Patent Application
20250224123
The present disclosure relates generally to a dedicated outdoor air system, and, more specifically, to a compact dedicated outdoor air system having a housing configured to slidably accept a heat exchanger assembly.
Industrial air systems include heat exchanger (HEX) assemblies to heat or cool air supplied to an indoor or outdoor area. The HEX assemblies include industrial HEX coils which are much heavier than HEX coils used in residential air conditioning systems. In some areas, compact industrial air conditioning assemblies may be desirable due to space limitations. In certain examples of compact industrial air systems, aspects of the HEX assembly (including the HEX coils) may be difficult to access for maintenance. Accordingly, there is a need for compact industrial air systems with improved access to the HEX assembly for maintenance purposes.
The present disclosure is generally directed to a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS). It is an object of some embodiments of the DOAS to provide a housing having a heat exchanger (HEX) chamber. The HEX chamber is configured to house a HEX assembly. The HEX assembly is configured to condition the air of a surrounding environment such as indoor and/or outdoor space.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a compact industrial air conditioning assembly. More specifically, it is an object of some embodiments of the present disclosure to provide a compact housing for such an industrial air conditioning assembly suitable to house the DOAS including multiple chambers, such as, for example, a HEX chamber for housing the HEX assembly and at least one other chamber for housing other DOAS components. The other DOAS components may include an air exchanger configured to generate supply air by transferring energy between outdoor air and return air.
Some embodiments are based on recognizing that a compact housing of a HEX assembly should provide a chamber with dimensions substantially corresponding to the dimensions of a HEX assembly. In other words, compact housing should define just enough space to house the HEX assembly but not significantly more than that. However, considering the dimensions of the HEX assemblies suitable for industrial air conditioning applications, such a HEX assembly would be disposed in such a housing in a manner that makes it difficult to access different components of the HEX assembly for servicing, repair, and maintenance. Thus, there is a need to design such a compact HEX chamber that would allow access to the HEX assembly substantially enclosed by that chamber.
To that end, it is an object of some embodiments to provide the HEX chamber in a manner that allows the removal of the HEX assembly for servicing by sliding the HEX assembly in and/or out of the HEX chamber and the housing of the DOAS. Additionally or alternatively, it is an object of some embodiments to enable sliding of the HEX assembly without a need for additional rolling elements that take up space within the housing of the DOAS and increase manufacturing cost. To that end, it is an object of some embodiments to adapt some elements of the HEX chamber to enable the HEX assembly to slide within and at least partially out of the frame structure.
In some embodiments, the HEX assembly includes a HEX coil. The HEX assembly facilitates the transfer of heat between the air or refrigerant passing through the HEX coil and the surrounding environment. As a result of such heat transfer, condensation formed on a surface of the HEX coils needs to be collected by a drain pan arranged underneath the HEX assembly. Some embodiments described herein are based on recognizing that the drain pan can be adapted for sliding the HEX assembly within the HEX chamber.
The structure of the drain pan can be selected to serve several purposes or functions. For example, a drain pan needs to (1) collect the condensation and (2) support the weight of the HEX assembly within the HEX chamber. For example, the drain pan can be made of material of a specific density sufficient to support the weight of the HEX assembly. Further, the drain pan should include or interact with an insulating component to provide insulation for the drain pan and reduce the formation of condensation. For example, the insulating component can be made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) or another insulating material covered with a water-resistant coating. The drain pan and insulating component attached to the HEX assembly may serve all of the above-mentioned purposes, but may not be suitable for enabling the desired sliding.
Some embodiments are based on recognizing that the functions of the drain pan may be separated among different elements of the HEX chamber. The collection of the condensation and the weight support functions can be still considered as performed by the drain pan, but the insulation function can be moved to an insulating component incorporated into the frame of the HEX chamber. Such a separation of the functions of the drain pan allows the frame to provide an additional sliding interface between the HEX chamber and the HEX assembly.
Armed with this understanding, in some embodiments, an insulating component is fixed to the HEX housing while the metal drain pan is fixed to the HEX assembly. When the surfaces of the insulating component and the metal drain pan are designed to mirror each other, a working surface of the insulating component enables sliding the hex assembly on top of the insulating material. In some examples, the working surface is described by decreasing and/or strictly decreasing function. For example, the working surface of the insulating component may be sloped or angled in one or more directions. Notably, in different implementations, the working surface of the insulating component and the bottom surface of the metal drain pan can have different profiles, but as long as the profiles of these surfaces are defined by the same slope or angle, the surfaces would match each other as a key within a keyhole.
Generally, in one aspect, a housing for a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) is provided. The housing has multiple chambers, e.g., a first chamber and a second chamber defined therein. The first chamber is configured for housing a HEX assembly.
The first chamber is defined by a frame comprising a plurality of sides. A first side of the frame defines an aperture therein configured to slidably accept the HEX assembly into an enclosed position within the frame. Two sides opposite to each other and perpendicular to the first side include openings therein.
The first chamber is further defined by an insulating component. The insulating component is fixedly arranged within the plurality of sides of the frame. The insulating component includes a working surface configured for sliding the HEX assembly into the enclosed position.
According to an example, the working surface is angled towards the aperture.
According to an example, the housing further comprises a metal drain pan having a first pan surface slidably arranged on the working surface of the insulating component. The first pan surface of the metal drain pan is defined by the working surface of the insulating component.
