Patent ID: 8460441
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: B01D,B08B,F24F,Y02B

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a ducted fumehood with increased energy efficiency, wherein the ducted fumehood is located within a temperature-conditioned room of a building, and further wherein exhaust air from the ducted fumehood is passed from the ducted fumehood to the atmosphere outside of the building, the method comprising: drawing temperature-conditioned air into the ducted fumehood from the temperature-conditioned room of the building; passing exhaust air from inside the ducted fumehood through a filter, through a heat exchanger and into the atmosphere outside of the building, and passing fresh air from the atmosphere outside of the building through the heat exchanger and into the room containing the ducted fumehood, the heat exchanger being configured so as to cause heat content to be transferred between the exhaust air of the ducted fumehood and the fresh air from the atmosphere outside of the building without the exhaust air from the ducted fumehood mixing with the fresh air from the atmosphere outside of the building, whereby to temperature-condition the fresh air from the atmosphere outside of the building before it is introduced into the room containing the ducted fumehood; wherein the heat exchanger comprises a reversible heat pump comprising a first heat exchanger element for contacting the exhaust air from the ducted fumehood, a second heat exchanger element for contacting the fresh air from the atmosphere outside of the building, and a refrigerant line connecting the first heat exchanger element with the second heat exchanger element, whereby to permit heat content to be transferred between the first heat exchanger element and the second heat exchanger element, and hence between the exhaust air from the ducted fumehood and the fresh air from the atmosphere outside of the building.