High efficiency air conditioning system with humidity control

Claim 2

A heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space, the system comprised of: (a) an enthalpy wheel or body for treating incoming outdoor air to remove heat and moisture therefrom; (b) a means for introducing outdoor air to a first segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to provide pre-conditioned air; (c) a heat exchanger in communication with said enthalpy wheel or body to receive pre-conditioned air having heat and moisture removed therefrom, said heat exchanger further lowering the temperature of said pre-conditioned air; (d) a refrigerated surface in a first communication with said heat exchanger to receive pre-conditioned air exiting from said heat exchanger, said refrigerated surface further treating said pre-conditioned air to provide refrigerated air leaving said refrigerated surface having both lowered temperature and humidity, (i) said refrigerated surface in a second communication with said heat exchanger to permit said refrigerated air leaving said refrigerator surface to be in heat exchange relationship with said pre-conditioned air from said enthalpy wheel or body as said pre-conditioned air passes through said heat exchanger, said pre-conditioned air warming said refrigerated air as said refrigerated air passes through said heat exchanger to provide conditioned air, (ii) said heat exchanger in communication with said space to be conditioned to supply said conditioned air thereto; (e) means for returning air from said conditioned space to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby providing a return air; (f) means for passing said return air through a segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to exchange sensible and latent heat from said return air to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby cooling said enthalpy wheel or body; and (g) means for exhausting said return air to the atmosphere after passing through said enthalpy wheel or body.

Claim 3

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said enthalpy wheel or body is comprised of gas permeable media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the media comprised of fibrous support material and a desiccant material, said media capable of adsorbing heat and moisture from a warm, moist air stream flowing through said passageways and releasing heat and moisture to a cooler, drier stream flowing through said passageways.

Claim 4

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said media is comprised of 5 to 90 wt. % desiccant material.

Claim 5

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said fibrous material is selected from the group consisting of cellulosic fibers and synthetic organic fibers.

Claim 6

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 2 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 7

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said desiccant is selected from at least one of the group consisting of activated alumina, silica gels and crystalline zeolites.

Claim 8

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said desiccant is crystalline zeolites.

Claim 9

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said desiccant is a zeolite selected from one of the group consisting of 3A, 4A, 5A, 13X NaY, HY and USY.

Claim 10

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said desiccant is a zeolite selected from one of the group consisting of 3A and 4A zeolites.

Claim 11

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said desiccant is a 3A zeolite.

Claim 12

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said desiccant is a 4A zeolite.

Claim 13

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 1 including means for diverting a portion of the return air to said heat exchanger with said pre-conditioned air.

Claim 14

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger is a sensible heat exchanger.

Claim 15

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger is a heat pipe.

Claim 16

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger is an air-to-air heat exchanger.

Claim 17

The heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger is an air-to-liquid heat exchanger.

Claim 18

A heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space, the system having a condenser coil, an evaporator coil and a compressor, the system comprised of: (a) an enthalpy wheel or body for treating air to remove heat and moisture therefrom; (b) a duct for introducing air to a first segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to provide pre-conditioned air; (c) a heat exchanger in communication with said enthalpy wheel or body to receive pre-conditioned air having heat and moisture removed therefrom, said heat exchanger further lowering the temperature of said pre-conditioned air; (d) an evaporator coil in a first communication with said heat exchanger to receive pre-conditioned air exiting from said heat exchanger, said evaporator coil further treating said pre-conditioned air to provide refrigerated air leaving said evaporator coil having both lowered temperature and humidity, (i) said evaporator coil in a second communication with said heat exchanger to permit said refrigerated air leaving said evaporator coil to be in heat exchange relationship with said pre-conditioned air from said enthalpy wheel or body as said pre-conditioned air passes through said heat exchanger, said pre-conditioned air warming said refrigerated air as said refrigerated air passes through said heat exchanger to provide conditioned air, (ii) said heat exchanger in communication with said space to be conditioned to supply said conditioned air thereto; (e) liquid refrigerant from a condenser coil adapted to pass through said evaporator coil; (f) an expansion valve or orifice in fluid communication between said condenser coil and said evaporator coil for vaporizing said liquid refrigerant from said condenser coil into said evaporating coil thereby imparting cooling to said pre-conditioned air passing through said evaporator coil; (g) a compressor in communication with said evaporator coil and said condenser coil for compressing vaporized refrigerant for recirculating back to said condenser coil; (h) means for returning air from said conditioned space to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby providing a return air; (i) means for passing said return air through a segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to exchange sensible and latent heat from said return air to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby cooling said enthalpy wheel or body; and means for exhausting said return air to the atmosphere after passing through said enthalpy wheel or body.

Claim 19

A heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space, the system having a condenser coil, an evaporator coil and a compressor, the system comprised of: (a) an enthalpy wheel or body for treating air to remove heat and moisture therefrom; (b) a duct for introducing air to a first segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to provide pre-conditioned air; (c) a heat exchanger in communication with said enthalpy wheel or body to receive pre-conditioned air having heat and moisture removed therefrom, said heat exchanger further lowering the temperature of said pre-conditioned air; (d) an evaporator coil in a first communication with said heat exchanger to receive pre-conditioned air exiting from said heat exchanger, said evaporator coil further treating said pre-conditioned air to provide refrigerated air leaving said evaporator coil having both lowered temperature and humidity, (i) said evaporator coil in a second communication with said heat exchanger to permit said refrigerated air leaving said evaporator coil to be in heat exchange relationship with said pre-conditioned air from said enthalpy wheel or body as said pre-conditioned air passes through said heat exchanger, said pre-conditioned air warming said refrigerated air as said refrigerated air passes through said heat exchanger to provide conditioned air, (ii) said heat exchanger in communication with said space to be conditioned to supply said conditioned air thereto; (e) liquid refrigerant from a condenser coil adapted to pass through said evaporator coil; (f) an expansion valve or orifice in fluid communication between said condenser coil and said evaporator coil for vaporizing said liquid refrigerant from said condenser coil into said evaporating coil thereby imparting cooling to said pre-conditioned air passing through said evaporator coil; (g) a compressor in communication with said evaporator coil and said condenser coil for compressing vaporized refrigerant for recirculating back to said condenser coil; (h) means for returning air from said conditioned space to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby providing a return air; (i) means for passing said return air through a segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to exchange sensible and latent heat from said return air to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby cooling said enthalpy wheel or body; and means for exhausting said return air to the atmosphere after passing through said enthalpy wheel or body.

Claim 20

A heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space, the system having a condenser coil, an evaporator coil and a compressor, the system comprised of: (a) an enthalpy wheel or body for treating incoming fresh air to remove heat and moisture therefrom, said enthalpy wheel or body comprised of a gas permeable media having a multiplicity of passageways through which a fresh air stream can flow, the media comprised of a fibrous support material and a zeolite desiccant selected from the group consisting of 3A, 4A, 5A, 113X, NaY, HY and USY, said media capable of adsorbing heat and moisture from a warm, humid stream of fresh air and releasing heat and moisture to a cooler, drier stream; (b) means for introducing fresh air to a first segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to provide pre-conditioned air; (c) a heat exchanger in communication with said enthalpy wheel or body to receive pre-conditioned air having heat and moisture removed therefrom, said heat exchanger further lowering the temperature of said pre-conditioned air; (d) an evaporator coil in a first communication with said heat exchanger to receive pre-conditioned air exiting from said heat exchanger, said evaporator coil further treating said pre-conditioned air to provide refrigerated air leaving said evaporator coil having both lowered temperature and humidity, (i) said evaporator coil in a second communication with said heat exchanger to permit said refrigerated air leaving said evaporator coil to be in heat exchange relationship with said pre-conditioned air from said enthalpy wheel or body as said pre-conditioned air passes through said heat exchanger, said pre-conditioned air warming said refrigerated air as said refrigerated air passes through said heat exchanger to provide conditioned air, (ii) said heat exchanger in communication with said space to be conditioned to supply said conditioned air thereto; (e) liquid refrigerant from a condenser coil adapted to pass through said evaporator coil; (f) an expansion valve or orifice in fluid communication between said condenser coil and said evaporator coil for vaporizing said liquid refrigerant from said condenser coil into said evaporating coil thereby imparting cooling to said pre-conditioned air passing through said evaporator coil; (g) a compressor in communication with said evaporator coil and said condenser coil for compressing vaporized refrigerant for recirculating back to said condenser coil; (h) means for returning air from said conditioned space to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby providing a return air; (i) means for passing said return air through a segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to exchange sensible and latent heat from said return air to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby cooling said enthalpy wheel or body; (j) means for exhausting said return air to the atmosphere after passing through said enthalpy wheel or body.

