Enthalphy Wheel

Claim 2

A gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (a) a fibrous support material; and (b) desiccant material and fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said desiccant material selected from the group consisting of silica gels, activated aluminas and molecular sieves, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flowing through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 3

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein desiccant material and said fire retardant together are present in said media in the range of from about 5 to 90% by weight.

Claim 4

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant material is present in said media in the range of about 5 to 75% by weight.

Claim 5

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant material is present in said media in the range of about 5 to 60% by weight.

Claim 6

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant material is present in said media in the range of about 10 to 55% by weight.

Claim 7

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fire retardant is present in said media in the range of about 5 to 35% by weight.

Claim 8

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fire retardant is present in said media in the range of about 10 to 55% by weight.

Claim 9

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant material is present in said media in the range of about 5 to 60% by weight and said fire retardant is present in the range of about 5 to 35% by weight.

Claim 10

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fibrous material is selected from the group consisting of cellulosic fibers and synthetic organic fibers.

Claim 11

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fibrous material is an organic synthetic fibrous material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, acetate, nylon and polyaramid fibers.

Claim 12

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant is selected from at least one of the group consisting of activated alumina, silica gels and crystalline zeolites.

Claim 13

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant is crystalline zeolites.

Claim 14

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant is a zeolite selected from one of the group consisting of 3A, 4A, 5A, 13X, NaY, HY and USY.

Claim 15

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant is a zeolite selected from one of the group consisting of 3A and 4A zeolites.

Claim 16

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant is a 3A zeolite.

Claim 17

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said desiccant is a 4A zeolite.

Claim 18

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fire retardant is selected from the group consisting of alumina trihydrate and hydroxides of magnesium, antimony and molybdenum.

Claim 19

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fire retardant is alumina trihydrate.

Claim 20

A gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (a) a fibrous support material; and (b) zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant present together in said media in the range of 5 to 90 wt. %, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 21

A gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (a) a fibrous support material; and (b) zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant present together in said media in the range of 5 to 90 wt. %, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 22

A gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (a) a fibrous support material; and (b) zeolite desiccant material and alumina trihydrate fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material having an average pore diameter of about 3 or 4 Angstroms, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 23

A gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (a) a fibrous support material; and (b) zeolite desiccant material and alumina trihydrate fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material having an average pore diameter of about 3 or 4 Angstroms, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 24

A gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (a) a fibrous support material fabricated from organic synthetic fibers selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, acetate, nylon and polyaramid fibers; and (b) zeolite desiccant material and alumina trihydrate fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material having an average pore diameter of about 3 or 4 Angstroms, said zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant present together in said media in the range of 5 to 90 wt. %, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of absorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 25

A gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (a) a fibrous support material fabricated from organic synthetic fibers selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, acetate, nylon and polyaramid fibers; and (b) zeolite desiccant material and alumina trihydrate fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material having an average pore diameter of about 3 or 4 Angstroms, said zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant present together in said media in the range of 5 to 90 wt. %, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of absorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 26

An enthalpy wheel having a gas permeable media for recovering sensible and latent heat from an air stream, the wheel comprising: (a) a hub for supporting a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media circumferentially thereabout; and (b) a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (i) a fibrous support material; and (ii) a desiccant material selected from the group consisting of silica gels, activated aluminas and molecular sieves and a fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing adsorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flowing through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 27

An enthalpy wheel having a gas permeable media for recovering sensible and latent heat from an air stream, the wheel comprising: (a) a hub for supporting a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media circumferentially thereabout; and (b) a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (i) a fibrous support material; and (ii) a desiccant material selected from the group consisting of silica gels, activated aluminas and molecular sieves and a fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing adsorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flowing through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 28

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant material and said fire retardant together are present in said media in the range of from about 5 to 90% by weight.

Claim 29

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant material is present in said media in the range of about 5 to 75% by weight.

Claim 30

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant material is present in said media in the range of about 5 to 60% by weight.

Claim 31

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant material is present in said media in the range of about 10 to 55% by weight.

Claim 32

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said fire retardant is present in said media in the range of about 5 to 35% by weight.

Claim 33

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said fire retardant is present in said media in the range of about 10 to 55% by weight.

Claim 34

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant material is present said media in the range of about 5 to 60% by weight and said fire retardant is present in the range of about 5 to 35% by weight.

Claim 35

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said fibrous material is selected from the group consisting of cellulosic fibers and synthetic organic fibers.

Claim 36

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein the fibrous material is an organic synthetic fibrous material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, acetate, nylon and polyaramid fibers.

Claim 37

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant is selected from at least one of the group consisting of activated alumina, silica gels and crystalline zeolites.

Claim 38

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant is crystalline zeolites.

Claim 39

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant is a zeolite selected from one of the group consisting of 3A, 4A, 5A, 13X, NaY, HY and USY.

Claim 40

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant is a zeolite selected from one of the group consisting of 3A and 4A zeolites.

Claim 41

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant is a 3A zeolite.

Claim 42

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said desiccant is a 4A zeolite.

Claim 43

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said fire retardant is selected from the group consisting of alumina trihydrate and hydroxides of magnesium, antimony and molybdenum.

Claim 44

The sensible and heat exchange media in accordance with claim 22 wherein said fire retardant is alumina trihydrate.

Claim 45

An enthalpy wheel having a gas permeable media for recovering sensible and latent heat from an air stream, the wheel comprising: (a) a hub for supporting a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media circumferentially thereabout; and (b) a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (i) a fibrous support material; and (ii) zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant present together in said media in the range of 5 to 90 wt. %, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flowing through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 46

An enthalpy wheel having a gas permeable media for recovering sensible and latent heat from an air stream, the wheel comprising: (a) a hub for supporting a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media circumferentially thereabout; and (b) a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (i) a fibrous support material; and (ii) zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant present together in said media in the range of 5 to 90 wt. %, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flowing through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 47

An enthalpy wheel having a gas permeable media for recovering sensible and latent heat from an air stream, the wheel comprising: (a) a hub for supporting a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media circumferentially thereabout; and (b) a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (i) a fibrous support material; and (ii) a zeolite desiccant material and alumina trihydrate fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material having an average pore diameter of about 3 or 4 Angstroms, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flowing through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 48

An enthalpy wheel having a gas permeable media for recovering sensible and latent heat from an air stream, the wheel comprising: (a) a hub for supporting a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media circumferentially thereabout; and (b) a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (i) a fibrous support material; and (ii) a zeolite desiccant material and alumina trihydrate fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material having an average pore diameter of about 3 or 4 Angstroms, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flowing through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 49

An enthalpy wheel having a gas permeable media for recovering sensible and latent heat from an air stream, the wheel comprising: (a) a hub for supporting a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media circumferentially thereabout; and (b) a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (i) a fibrous support material fabricated from organic synthetic fibers selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, acetate, nylon and polyaramid fibers; and (ii) zeolite desiccant material and alumina trihydrate fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material having an average pore diameter of about 3 or 4 Angstroms, said zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant present together in said media in the range of 5 to 90 wt. %, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flowing through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.

Claim 50

An enthalpy wheel having a gas permeable media for recovering sensible and latent heat from an air stream, the wheel comprising: (a) a hub for supporting a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media circumferentially thereabout; and (b) a gas permeable, sensible and latent heat exchange media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the sensible and latent heat exchange media comprising: (i) a fibrous support material fabricated from organic synthetic fibers selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, acetate, nylon and polyaramid fibers; and (ii) zeolite desiccant material and alumina trihydrate fire retardant contained in said fibrous support material, said zeolite desiccant material having an average pore diameter of about 3 or 4 Angstroms, said zeolite desiccant material and fire retardant present together in said media in the range of 5 to 90 wt. %, said fibrous support material and said fire retardant capable of adsorbing sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as said warm and cool air streams flow through said sensible and latent heat exchange media, said desiccant material capable of adsorbing moisture from a humid air stream flowing through said sensible and latent heat exchange media and capable of releasing adsorbed moisture into a dry air stream flowing said passageways of said sensible and latent heat exchange media.