Abstract:
A rotary total heat exchange apparatus ( 30 ) includes at least an air-providing member ( 3301 ), a first air passage and a second air passage, and a total heat exchange wheel ( 3311 ). The air-providing member provides a first airflow from outdoors and a second airflow from indoors into the rotary total heat exchange apparatus. The first and second air passages isolate from each other for guiding the first and second airflows respectively passing through the heat exchange wheel. The total heat exchange wheel faces to the first and second airflows provided by the air-providing member, and is capable of rotating through the first and second air passages for conducting a total heat exchange between the first and second airflows.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to a heat exchange apparatus, and more particularly to a rotary total heat exchange apparatus which may suitably be applied to a ventilation system for exchanging sensible and latent heat between airflows having different temperatures and humidities.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     In our daily life, ventilation systems such as air-conditioners are commonly provided in working or living spaces, e.g., office buildings and apartments, for supplying fresh outdoor air and exhausting polluted indoor air simultaneously in order for keeping a favorable and healthy environment where we stay. Generally, the outdoor air and the indoor air have different temperatures and humidities. In this connection, a significant effect of energy saving could be expected if the exchange between the indoor and outdoor airflows can be achieved not only in heat but also in moisture. In order to satisfy such requirements, total heat exchange apparatuses, which can exchange sensible heat (temperature) and latent heat (moisture) simultaneously without mixing up different types of air, are accordingly developed. Total heat exchange apparatuses are effective in energy saving as they can recover both sensible energy (temperature) and latent energy (moisture) between polluted indoor air and fresh outdoor air.  
         [0003]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a rotary total heat exchanger for conducting total heat exchange between the indoor air and the outdoor air is shown. The heat exchanger includes a rotary wheel  1  defining a plurality of mini air channels  2  therein, for increasing heat conduct areas thereof. The wheel  1  is covered with heat exchange materials having better heat conductivity and moisture permeability for increasing the heat exchange rate of the wheel  1 . The wheel  1  is divided by a plate  5  into two portions separately positioned in an air-outlet housing  3  and an air-inlet housing  4 . The wheel  1  is driven to rotate through the air-outlet and air-inlet housings  3 ,  4  by a driving motor  6 , to perform heat exchange between the outdoor and indoor airflows. The indoor and outdoor airflows pass through the air channels  2  of the wheel  1  in a counter flow manner. With the rotation of the wheel  1  through the air-outlet and air-inlet housings  3 ,  4 , the indoor and outdoor airflows frequently exchange heat and moisture to ensure that the outdoor fresh air entering into the room has a needed temperature and moisture for satisfying the requirement of the indoor air quality.  
         [0004]     Total heat exchange apparatuses are effective in keeping indoor air quality, as well as in energy saving, as is identified above. However, in order to exhibit its full advantages, many improvements still can be made on the design of a total heat exchange apparatus. For example, as far as a rotary total heat exchange apparatus is concerned, the exchange of heat and moisture between different airflows is conducted only in its rotary wheel  1  by resorting to the heat-conductivity and moisture-permeability capabilities of the heat exchange materials of the wheel  1 , which results in a limited sensible heat exchange rate as the materials typically have its focus placed on the capability of moisture-permeability rather than heat-conductivity.  
         [0005]     Moreover, the supplied air and the exhausted air to be heat-exchanged are typically directed by blowers. The airflows provided by the blowers flow in a direction which does not enable the airflows to flow evenly over mini channels  2  of the wheel  1  in the total heat exchange apparatus. This greatly impairs the total heat exchange efficiency of heat and moisture between the supplied air and the exhausted air.  
         [0006]     In view of the above-mentioned problems of the total heat exchange apparatus, there is a need for a total heat exchange apparatus which can improve the sensible heat exchange effect between different airflows conducting heat exchange in the total heat exchange apparatus to increase the indoor air quality.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention relates to a rotary total heat exchange apparatus for being typically used in a ventilation system such as an air conditioner. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rotary total heat exchange apparatus includes at least an air blower, a first air passage and a second air passage, and a total heat exchange wheel. The air blower provides a first airflow from outdoors and a second airflow from indoors into the rotary total heat exchange apparatus. The first and second air passages isolate from each other for guiding the first and second airflows respectively passing through the total heat exchange wheel. The total heat exchange wheel faces to the first and second airflows provided by the air blower, and is capable of rotating through the first and second air passages for conducting a total heat exchange therebetween. After flowing through the wheel, the first and second airflows flow respectively into first and second sub-regions. The first and second sub-regions are hermetically separated by an air spacing member. The air spacing member includes a first spacing plate, a pair of second spacing plates extending from a front side of the first spacing plate to connect respectively with top and bottom edges of a partition plate in which the wheel is mounted, and a third spacing plate connecting with two adjacent sides of the second spacing plates and dividing the wheel into two halves.  
