Patent US3926249A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3926249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy recovery system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-11
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1993-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus to recover energy from used or foul air and to return the energy into fresh air to reduce the energy input to a ventilation system. Ventilator apparatus is adapted to maintain fluid flow through a first heat exchanger, positioned in a fresh air passage, and through a second heat exchanger, positioned in an exhaust passage, at a controlled rate to afford maximum or controlled heat transfer efficiency for pre-cooling or pre-heating fresh air drawn into the system. Control apparatus is provided to maintain flow of fluid through the heat exchangers such that the sum of the mass flow of fresh air times the specific heat of the fresh air, plus the mass flow of the exhaust air times the apparent specific heat of exhaust air, is equal to two times the mass flow of fluid times the specific heat of the fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter P Glancy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:13
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F12/00; F24F12/001; F24F12/002; F24F11/00; F24F11/70; F24F11/80; F24F11/83; F24F11/85; F24F2012/007; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/56; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of recovering maximum energy from air exhausted from an enclosure comprising the steps of: delivering air from inside the enclosure through an exhaust passage to the outside of the enclosure; delivering frEsh air from the outside the enclosure through an inlet passage to the inside of the enclosure; positioning a first heat exchanger in the inlet passage; positioning a second heat exchanger in the outlet passage; circulating liquid in a closed circuit through the first and second heat exchangers to transfer maximum energy between the inlet and outlet passages; and maintaining the mass flow rate of the liquid substantially equal to one-half the sum of the mass flow rates of all the air flowing over the first and second heat exchangers multiplied by the apparent specific heat of the respective air streams and divided by the specific heat of the liquid to maintain a maximum heat transfer rate from air exhausted from the enclosure to fresh air.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of recovering maximum energy from air exhausted from an enclosure comprising the steps of: delivering air from inside the enclosure through an exhaust passage to the outside of the enclosure; delivering frEsh air from the outside the enclosure through an inlet passage to the inside of the enclosure; positioning a first heat exchanger in the inlet passage; positioning a second heat exchanger in the outlet passage; circulating liquid in a closed circuit through the first and second heat exchangers to transfer maximum energy between the inlet and outlet passages; and maintaining the mass flow rate of the liquid substantially equal to one-half the sum of the mass flow rates of all the air flowing over the first and second heat exchangers multiplied by the apparent specific heat of the respective air streams and divided by the specific heat of the liquid to maintain a maximum heat transfer rate from air exhausted from the enclosure to fresh air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 with the addition of the step of: spraying water on the heat exchanger in the exhaust passage to change the apparent specific heat of air delivered through the exhaust passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 with the addition of the steps of: sensing temperature of fresh air flowing out of the heat exchanger in the inlet passage; and by-passing a portion of the fresh air around the heat exchanger in the inlet passage in response to changes in temperature of the fresh air.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 with the addition of the steps of: sensing temperature of the liquid; and bypassing a portion of the fresh air around the heat exchanger in the inlet passage to regulate the amount of energy transferred between the first and second heat exchangers.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of ventilating an enclosure, wherein air in the enclosure is cooler than air outside of the enclosure, comprising the steps of: delivering fresh air from outside the enclosure over a first heat exchanger; sensing temperature of the fresh air after the fresh air has passed over the first heat exchanger; exhausting air from the inside the enclosure over a second heat exchanger; circulating liquid in a single state in a closed circuit through the first and second heat exchangers; spraying liquid on the outer surface of the second heat exchanger; and changing the mass flow of the liquid circulating through the first and second heat exchangers upon change of the apparent specific heat of the fresh air to maintain maximum energy recovery.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of ventilating an enclosure, wherein air in the enclosure is cooler than air outside of the enclosure, comprising the steps of: delivering fresh air from outside the enclosure over a first heat exchanger; sensing temperature of the fresh air after the fresh air has passed over the first heat exchanger; exhausting air from the inside the enclosure over a second heat exchanger; circulating liquid in a single state in a closed circuit through the first and second heat exchangers; spraying liquid on the outer surface of the second heat exchanger; and changing the mass flow of the liquid circulating through the first and second heat exchangers upon change of the apparent specific heat of the fresh air to maintain maximum energy recovery.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of recovering maximum energy from air exhausted from an enclosure comprising the steps of: delivering fresh air from outside the enclosure over a first heat exchanger into the enclosure; delivering exhaust air from inside the enclosure over a second heat exchanger to the outside of the enclosure, said second heat exchanger being spaced remotely from said first heat exchanger; circulating liquid in a closed circuit through the first and second heat exchangers such that heat is transferred from air to the circulating liquid at one of the heat exchangers and heat is transferred from the circulating liquid to air at the other heat exchanger; maintaining the mass flow rate of the liquid substantially equal to one-half of the sum of the mass flow rate of the air flowing over the first heat exchanger multiplied by the apparent specific heat of the fresh air plus the mass flow rate of air flowing over the second heat exchanger multiplied by the apparent specific heat of the exhaust air, wherein the apparent specific heat of air flowing over each heat exchanger is equal to the difference in enthalpy of the air at saturation expressed in BTU per pound of dry air, divided by the difference in the dry bulb temperature of the air entering and leaving the heat exchanger.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of recovering maximum energy from air exhausted from an enclosure comprising the steps of: delivering fresh air from outside the enclosure over a first heat exchanger into the enclosure; delivering exhaust air from inside the enclosure over a second heat exchanger to the outside of the enclosure, said second heat exchanger being spaced remotely from said first heat exchanger; circulating liquid in a closed circuit through the first and second heat exchangers such that heat is transferred from air to the circulating liquid at one of the heat exchangers and heat is transferred from the circulating liquid to air at the other heat exchanger; maintaining the mass flow rate of the liquid substantially equal to one-half of the sum of the mass flow rate of the air flowing over the first heat exchanger multiplied by the apparent specific heat of the fresh air plus the mass flow rate of air flowing over the second heat exchanger multiplied by the apparent specific heat of the exhaust air, wherein the apparent specific heat of air flowing over each heat exchanger is equal to the difference in enthalpy of the air at saturation expressed in BTU per pound of dry air, divided by the difference in the dry bulb temperature of the air entering and leaving the heat exchanger.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6 with the addition of the steps of: spraying liquid on the exterior of the second heat exchanger to increase the apparent specific heat of exhaust air delivered from inside the enclosure to the outside of the enclosure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |