Dual mode air treatment apparatus and method

Claim 2

A variable, dual mode ventilator apparatus having first and second modes of operation, said apparatus comprising: a partitioned housing forming first and second parallel air treatment passageways in counterflow arrangement, with each of the first and second air treatment passageways having an inlet for intake of air to be treated and an outlet for exhaust of treated air; and a rotatable desiccant bed having a selectable rate of rotation, said rotatable desiccant bed contained within said housing, wherein the rate of rotation of said desiccant bed is selected dependent on the mode of operation of said apparatus, said rotatable desiccant bed forming a first sector in the first passageway and a second sector in the second passageway, whereby the air to be treated in the first passageway contacts the first sector of said desiccant bed to form the treated air of the first passageway and the air to be treated in the second passageway contacts the second sector of said desiccant bed to form the treated air of the second passageway; the apparatus is adaptable for conversion between the first and the second modes of operation; wherein, in the first mode, the treated air of the first passageway is of lower humidity as compared to the corresponding air to be treated and the treated air of the second passageway is of higher humidity as compared to the corresponding air to be treated and wherein, in the second mode, the treated air of the first passageway is cooler as compared to the corresponding air to be treated and the treated air of the second passageway is warmer as compared to the corresponding air to be treated.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a heat exchanger device positioned in the first passageway between the inlet and said desiccant bed.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second passageways includes a fan positioned to facilitate the drawing and passage of air into and through the respective passageway.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second passageways includes a fan positioned to facilitate the drawing and passage of air into and through the respective passageway.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein in the first mode the desiccant bed is rotated at a speed of about 4 to about 20 revolutions per hour.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein in the second mode the desiccant bed is rotated at a speed about 5 to about 20 revolutions per minute.

Claim 8

A temperature and humidity control system comprising: a variable, dual mode ventilator apparatus including: a partitioned housing forming first and second parallel air treatment passageways in counterflow arrangement, with each of the first and second air treatment passageways having an inlet for intake of air to be treated and an outlet for exhaust of treated air; and a rotatable desiccant bed having a selectable rate of rotation, said rotatable desiccant bed contained within said housing, said rotatable desiccant bed forming a first sector in the first passageway and a second sector in the second passageway, whereby the air to be treated in the first passageway contacts the first sector of said desiccant bed to form the treated air of the first passageway and the air to be treated in the second passageway contacts the second sector of said desiccant bed to form the treated air of the second passageway; wherein in a first mode, the treated air of the first passageway is of lower humidity as compared to the corresponding air to be treated and the treated air of the second passageway is of higher humidity as compared to the corresponding air to be treated, wherein, in a second mode, the treated air of the first passageway is cooler as compared to the corresponding air to be treated and the treated air of the second passageway is warmer as compared to the corresponding air to be treated, and wherein the outlet of the first passageway is connected to a first dampered conduit and the outlet of the second passageway is connected to a second dampered conduit, said first and second dampered conduits being positionable for conversion of the system between the first and second modes of operation.

Claim 9

A temperature and humidity control system comprising: a variable, dual mode ventilator apparatus including: a partitioned housing forming first and second parallel air treatment passageways in counterflow arrangement, with each of the first and second air treatment passageways having an inlet for intake of air to be treated and an outlet for exhaust of treated air; and a rotatable desiccant bed having a selectable rate of rotation, said rotatable desiccant bed contained within said housing, said rotatable desiccant bed forming a first sector in the first passageway and a second sector in the second passageway, whereby the air to be treated in the first passageway contacts the first sector of said desiccant bed to form the treated air of the first passageway and the air to be treated in the second passageway contacts the second sector of said desiccant bed to form the treated air of the second passageway; wherein in a first mode, the treated air of the first passageway is of lower humidity as compared to the corresponding air to be treated and the treated air of the second passageway is of higher humidity as compared to the corresponding air to be treated, wherein, in a second mode, the treated air of the first passageway is cooler as compared to the corresponding air to be treated and the treated air of the second passageway is warmer as compared to the corresponding air to be treated, and wherein the outlet of the first passageway is connected to a first dampered conduit and the outlet of the second passageway is connected to a second dampered conduit, said first and second dampered conduits being positionable for conversion of the system between the first and second modes of operation.

Claim 10

The temperature and humidity control system of claim 7 wherein said ventilator apparatus additionally comprises a heat exchanger device positioned in the first passageway between the inlet and the desiccant bed and wherein each of the first and second passageways includes a fan positioned to facilitate the drawing and passage of air into and through the respective passageway.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the first and second modes of operation additionally comprises the step of rotating the desiccant bed at a predetermined selected speed dependent on the mode of operation.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 wherein each of the first and second modes of operation additionally comprises the step of rotating the desiccant bed at a predetermined selected speed dependent on the mode of operation.

Claim 15

The method of claim 10 wherein the first mode of operation additionally comprises the step of rotating the desiccant bed at a rate of about 4 to about 20 revolutions per hour.

Claim 16

The method of claim 10 wherein the second mode of operation additionally comprises the step of rotating the desiccant bed at a rate of about 5 to about 20 revolutions per minute.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein the second mode of operation results in a heat transfer effectiveness of at least about 70%.

Claim 18

The method of claim 9 wherein the first mode of operation additionally comprises the step of preheating the air used to remove moisture from the desiccant.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15 wherein the air used to remove moisture from the desiccant is preheated to a temperature of at least about 140° F. to about 180° F.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rate of rotation of said desiccant bed is greater when said apparatus is in the second mode of operation as compared to the rate of rotation of said desiccant bed when said apparatus is in the first mode of operation.