Claim 21

A heat recovery, dehumidifier and cooling system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space, the system having a condenser coil, an evaporator coil and a compressor, the system comprised of: (a) an enthalpy wheel or body for treating incoming fresh air to remove heat and moisture therefrom, said enthalpy wheel or body comprised of a gas permeable media having a multiplicity of passageways through which a fresh air stream can flow, the media comprised of a fibrous support material and a zeolite desiccant selected from the group consisting of 3A, 4A, 5A, 113X, NaY, HY and USY, said media capable of adsorbing heat and moisture from a warm, humid stream of fresh air and releasing heat and moisture to a cooler, drier stream; (b) means for introducing fresh air to a first segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to provide pre-conditioned air; (c) a heat exchanger in communication with said enthalpy wheel or body to receive pre-conditioned air having heat and moisture removed therefrom, said heat exchanger further lowering the temperature of said pre-conditioned air; (d) an evaporator coil in a first communication with said heat exchanger to receive pre-conditioned air exiting from said heat exchanger, said evaporator coil further treating said pre-conditioned air to provide refrigerated air leaving said evaporator coil having both lowered temperature and humidity, (i) said evaporator coil in a second communication with said heat exchanger to permit said refrigerated air leaving said evaporator coil to be in heat exchange relationship with said pre-conditioned air from said enthalpy wheel or body as said pre-conditioned air passes through said heat exchanger, said pre-conditioned air warming said refrigerated air as said refrigerated air passes through said heat exchanger to provide conditioned air, (ii) said heat exchanger in communication with said space to be conditioned to supply said conditioned air thereto; (e) liquid refrigerant from a condenser coil adapted to pass through said evaporator coil; (f) an expansion valve or orifice in fluid communication between said condenser coil and said evaporator coil for vaporizing said liquid refrigerant from said condenser coil into said evaporating coil thereby imparting cooling to said pre-conditioned air passing through said evaporator coil; (g) a compressor in communication with said evaporator coil and said condenser coil for compressing vaporized refrigerant for recirculating back to said condenser coil; (h) means for returning air from said conditioned space to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby providing a return air; (i) means for passing said return air through a segment of said enthalpy wheel or body to exchange sensible and latent heat from said return air to said enthalpy wheel or body thereby cooling said enthalpy wheel or body; (j) means for exhausting said return air to the atmosphere after passing through said enthalpy wheel or body.

Claim 24

The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said enthalpy wheel or body is comprised of gas permeable media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow, the media comprised of fibrous support material and a desiccant material, said media capable of adsorbing heat and moisture from a warm, moist air stream flowing through said passageways and releasing heat and moisture to a cooler, drier stream flowing through said passageways.

Claim 25

The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said media is comprised of 5 to 90 wt. % desiccant material.

Claim 26

The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said fibrous material is selected from the group consisting of cellulosic fibers and synthetic organic fibers.

Claim 27

The method in accordance with claim 20 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 28

The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said desiccant is selected from at least one of the group consisting of activated alumina, silica gels and crystalline zeolites.

Claim 29

The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said desiccant is crystalline zeolites.

Claim 30

The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said desiccant is a zeolite selected from one of the group consisting of 3A, 4A, 5A, 13X, NaY, HY and USY.

Claim 31

The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said desiccant is a zeolite selected from one of the group consisting of 3A and 4A zeolites.

Claim 32

The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said desiccant is a 3A zeolite.

Claim 33

The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said desiccant is a 4A zeolite.

Claim 34

The method in accordance with claim 20 including the step of regenerating said enthalpy wheel or body by contacting said wheel or body with air exhausted from said conditioned space.

Claim 35

The method in accordance with claim 30 including the step of cooling said condenser coil with air used to regenerate said enthalpy wheel or body.

Claim 36

The method in accordance with claim 20 including the step of cooling said condenser coil with outside air.

Claim 37

The method in accordance with claim 19 including the step of providing a return air from said conditioned space and directing said return air through said enthalpy wheel or body thereby cooling said enthalpy wheel or body.

Claim 38

The method in accordance with claim 33 including diverting a portion of said return air to said pre-conditioned air for passing through said heat exchanger.

Claim 39

The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said heat exchanger is a sensible heat exchanger.

Claim 40

The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said heat exchanger is an air-to-air heat exchanger.

Claim 41

The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said heat exchanger is a heat pipe.

Claim 42

The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said heat exchanger is an air-to-liquid heat exchanger.

Claim 45

The method in accordance with claim 39 including diverting a portion of said return air to said pre-conditioned air for passing through said heat exchanger.

Claim 46

The method in accordance with claim 39 wherein said heat exchanger is a sensible heat exchanger.

Claim 47

The method in accordance with claim 39 wherein said heat exchanger is an air-to-air heat exchanger.

Claim 48

The method in accordance with claim 39 wherein said heat exchanger is a heat pipe.

Claim 49

The method in accordance with claim 39 wherein said heat exchanger is an air-to-liquid heat exchanger.