Method and apparatus for latent heat extraction

Claim 2

In an air conditioning system including a cooling coil using a cooling coil fluid to generate a conditioned supply air flow into an air conditioned space downstream of the cooling coil by absorbing thermal energy from a return air flow passing through the cooling coil, the improvement comprising: first means for introducing thermal energy from the return air flow to a working fluid; means in said supply air flow for exchanging thermal energy between the working fluid and the supply air flow; second means for introducing thermal energy into said working fluid from an auxiliary source; means for directing the working fluid through a series arrangement of said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and said second thermal energy introducing means; means for motivating a first flow of the working fluid through said directing means; and, control means for sensing moisture in said supply air flow and maintaining said sensed moisture within a predetermined moisture set point range by regulating said first flow of the working fluid.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said directing means comprises a fluid conduit means for containedly directing said first flow through said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and said second thermal energy introducing means.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first thermal energy introducing means is a precooling coil in said return air flow and said second thermal energy introducing means is a reheat coil in said supply air flow.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said fluid conduit means includes means for containedly directing the first flow successively through said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and then said second thermal energy introducing means.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: said motivating means includes pump means for motivating said first flow through said fluid conduit means responsive to a control signal; and, said control means includes means for sensing temperature in said air conditioned space and generating said control signal when said sensed temperature is outside a predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said pump means comprises a variable speed pump means responsive to said control signal for variably motivating said first flow.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said control means includes means for generating said control signal at a first value to decrease said first flow when said sensed temperature is above the predetermined temperature set point range and generating said control signal at a second value to increase said first flow when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said variable speed pump means over a continuous pump speed range.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a bypass fluid conduit means connected to said conduit means in parallel with i) said second thermal energy introducing means and ii) said first thermal energy introducing means in series with said thermal energy exchanging means, for containedly directing a bypass flow of said working fluid from said first thermal energy introducing means to said second thermal energy introducing means.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising regulating means at said bypass fluid conduit means for regulating said bypass flow of said working fluid responsive to a bypass control signal from said control means.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said regulating means comprises a control valve means responsive to said bypass control signal from said control means for variably throttling said bypass flow.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said control means includes means for generating said bypass control signal at a first value to decrease said bypass flow when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature set point range and generating said bypass control signal at a second value to increase said bypass flow when said sensed temperature is above the predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog bypass control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said control valve means over a continuous control valve range.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: said motivating means includes pump means for motivating said first flow through said fluid conduit means responsive to a control signal; and, said control means includes means for generating said control signal when said sensed moisture is outside said predetermined moisture set point range.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said pump means comprises a variable speed pump means responsive to said control signal for variably motivating said first flow.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said control means includes means for generating said control signal at a first value to increase said first flow when the sensed moisture is above the predetermined moisture set point range and generating said control signal at a second value to decrease said first flow when the sensed moisture is below the predetermined moisture set point range.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said variable speed pump means over a continuous pump speed range.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a bypass fluid conduit means connected to said conduit means in parallel with i) said second thermal energy introducing means and ii) said first thermal energy introducing means in series with said thermal energy exchanging means, for containedly directing a bypass flow of said working fluid from said first thermal energy introducing means to said second thermal energy introducing means.

Claim 20

The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising regulating means at said bypass fluid conduit means for regulating said bypass flow of said working fluid responsive to a bypass control signal from said control means.

Claim 21

The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said regulating means comprises a control valve means responsive to said bypass control signal from said control means for variably throttling said bypass flow.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said control means includes means for generating said bypass control signal at a first value to increase said bypass flow when said sensed moisture is below the predetermined moisture set point range and generating said bypass control signal at a second value to decrease said bypass flow when said sensed moisture is above the predetermined moisture set point range.

Claim 23

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog bypass control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said control valve means over a continuous control valve range.

Claim 24

In an air conditioning system, the combination of: a cooling coil disposed between an upstream return air flow and a downstream supply air flow; means for precooling said return air flow; means for reheating said supply air flow; means for flowing a working fluid through said precooling means and said reheating means responsive to a first control signal; means for adding thermal energy to said working fluid responsive to a second control signal; and, control means for sensing a physical property of said supply air flow and generating said first control signal and said second control signal according to the sensed physical property.

Claim 25

In an air conditioning system, the combination of: a cooling coil disposed between an upstream return air flow and a downstream supply air flow; means for precooling said return air flow; means for reheating said supply air flow; means for flowing a working fluid through said precooling means and said reheating means responsive to a first control signal; means for adding thermal energy to said working fluid responsive to a second control signal; and, control means for sensing a physical property of said supply air flow and generating said first control signal and said second control signal according to the sensed physical property.

Claim 26

In an air conditioning system including a cooling coil generating a conditioned supply air flow into an air conditioned space downstream of the cooling coil by absorbing thermal energy from a return air flow received into the cooling coil, the improvement comprising: first means for introducing thermal energy from the return air flow to a working fluid; means in said supply air flow for exchanging thermal energy between the working fluid and the supply air flow; second means for introducing thermal energy into said working fluid from an auxiliary source; means for directing the working fluid through a series arrangement of said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and said second thermal energy introducing means; means for motivating a first flow of the working fluid through said directing means; and, control means for sensing a physical property of in said supply air flow and maintaining said sensed physical property below a predetermined set point by regulating said second means for introducing thermal energy into said working fluid.

Claim 27

In an air conditioning system including a cooling coil generating a conditioned supply air flow into an air conditioned space downstream of the cooling coil by absorbing thermal energy from a return air flow received into the cooling coil, the improvement comprising: first means for introducing thermal energy from the return air flow to a working fluid; means in said supply air flow for exchanging thermal energy between the working fluid and the supply air flow; second means for introducing thermal energy into said working fluid from an auxiliary source; means for directing the working fluid through a series arrangement of said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and said second thermal energy introducing means; means for motivating a first flow of the working fluid through said directing means; and, control means for sensing a physical property of in said supply air flow and maintaining said sensed physical property below a predetermined set point by regulating said second means for introducing thermal energy into said working fluid.

Claim 28

The air conditioning system according to claim 24 wherein said sensed physical property is the temperature of the air conditioned space.

Claim 29

The air conditioning system according to claim 24 wherein said sensed physical property is the humidity of the air conditioned space.

Claim 30

The air conditioning system according to claim 24 wherein said sensed physical property is the humidity of said supply air flow.

Claim 31

The air conditioning system according to claim 24 wherein said sensed physical property is at least one of i) said temperature of the air conditioned space; ii) said humidity of the air conditioned space; and, iii) said humidity of said supply air flow.

Claim 32

The air conditioning system according to claim 24 wherein said control means includes means for maintaining said sensed physical property below said predetermined set point by regulating said first flow of the working fluid.

Claim 33

The air conditioning system according to claim 29 wherein said sensed physical property is the temperature of the air conditioned space.

Claim 34

The air conditioning system according to claim 29 wherein said sensed physical property is the humidity of the air conditioned space.

Claim 35

The air conditioning system according to claim 29 wherein said sensed physical property is the humidity of said supply air flow.

Claim 36

The air conditioning system according to claim 29 wherein said sensed physical property is at least one of i) said temperature of the air conditioned space; ii) said humidity of the air conditioned space; and, iii) said humidity of said supply air flow.

Claim 39

The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said pump means comprises a variable speed pump means responsive to said control signal for variably motivating said first flow.

Claim 40

The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said control means includes means for generating said control signal at a first value to decrease said first flow when said sensed temperature is above the predetermined temperature set point range and generating said control signal at a second value to increase said first flow when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 41

The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said variable speed pump means over a continuous pump speed range.

Claim 42

The apparatus according to claim 34 further comprising a bypass fluid conduit means connected to said conduit means in parallel with i) said second thermal energy introducing means and ii) said first thermal energy introducing means in series with said thermal energy exchanging means, for containedly directing a bypass flow of said working fluid from said first thermal energy introducing means to said second thermal energy introducing means.

Claim 43

The apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising regulating means at said bypass fluid conduit means for regulating said bypass flow of said working fluid responsive to a bypass control signal from said control means.

Claim 44

The apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said regulating means comprises a control valve means responsive to said bypass control signal from said control means for variably throttling said bypass flow.

Claim 45

The apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said control means includes means for generating said bypass control signal at a first value to decrease said bypass flow when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature set point range and generating said bypass control signal at a second value to increase said bypass flow when said sensed temperature is above the predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 46

The apparatus according to claim 41 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog bypass control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said control valve means over a continuous control valve range.

