Air conditioning system

Claim 2

An air washer for treating an air stream moving through the air washer, comprising: a) spray means for injecting controlled amounts of water into the moving air stream, b) a moisture eliminator downstream of said spray means for removing water droplets entrained in the moving air stream, said moisture eliminator having a maximum effective face area through which the moving air stream passes, c) means for controlling the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time and d) means for changing the effective face area of said moisture eliminator in response to changes in the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time.

Claim 3

The air washer of claim 1 wherein said means for changing the effective face area of the moisture eliminator is capable of reducing said effective face area when the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time falls to a predetermined level and is capable of increasing the effective face area when the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time rises to a predetermined level.

Claim 4

The air washer of claim 1 or 2 wherein the means for controlling the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time comprises damper means and associated control devices which divert a portion of said moving air stream through bypass conduit means separate from said air washer.

Claim 5

The air washer of claim 2 wherein the means for controlling the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time comprises a variable capacity fan.

Claim 6

5 . The air washer of any preceding claim wherein said means for changing the effective face area of the moisture eliminator comprises a damper assembly positioned adjacent to said moisture eliminator and actuator means associated with the damper assembly for opening and closing said damper assembly in response to a control signal.

Claim 7

The air washer of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said means for changing the effective face area of the moisture eliminator comprises a plurality of damper assemblies positioned adjacent to said moisture eliminator and actuator means associated with each damper assembly for opening and closing each damper assembly in response to a control signal.

Claim 8

The air washer of claim 6 wherein each damper assembly and actuator means associated therewith is provided with means for opening and closing each damper assembly at different predetermined levels of air volume per unit of time moving through the air washer.

Claim 9

An air conditioning system for maintaining a conditioned zone at predetermined temperature and humidity levels comprising in combination a) an air washer comprising a water spray section, means for supplying water to said water spray section and for collecting excess spray water, and a moisture eliminator adjacent to said water spray section having a maximum effective face area through which a stream of air to be treated by the air washer passes, b) damper means for admitting to said air washer for treatment controlled quantities of outside air and air returned from said conditioned zone, c) means for moving variable volumes of air per unit of time through said air washer, and d) means for changing the effective face area of said moisture eliminator in response to changes in the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time.

Claim 10

An air conditioning system for maintaining a conditioned zone at predetermined temperature and humidity levels comprising in combination a) an air washer comprising a water spray section, means for supplying water to said water spray section and for collecting excess spray water, and a moisture eliminator adjacent to said water spray section having a maximum effective face area through which a stream of air to be treated by the air washer passes, b) damper means for admitting to said air washer for treatment controlled quantities of outside air and air returned from said conditioned zone, c) means for moving variable volumes of air per unit of time through said air washer, and d) means for changing the effective face area of said moisture eliminator in response to changes in the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time.

Claim 11

The system of claim 8 wherein the air washer comprises an air washer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7.

Claim 12

10 . A variable air volume air conditioning system for maintaining a conditioned zone at predetermined temperature and humidity levels comprising a) a chamber having an entrance end provided with separate modulated damper means for admitting outside air and return air into the.chamber and an exit end for delivering conditioned air to a supply air duct which supplies conditioned air to said conditioned zone, b) spray means positioned within the chamber intermediate the entrance and exit ends for spraying sufficient quantities of water into air moving through said chamber to deliver conditioned air to the supply air duct that is substantially saturated with water vapor and is adjusted to a predetermined temperature, c) moisture eliminator means positioned within the chamber intermediate the spray means and said exit end for removing droplets of water entrained in the conditioned air, said moisture eliminator having a maximum effective face area through which said conditioned air passes, d) variable capacity fan means for moving controlled volumes of air through said system per unit of time, e) sensing means for monitoring the dew point of the conditioned air delivered to the supply air duct and control means associated therewith for modulating the damper means which admit outside air and return air into the chamber, f) modulated supply air damper means located at the terminus of the supply air duct for admitting conditioned air into said conditioned zone, g) heating means disposed in the supply air duct adjacent to the supply air damper means for heating the conditioned air, h) temperature sensing means located in the conditioned zone and control means associated therewith for regulating said heating means and modulating said supply air damper means in response to temperature changes in said conditioned zone, i) means for changing the effective face area of said moisture eliminator in response to changes in the volume of air moving through said moisture eliminator per unit of time and j) pressure sensing means located in the supply air duct and control means associated therewith for modulating the capacity of said variable capacity fan, for regulating the quantity of water injected into the air by said spray means as the air moves through said chamber, and for changing the effective face area of said moisture eliminator.

Claim 13

10 . A variable air volume air conditioning system for maintaining a conditioned zone at predetermined temperature and humidity levels comprising a) a chamber having an entrance end provided with separate modulated damper means for admitting outside air and return air into the.chamber and an exit end for delivering conditioned air to a supply air duct which supplies conditioned air to said conditioned zone, b) spray means positioned within the chamber intermediate the entrance and exit ends for spraying sufficient quantities of water into air moving through said chamber to deliver conditioned air to the supply air duct that is substantially saturated with water vapor and is adjusted to a predetermined temperature, c) moisture eliminator means positioned within the chamber intermediate the spray means and said exit end for removing droplets of water entrained in the conditioned air, said moisture eliminator having a maximum effective face area through which said conditioned air passes, d) variable capacity fan means for moving controlled volumes of air through said system per unit of time, e) sensing means for monitoring the dew point of the conditioned air delivered to the supply air duct and control means associated therewith for modulating the damper means which admit outside air and return air into the chamber, f) modulated supply air damper means located at the terminus of the supply air duct for admitting conditioned air into said conditioned zone, g) heating means disposed in the supply air duct adjacent to the supply air damper means for heating the conditioned air, h) temperature sensing means located in the conditioned zone and control means associated therewith for regulating said heating means and modulating said supply air damper means in response to temperature changes in said conditioned zone, i) means for changing the effective face area of said moisture eliminator in response to changes in the volume of air moving through said moisture eliminator per unit of time and j) pressure sensing means located in the supply air duct and control means associated therewith for modulating the capacity of said variable capacity fan, for regulating the quantity of water injected into the air by said spray means as the air moves through said chamber, and for changing the effective face area of said moisture eliminator.

Claim 14

The system of claim 10 wherein said chamber is provided with a sump arranged to maintain therein a quantity of water for supplying water to said spray means and for collecting excess spray water, said sump being provided with means for heating and cooling the quantity of water maintained therein.

Claim 15

12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the sensing means for monitoring the dew point of the conditioned air comprises a temperature sensor positioned to be in contact -with the quantity of water maintained in the sump and control means associated with said temperature sensor for regulating the means for heating and cooling the quantity of water in the sump and for modulating the separate damper means which admit outside air and return air into the chamber.

Claim 16

13 . The system of claim 11 wherein the sensing means for monitoring the dew point of the conditioned air comprises an absolute humidity sensing device adapted to sample continuously the conditioned air delivered to the supply air duct and control means associated with said humidity sensing device for regulating the means for heating and cooling the quantity of water in the sump and for modulating the separate damper means which admit outside air and return air into the chamber.

Claim 18

15 . The system of claim 14 wherein at least one of said terminuses is provided with heating means, said heating means being disposed within the supply air duct downstream of said supply air damper means.

Claim 19

The system of claim 14 or 15 wherein said temperature controller is provided with integral or integral with derivative control capabilities.

Claim 20

17 . A method for treating a stream of air moving through an air washer which comprises a) varying the flow rate of the air moving through the air washer in response to a demand for conditioned air that is to be supplied to a work space or conditioned zone, b) injecting into the stream of air a sufficient amount of water in the form of a spray to produce an air stream that is substantially saturated with water vapor, c) passing the substantially saturated air stream through a moisture eliminator having a maximum effective face area through which the air stream moves and d) changing the effective face area of the moisture eliminator in response to changes in the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer.

Claim 21

17 . A method for treating a stream of air moving through an air washer which comprises a) varying the flow rate of the air moving through the air washer in response to a demand for conditioned air that is to be supplied to a work space or conditioned zone, b) injecting into the stream of air a sufficient amount of water in the form of a spray to produce an air stream that is substantially saturated with water vapor, c) passing the substantially saturated air stream through a moisture eliminator having a maximum effective face area through which the air stream moves and d) changing the effective face area of the moisture eliminator in response to changes in the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer.

Claim 22

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the effective face area of said moisture eliminator is reduced when the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer falls to a predetermined level and is increased when the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer rises to a predetermined level.

Claim 23

1 9. The method of claim 17 or 18 wherein the flow rate of the air moving through the air washer is varied by directing a controlled portion of the air stream through bypass conduit means separate from said air washer.

Claim 24

The method of claim 17 or 18 wherein a variable capacity fan is employed for moving the stream of air through the air washer and said flow rate is varied by adjusting the capacity of the fan.