According to an example, a second pan surface of the metal drain pan faces the HEX assembly. The second pan surface is opposite to the first pan surface.
According to an example, the frame further includes a metal support structure attached to the metal drain pan. The metal support structure forms a supporting surface perpendicular to the first side of the frame when the metal drain pan is arranged on the insulating component.
According to an example, the working surface includes a pair of slopes decreasing in perpendicular directions from a corner of the frame opposite to the aperture.
According to an example, the housing further includes a plank arranged at the working surface of the insulating component and fixed to the frame.
According to an example, the housing further includes two metal rails arranged at opposing sides of the working surface of the insulating component. Each of the two metal rails are fixed to the frame.
According to an example, the working surface of the insulating component is coated with a coating having a coating friction coefficient less than an insulator friction coefficient of the insulating component.
According to an example, the coating is substantially water-resistant.
According to an example, the insulating component comprises one or more insulation materials.
According to an example, the second chamber is an energy exchange chamber for housing an air exchanger configured to receive outdoor air and return air. The openings of the frame define an air path across the HEX assembly when the DOAS is in operation.
Generally, in another aspect, a DOAS is provided. The DOAS includes an outdoor air channel configured to receive outdoor air.
The DOAS further includes an energy exchange chamber configured to receive the outdoor air from the outdoor air channel. The energy exchange chamber includes an air exchanger configured to generate supply air by transferring energy between the outdoor air and return air.
The DOAS further includes a HEX chamber configured to receive the supply air from the energy exchange chamber. The HEX chamber includes a HEX assembly configured to cool and/or heat the supply air provided by the energy exchange chamber.
The HEX chamber is defined by a frame comprising a plurality of sides. A first side of the frame defines an aperture therein configured to slidably accept the HEX assembly into an enclosed position within the frame. Two sides opposite to each other and perpendicular to the first side include openings therein.
The frame further includes an insulating component fixedly arranged within the frame. The insulating component includes a working surface configured for sliding the HEX assembly into the enclosed position.
According to an example, the energy exchange chamber further includes a supply filter for filtering the outdoor air to be received by the air exchanger. The energy exchange chamber further includes an exhaust filter for filtering the return air to be received by the air exchanger.
According to an example, one of the openings of the HEX chamber is a supply air duct connector to convey the supply air away from the HEX assembly following cooling and/or heating.
According to an example, the outdoor air channel, the energy exchange chamber, and the HEX chamber are arranged within a system frame. The system frame may be substantially cuboidal.
According to an example, a frame height of the system frame corresponds to a height of the energy exchange chamber. A frame depth of the system frame corresponds to a depth of the HEX assembly. The height of the energy exchange chamber and the depth of the HEX assembly depend at least in part on the predetermined air flow volume of the DOAS.
According to an example, the DOAS further includes a return air channel configured to provide the DOAS with the return air.
According to an example, the DOAS further includes an exhaust air section. The exhaust air section includes an exhaust air fan and an exhaust air duct connection. The exhaust air section is configured to receive exhaust air generated by the air exchanger transferring energy between the outdoor air and the return air. The exhaust air section is further configured to expel, via the exhaust air fan, the exhaust air through the exhaust air duct connection.
According to an example, the HEX chamber further includes a supply air fan configured to propel the supply air provided by the energy exchange chamber to the HEX assembly.
It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also can appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.
Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and the claims.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the various embodiments.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, apparatuses and methods are shown in block diagram form only in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure.
As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” and “such as,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open ended, meaning that that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. The term “based on” means at least partially based on. Further, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. Any heading utilized within this description is for convenience only and has no legal or limiting effect.
The present disclosure is generally directed to a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS). It is an object of some embodiments of the DOAS to provide a housing having a heat exchanger (HEX) chamber. The HEX chamber is configured to house a HEX assembly. The HEX assembly is configured to condition the air of a surrounding environment such as indoor and/or outdoor space. Additionally or alternatively, it is an object of some embodiments to provide the HEX chamber in a manner that allows the removal of the HEX assembly for servicing by sliding the HEX assembly in and/or out of the HEX chamber and the housing of the DOAS. Additionally or alternatively, it is an object of some embodiments to enable sliding of the HEX assembly without a need for additional rolling elements that take up space within the housing of the DOAS and increase manufacturing cost. To that end, it is an object of some embodiments to adapt some elements of the HEX chamber to enable the HEX assembly to slide within and at least partially out of the frame structure.
Turning now to the figures,
The DOAS 1 illustrated in
Further, the DOAS 1 illustrated in
The two primary air flow paths are illustrated in
Further, the top surface of the insulating component 110 may be considered a working surface 112 configured to enable the HEX assembly 104 to slide into or out of the HEX chamber 100. Accordingly, the slope or angle of the working surface 112 may aid in the sliding of the HEX assembly 104. The working surface 112 may be coated with a coating having a friction coefficient less than an insulator friction coefficient of the insulating component 110, allowing the HEX assembly 104 to slide along the working surface 112 while the insulating component 110 as a whole is held in place by the guide brackets 136. In many embodiment, the coating is substantially water-resistant.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements can optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements can optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.
It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.
Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims and other claims to which the applicant can be entitled.
While various examples have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the examples described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific examples described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing examples are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, examples can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Examples of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.