Claim 49

The apparatus according to claim 43 further comprising regulating means at said bypass fluid conduit means for regulating said bypass flow of said working fluid responsive to a bypass control signal from said control means.

Claim 50

The apparatus according to claim 44 wherein said regulating means comprises a control valve means responsive to said bypass control signal from said control means for variably throttling said bypass flow.

Claim 51

The apparatus according to claim 45 wherein said control means includes means for generating said bypass control signal at a first value to decrease said bypass flow when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature set point range and generating said bypass control signal at a second value to increase said bypass flow when said sensed temperature is above the predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 52

The apparatus according to claim 46 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog bypass control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said control valve means over a continuous control valve range.

Claim 53

In an air conditioning system including a cooling coil generating a conditioned supply air flow into an air conditioned space downstream of the cooling coil by absorbing thermal energy from a return air flow received into the cooling coil, the improvement comprising: first means for introducing thermal energy from the return air flow to a working fluid; means in said supply air flow for exchanging thermal energy between the working fluid and the supply air flow; second means for introducing thermal energy into said working fluid from an auxiliary source; directing means for directing the working fluid through a series arrangement of said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and said second thermal energy introducing means, the directing means including a fluid conduit means for containedly directing a first flow through the first thermal energy introducing means, the thermal energy exchanging means and the second thermal energy introducing means, the fluid conduit means including means for containedly directing the first flow successively through said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and then said second thermal energy introducing means; motivating means for motivating said first flow of the working fluid through said directing means, the motivating means including pump means for motivating said first flow through said fluid conduit means responsive to a control signal, said pump means comprising a variable speed pump means responsive to said control signal for variably motivating said first flow; and, control means for sensing temperature in said air conditioned space and maintaining said sensed temperature within a predetermined temperature set point range by regulating said first flow of the working fluid, the control means including means for generating said control signal when said sensed temperature is outside said predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 54

In an air conditioning system including a cooling coil generating a conditioned supply air flow into an air conditioned space downstream of the cooling coil by absorbing thermal energy from a return air flow received into the cooling coil, the improvement comprising: first means for introducing thermal energy from the return air flow to a working fluid; means in said supply air flow for exchanging thermal energy between the working fluid and the supply air flow; second means for introducing thermal energy into said working fluid from an auxiliary source; directing means for directing the working fluid through a series arrangement of said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and said second thermal energy introducing means, the directing means including a fluid conduit means for containedly directing a first flow through the first thermal energy introducing means, the thermal energy exchanging means and the second thermal energy introducing means, the fluid conduit means including means for containedly directing the first flow successively through said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and then said second thermal energy introducing means; motivating means for motivating said first flow of the working fluid through said directing means, the motivating means including pump means for motivating said first flow through said fluid conduit means responsive to a control signal, said pump means comprising a variable speed pump means responsive to said control signal for variably motivating said first flow; and, control means for sensing temperature in said air conditioned space and maintaining said sensed temperature within a predetermined temperature set point range by regulating said first flow of the working fluid, the control means including means for generating said control signal when said sensed temperature is outside said predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 55

The apparatus according to claim 48 wherein said control means includes means for generating said control signal at a first value to decrease said first flow when said sensed temperature is above the predetermined temperature set point range and generating said control signal at a second value to increase said first flow when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 56

The apparatus according to claim 49 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said variable speed pump means over a continuous pump speed range.

Claim 57

In an air conditioning system including a cooling coil generating a conditioned supply air flow into an air conditioned space downstream of the cooling coil by absorbing thermal energy from a return air flow received into the cooling coil, the improvement comprising: first means for introducing thermal energy from the return air flow to a working fluid; means in said supply air flow for exchanging thermal energy between the working fluid and the supply air flow; second means for introducing thermal energy into said working fluid from an auxiliary source; directing means for directing the working fluid through a series arrangement of said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and said second thermal energy introducing means, the directing means including a fluid conduit means for containedly directing a first flow through the first thermal energy introducing means, the thermal energy exchanging means and the second thermal energy introducing means, the fluid conduit means including means for containedly directing the first flow successively through said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and then said second thermal energy introducing means; motivating means for motivating said first flow of the working fluid through said directing means, the motivating means including pump means for motivating said first flow through said fluid conduit means responsive to a control signal; control means for sensing temperature in said air conditioned space and maintaining said sensed temperature within a predetermined temperature set point range by regulating said first flow of the working fluid, the control means including means for generating said control signal when said sensed temperature is outside said predetermined temperature set point range; and, a bypass fluid conduit means connected to said conduit means in parallel with i) said second thermal energy introducing means and ii) said first thermal energy introducing means in series with said thermal energy exchanging means, for containedly directing a bypass flow of said working fluid from said first thermal energy introducing means to said second thermal energy introducing means.

