air;
- a condenser coil in the air flow path downstream of the evaporator coil for heating passing air;
- means including a refrigerant circuit for moving refrigerant from the condenser coil to the evaporator coil and back to the condenser coil;
- a heat exchanger positioned in the air flow path between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil for heating air cooled by the evaporator coil;
- and
- additional cooling means independent of the evaporator coil and positioned between the inlet and the outlet in the air flow path for permitting the system to achieve a desired output cooling level.
A method of cooling and dehumidifying a building space, comprising:
- determining a set temperature and humidity for the building space;
- providing a control means;
- relaying the set temperature and humidity to the control means;
- providing means for admitting outside air into a cooling and dehumidifying system, positioned at the upstream end of the system;
- sensing and relaying the outside air temperature and humidity the control means;
- providing means for cooling;
- channeling air flow from the air flow admitting means to the cooling means;
- sensing and relaying the temperature of the air exiting the cooling means to the control means;
- controlling the cooling means responsive to the control means;
- providing a vapor compression cycle air conditioning means, comprising:
- an evaporator coil, positioned downstream of the cooling means;
- a condenser coil in refrigerant communication with, and positioned downstream of, the evaporator coil;
- a refrigeration compressor;
- and
- a refrigerant circuit between the evaporator coil, the condenser coil, and the compressor;
- channeling air flow from the cooling means to the evaporator coil and thence from the evaporator coil to the condenser coil;
- heating the air passing between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil;
A system for conditioning outside air for use in an occupied building space, the system comprising:
- a system enclosure having an upstream end with an inlet therein for receiving outside air and a downstream end with an outlet therein for passing conditioned air out of the enclosure, the enclosure defining a closed path for air passing between the inlet and the outlet;
- means for creating a flow of air within the enclosure along the closed path;
- a vapor compression cycle air conditioning subsystem within the enclosure including an evaporator coil in the airflow path for receiving and cooling passing air, a condenser coil in the airflow path downstream of the evaporator coil for heating passing air and means including a refrigerant circuit for moving refrigerant from the condenser coil to the evaporator coil and then back to the condenser coil;
- and
- a heat exchanger within the enclosure and positioned in the airflow path between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil for heating air cooled by the evaporator coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.