Patent ID: 6575228
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: F24F,Y02B

Abstract:
A system contained within a single appliance suitable for residential use for economically ventilating and dehumidifying a conditioned space without the need for cooling coils or refrigerants, the system comprising:a unit housing having both a back and front panel wherein the back panel defines an outdoor exhaust aperture and an outdoor intake aperture, and the front panel defines an indoor exhaust aperture and an indoor intake aperture; a divider wall disposed within the unit housing and acting with the unit housing to define an outflow chamber and an inflow chamber, wherein the outflow chamber is in communication with the indoor intake aperture and the outdoor exhaust aperture, and wherein the inflow chamber is in communication with the outdoor intake aperture and the indoor exhaust aperture; the divider wall further defining a wheel aperture; an exhaust blower disposed within the outflow chamber for propelling a stale outflow current of air from the indoor intake aperture through the outflow chamber through the outdoor exhaust aperture; an intake blower disposed within the inflow chamber for propelling a fresh inflow current of air from the outdoor intake aperture, through the inflow chamber and through the indoor exhaust aperture; a desiccant wheel rotatably coupled to a desiccant wheel motor assembly, wherein the desiccant wheel passes through the wheel aperture in the dividing wall and is disposed within both the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber with its axis of rotation substantially parallel to the movement of both the inflow and outflow currents of air; a regenerative heater disposed within the outflow chamber to increase regeneration of the desiccant wheel and to defrost the desiccant wheel; a control panel adjustable to operate the system in the following modes: (a) exhaust and intake blowers ON, desiccant wheel and regenerative heater OFF, so that the system functions as a ventilator; (b) exhaust and intake blowers ON, desiccant wheel and regenerative heater ON, so that the system functions as a dehumidifier and ventilator; (c) exhaust and in take blowers ON, desiccant wheel ON, regenerative heater ON, so that the regenerative heater increases the temperature in the outflow chamber to defrost the desiccant wheel without interrupting the ventilation function of the system; (d) exhaust and intake blowers OFF, desiccant wheel and regenerative heater OFF; wherein the desiccant wheel intersects both the inflow current of air and the outflow current of air to exchange moisture between the inflow and outflow air currents; whereby the ventilation function of the system can be employed without dehumidification, or simultaneously with dehumidification; and whereby the system works economically, without the need for cooling coils or refrigerants, both to ventilate and to dehumidify a conditioned space with a desiccant wheel dehumidifier; and further whereby the regenerative heater can defrost the desiccant wheel without interrupting the ventilation function of the system.