Claim 58

In an air conditioning system including a cooling coil generating a conditioned supply air flow into an air conditioned space downstream of the cooling coil by absorbing thermal energy from a return air flow received into the cooling coil, the improvement comprising: first means for introducing thermal energy from the return air flow to a working fluid; means in said supply air flow for exchanging thermal energy between the working fluid and the supply air flow; second means for introducing thermal energy into said working fluid from an auxiliary source; directing means for directing the working fluid through a series arrangement of said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and said second thermal energy introducing means, the directing means including a fluid conduit means for containedly directing a first flow through the first thermal energy introducing means, the thermal energy exchanging means and the second thermal energy introducing means, the fluid conduit means including means for containedly directing the first flow successively through said first thermal energy introducing means, said thermal energy exchanging means and then said second thermal energy introducing means; motivating means for motivating said first flow of the working fluid through said directing means, the motivating means including pump means for motivating said first flow through said fluid conduit means responsive to a control signal; control means for sensing temperature in said air conditioned space and maintaining said sensed temperature within a predetermined temperature set point range by regulating said first flow of the working fluid, the control means including means for generating said control signal when said sensed temperature is outside said predetermined temperature set point range; and, a bypass fluid conduit means connected to said conduit means in parallel with i) said second thermal energy introducing means and ii) said first thermal energy introducing means in series with said thermal energy exchanging means, for containedly directing a bypass flow of said working fluid from said first thermal energy introducing means to said second thermal energy introducing means.

Claim 59

The apparatus according to claim 51 further comprising regulating means at said bypass fluid conduit means for regulating said bypass flow of said working fluid responsive to a bypass control signal from said control means.

Claim 60

The apparatus according to claim 52 wherein said regulating means comprises a control valve means responsive to said bypass control signal from said control means for variably throttling said bypass flow.

Claim 61

The apparatus according to claim 53 wherein said control means includes means for generating said bypass control signal at a first value to decrease said bypass flow when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature set point range and generating said bypass control signal at a second value to increase said bypass flow when said sensed temperature is above the predetermined temperature set point range.

Claim 62

The apparatus according to claim 54 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog bypass control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said control valve means over a continuous control valve range.

Claim 67

In an air conditioning system, the combination of: a cooling coil disposed between an upstream return air flow and a downstream supply air flow; means for precooling said return air flow; means for reheating said supply air flow; means for communicating a flow of a working fluid through said precooling means and said reheating means; means for injecting thermal energy into said working fluid responsive to a control signal; and, control means for sensing a physical property of said supply air flow and generating said control signal according to the sensed physical property.

Claim 68

In an air conditioning system, the combination of: a cooling coil disposed between an upstream return air flow and a downstream supply air flow; means for precooling said return air flow; means for reheating said supply air flow; means for communicating a flow of a working fluid through said precooling means and said reheating means; means for injecting thermal energy into said working fluid responsive to a control signal; and, control means for sensing a physical property of said supply air flow and generating said control signal according to the sensed physical property.

Claim 71

The apparatus according to claim 59 further comprising regulating means at said bypass fluid conduit means for regulating said bypass flow of said working fluid responsive to a bypass control signal from said control means.

Claim 72

The apparatus according to claim 60 wherein said regulating means comprises a control valve means responsive to said bypass control signal from said control means for variably throttling said bypass flow.

Claim 73

The apparatus according to claim 61 wherein said control means includes means for generating said bypass control signal at a first value to increase said bypass flow when said sensed moisture is below the predetermined moisture set point range and generating said bypass control signal at a second value to decrease said bypass flow when said sensed moisture is above the predetermined moisture set point range.

Claim 74

The apparatus according to claim 62 wherein said control means includes means for generating an analog bypass control signal ranging from said first value to said second value to variably control said control valve means over a continuous control valve range.