         [0008]     Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a rotary total heat exchange apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a spacing plate of the rotary total heat exchange apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of a rotary total heat exchange apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from another aspect;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a sensible heat exchanger of the rotary total heat exchange apparatus shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a rotary wheel for total heat exchange in accordance with related art. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a rotary total heat exchange apparatus  30  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for exchanging sensible and latent heat between outdoor and indoor airflows having different temperatures and humidities. The rotary total heat exchange apparatus  30  includes a chassis  31 , a variety of components attached to the chassis  31 , and a cover  32  cooperated with the chassis  31  to form a system enclosure  33  for enclosing the various components therein. A pair of opposite sidewalls of the cover  32  defines two air inlet openings  321 ,  322  and two air outlet openings  323 ,  324  therein corresponding to the outdoor and indoor airflows. The outdoor airflow flows into the apparatus  30  via the inlet opening  322 , and leaves the apparatus  30  via the outlet opening  323 . The indoor airflow flows into the apparatus  30  via the inlet opening  321  and leaves it via the outlet opening  324 . The rotary total heat exchange apparatus  30  further includes a first partition plate  311  perpendicular to the chassis  31 , to divide an interior of the system enclosure  33  into an air-providing housing  330 , and a total heat exchange housing  331 , with each housing containing specific components therein. The rotary total heat exchange apparatus  30  defines a first and a second air passages in the interior of the system enclosure  33 , for guiding the outdoor and indoor airflows passing through the air-providing housing  330  and the total heat exchange housing  331 .  
         [0017]     The air-providing housing  330  contains therein an air-providing member such as a blower  3301  with a pair of impellers (not visible) for supplying the outdoor and indoor airflows. The blower  3301  includes two air-guiding ducts  3302 ,  3303  corresponding to the two air inlet openings  322 ,  321  respectively, for guiding the provided outdoor and indoor airflows entering into the total heat exchange housing  331  from the air-providing housing  330 .  
         [0018]     The total heat exchange housing  331  is divided into a first housing  332  and a second housing  333  via a second partition plate  312 . The second partition plate  312  defines an opening (not labeled) at a middle portion thereof, for hermetically receiving a rotary wheel  3311  defining a plurality of beehive-like air channels  2  therein. The second partition plate  312  is positioned parallel to the first partition plate  311 , making the air channels  2  of the rotary wheel  3311  directly face to outlets of the air-guiding ducts  3302 ,  3303 .  
         [0019]     The first housing  332  includes a dividing member  3321  at a middle portion thereof. The dividing member  3321  is positioned perpendicular to and hermetically connected with the first and second partition plates  311 ,  312 , to divide the first housing  332  into a left housing (not labeled) and a right housing (not labeled) respectively correspondent to the outdoor and indoor airflows. The first housing  332  also includes a driving motor  3322  mounted on the dividing member  3321 , for driving the rotary wheel  3311  to rotate across the left and right housings to conduct total heat exchange between the indoor and outdoor airflows.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an air spacing member  3331  is received in the second housing  333 . The air spacing member  3331  includes a horizontal first spacing plate  3331   a , two second spacing plates  3331   b  extending slantingly and upwardly/downwardly from a common side of the first spacing plate  3331   a , and a third spacing plate  3331   c  located between and vertically connecting with neighboring sides of the second spacing plates  3331   b . The third spacing plate  3331   c  also connects with the horizontal first spacing plate  3331   a . The air spacing member  3331  divides the second housing  333  into two separate upper and lower housings communicating with the right and left housings of the first housing  332 , respectively, through the rotary wheel  3311 , to guide the indoor airflow leaving a room via the air outlet opening  324  of the cover  32 , and the outdoor air entering the room via the air outlet opening  323  of the cover  32 .  