Claim 28

23 . The method of claim 22 wherein the effective face area of said moisture eliminator is reduced when the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer falls to a predetermined level and is increased when the flow rate of the air stream moving through the air washer rises to a predetermined level.

Claim 29

The method of claim 22 or 23 wherein the flow rate of the air moving though the air washer is varied by directing a controlled portion of the air stream through bypass conduit means separate from said air washer.

Claim 30

25 . The method of 22 or 23 wherein a variable capacity fan is employed for establishing said controlled flow of air through said air conditioning system and the flow rate of the air directed through said air washer is varied by adjusting the capacity of the fan.

Claim 31

25 . The method of 22 or 23 wherein a variable capacity fan is employed for establishing said controlled flow of air through said air conditioning system and the flow rate of the air directed through said air washer is varied by adjusting the capacity of the fan.

Claim 33

27 . A method for maintaining a work space at desired temperature and humidity levels which comprises a) providing a variable capacity fan for establishing a variable flow rate of air through an air conditioning system that includes an air washer having an entrance end for admitting controlled amounts of spent air returned from the work space and outside air, a water spray section, a moisture eliminator exhibiting a maximum effective face area through which air flows and an exit end for directing conditioned air to a supply air duct which delivers said conditioned air to said work space, b) mixing spent air returned from said work space with outside air and treating the resulting air mixture with sufficient water as it moves through said water spray section to produce a treated stream of air that is substantially saturated with water vapor, c) passing the water-saturated stream of air through said moisture eliminator to remove entrained droplets of water and directing the stream of air emerging from the moisture eliminator to said supply air duct, d) controlling in response to the dew point of conditioned air directed to said supply air duct the proportions of spent air returned from the work space and outside air admitted--to said air washer, e) regulating the flow of conditioned air into said work space by flow control means associated with a terminus of said supply air duct and responsive to a temperature sensor located in said work space and f) monitoring the air pressure in said supply air duct and controlling the capacity of said variable capacity fan, the quantity of water introduced into the air by said water spray section and the effective face area of said moisture eliminator in response to the pressure prevailing in said supply air duct.

Claim 34

27 . A method for maintaining a work space at desired temperature and humidity levels which comprises a) providing a variable capacity fan for establishing a variable flow rate of air through an air conditioning system that includes an air washer having an entrance end for admitting controlled amounts of spent air returned from the work space and outside air, a water spray section, a moisture eliminator exhibiting a maximum effective face area through which air flows and an exit end for directing conditioned air to a supply air duct which delivers said conditioned air to said work space, b) mixing spent air returned from said work space with outside air and treating the resulting air mixture with sufficient water as it moves through said water spray section to produce a treated stream of air that is substantially saturated with water vapor, c) passing the water-saturated stream of air through said moisture eliminator to remove entrained droplets of water and directing the stream of air emerging from the moisture eliminator to said supply air duct, d) controlling in response to the dew point of conditioned air directed to said supply air duct the proportions of spent air returned from the work space and outside air admitted--to said air washer, e) regulating the flow of conditioned air into said work space by flow control means associated with a terminus of said supply air duct and responsive to a temperature sensor located in said work space and f) monitoring the air pressure in said supply air duct and controlling the capacity of said variable capacity fan, the quantity of water introduced into the air by said water spray section and the effective face area of said moisture eliminator in response to the pressure prevailing in said supply air duct.

Claim 35

28 . The method of claim 27 wherein the dew point of the stream of air directed to the supply air duct is monitored by a dew point sensing device having control means associated therewith for regulating the temperature of water supplied to said water spray section and for controlling the flow of spent air from the work space and outside air into the entrance end of said air washer.

Claim 36

The method of claim 26 or 27 wherein the conditioned air flowing into said work space is heated by heating means disposed in the supply air duct, said heating means being responsive to a temperature sensor located in the work space.

Claim 37

30 . The method of claim 27 or 28 wherein said supply air duct is provided with a plurality of terminuses for directing conditioned air into a plurality of work spaces and wherein the conditioned air flowing into at least one of said plurality of work spaces is heated by heating means disposed adjacent to the flow control means associated with the terminus delivering conditioned air to said at least one of said plurality of work spaces.

Claim 38

31 . The method of any of claims 27 to 30 wherein the effective face area of said moisture eliminator is reduced when the flow rate of the air moving though the moisture eliminator falls to a predetermined level and is increased when the flow rate of the air moving through the moisture eliminator rises to a predetermined level.