         [0021]     In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the supplied outdoor air and the exhausted indoor air supplied by the blower  3301  are directed to the first housing  332  of the total heat exchange housing  331  by the air-guiding ducts  3302 ,  3303 . After being buffered in two separated spaces defined by the first housing  332 , the two airflows pass through the rotary wheel  3311  to conduct total heat exchange therebetween. Then, the supplied and exhausted airflows enter into the second housing  333 . The air spacing member  3331  in the second housing  333  finally guides the outdoor fresh air supplied into indoors, and the indoor dirty air exhausted to outdoors. In this embodiment, a better total heat exchange between the supplied air and the exhausted air is obtained by the rotary wheel  3311 . Also in this embodiment, the air channels  2  of rotary wheel  3311  are directly facing to outlets of the air-guiding ducts  3302 ,  3303 . This makes airflows enter into the first housing  332  and flow to the rotary wheel  3311  directly, thereby resulting that the airflows are more evenly distributed over the air channels  2  of the rotary wheel  3311 . Furthermore, by the design of the air spacing member  3331 , the second housing  333  can have a reduced length. Thus, a compact total heat exchange apparatus  30  can be achieved. The air spacing member  3331  is mounted in the second housing  333  in such a manner that the second spacing plates  3331   b  have front free edges  3331   d  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) extending from the first spacing plate  3331   a  hermetically connected to top and bottom ends of the second partition plate  312 , respectively. In the meanwhile, a front free edge of the third spacing plate  3331   c  has a cutout  3331   e  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) which is vertically connected to a middle of the second partition plate  312 . The cutout  3331   e  accommodates a middle of the rotary wheel  3311  therein. The rear and side edges of the first spacing plate  3331   a  and the opposite side edges of the second spacing plates  3331   b  are hermetically connected to the inner sides of the cover  32 , respectively.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the heat exchange apparatus  30  may further include a mesh-like air-regulating member  3323  received in the first housing  332  and vertically spanning across the dividing member  3321 . Also, a sensible heat exchanger  3324  parallels to the air-regulating member  3323  located between the air-regulating member  3323  and the rotary wheel  3311 . The air-regulating member  3323  defines a network of openings  3323   a  therein for airflow passages, therefore dividing the passing indoor and outdoor airflows into many smaller airflows. This further makes the indoor and outdoor airflows more evenly distributed over the mini channels  2  of the rotary wheel  3311 . According to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the sensible heat exchanger  3324  includes a plurality of heat transfer elements such as heat pipes  3324   a , and a plurality of spaced cooling fins  3324   b  attached to the heat pipes  3324   a . Each heat pipe  3324   a  has a heat-absorbing portion at one end thereof, and a heat-dissipating portion at the other end thereof. In this embodiment, the heat-absorbing portion is formed at the end of the heat pipe  3324   a  through which the outdoor airflow flows, and the heat-dissipating portion is formed at the end through which the indoor airflow flows. The middle portions of the heat pipes  3324   a  are hermetically connected with the dividing member  3321 , for spanning across the left and right housings of the first housing  332 . The fins  3324   b  are used to increase contacting areas between the airflows and the heat pipes  3324   a  so that when the airflows flow through the sensible heat exchanger  3324 , sensible heat can be sufficiently transferred from one end portion of the heat pipes  3324   a  to the other end portion thereof. The sensible heat exchanger  3324  is located adjacent to the rotary wheel  3311 , to conduct sensible heat exchange between the simultaneously passing airflows with different temperatures, thereby improving the total heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange apparatus  30 . On the other hand, the spaced cooling fins  3324   b  of the sensible heat exchanger  3324  can further divide the supplied air and the exhausted air into many small flows and guide them through the rotary wheel  3311 . As a result, the supplied air and the exhausted air are more evenly distributed over the mini channels  2  of the rotary wheel  3311 . Thus, a better total heat exchange between the supplied air and the exhausted air is obtained by the rotary wheel  3311 .  
         [0023]     Preferably, the cover  32  of the heat exchange apparatus  30  contains dust filters (not shown) respectively at the air inlet openings  321 ,  322  and the air outlet openings  323 ,  324  thereof, for preventing the mini channels  2  of the rotary wheel  3311  from being blocked by the dust taken by the airflows, thereby further improving the quality of the indoor air.  
         [0024]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.