초록 ▼

The invention is an air conditioning unit 10 consisting of a housing 11 having at least one air inlet 21 for receiving air to be conditioned and at least one outlet 19 for discharging conditioned air, at least one fan 24 for moving air from the inlet 21 to the outlet 19, an air to air heat exchanger

The invention is an air conditioning unit 10 consisting of a housing 11 having at least one air inlet 21 for receiving air to be conditioned and at least one outlet 19 for discharging conditioned air, at least one fan 24 for moving air from the inlet 21 to the outlet 19, an air to air heat exchanger 26 of the type that cools the air by diverting and cooling a portion of the air through an evaporative cooling means, heat exchange occurring across a plurality of barriers 27 between the evaporatively cooled air and said incoming air, a vapor compression-type cooling system having an evaporator coil 54 through which the outlet stream of air passes for further cooling of the outlet air, a condenser coil 55 through which the evaporatively cooled air, stream that exits the air to air heat exchanger 26 passes, and a control system 60 that at least determines the temperature of the room 12 air and controls the operation of the air-conditioner to operate only the air to air heat exchanger 26 when the temperature is maintained below a pre-determined level, and operates both said air to air heat exchanger 26 and the vapor compression-type cooling system when the temperature increases above a pre-determined level. The advantage of the invention is that it has a seasonal power efficiency of two to three times greater by comparison to an air-conditioning system operating only with a vapor compression-type system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An air-conditioner unit comprising: a housing having at least one air inlet for receiving air to be conditioned and at least one outlet for discharging conditioned air into a room, at least one fan for moving air from said inlet to said outlet, an air to air heat exchanger to

What is claimed is: 1. An air-conditioner unit comprising: a housing having at least one air inlet for receiving air to be conditioned and at least one outlet for discharging conditioned air into a room, at least one fan for moving air from said inlet to said outlet, an air to air heat exchanger to cool said air by diverting and cooling a portion of said air through an evaporative cooling means to form evaporatively cooled, diverted air, heat exchange occurring across a plurality of barriers between said evaporatively cooled, diverted air and said air moving from said inlet to form an outlet stream of cooled air, a vapour compression-type cooling system having: an evaporator coil through which the outlet stream of cooled air passes for further cooling said outlet stream of cooled air, a condenser coil through which said evaporatively cooled, diverted air exiting said air to air heat exchanger passes, and a control system that at least determines the temperature of the room air and controls the operation of said air-conditioner to operate only said air to air heat exchanger when said room air temperature is maintained below a pre-determined level and operates both said air to air heat exchanger and said vapour compression type cooling system when the room air temperature is above said pre-determined level, wherein the at least one air inlet comprises a first air inlet receiving outside air and a second air inlet receiving air from the conditioned space, said air from said first and second inlets being mixed prior to entering said air to air heat exchanger. 2. An air-conditioner according to claim 1 further comprising air flow control means on both said first and second inlets to at least partially open or close to control air flow through said inlets, said air flow control means being operated by said control system. 3. An air-conditioner according to claim 2 wherein said air flow control means on said second air inlet is closed when only said air to air heat exchanger is operating. 4. An air-conditioner according to claim 2 wherein said air flow control means on said first air inlet is partially opened to allow between 20 to 30 percent of total air flow through said first air inlet, and said air flow control means on said second air inlet is partially opened to allow the balance of the total air flow through said second air inlet. 5. An air-conditioner unit comprising: a housing having at least one air inlet for receiving air to be conditioned and at least one outlet for discharging conditioned air into a room, at least one fan for moving air from said inlet to said outlet, an air to air heat exchanger to cool said air by diverting and cooling a portion of said air through an evaporative cooling means to form evaporatively cooled, diverted air, heat exchange occurring across a plurality of barriers between said evaporatively cooled, diverted air and said air moving from said inlet to form an outlet stream of cooled air, a vapour compression-type cooling system having: an evaporator coil through which the outlet stream of cooled air passes for further cooling said outlet stream of cooled air, a condenser coil through which said evaporatively cooled, diverted air exiting said air to air heat exchanger passes, a control system that at least determines the temperature of the room air and controls the operation of said air-conditioner to operate only said air to air heat exchanger when said room air temperature is maintained below a pre-determined level and operates both said air to air heat exchanger and said vapour compression type cooling system when the room air temperature is above said pre-determined level, a water tank for supplying water to said air to air heat exchanger, and a condensate collector on said evaporator coil that drains into said water tank. 6. An air-conditioner unit comprising: a housing having at least one air inlet for receiving air to be conditioned and at least one outlet for discharging conditioned air into a room, at least one fan for moving air from said inlet to said outlet, an air to air heat exchanger to cool said air by diverting and cooling a portion of said air through an evaporative cooling means to form evaporatively cooled, diverted air, heat exchange occurring across a plurality of barriers between said evaporatively cooled, diverted air and said air moving from said inlet to form an outlet stream of cooled air, a vapour compression-type cooling system having: an evaporator coil through which the outlet stream of cooled air passes for further cooling said outlet stream of cooled air, a condenser coil through which said evaporatively cooled, diverted air exiting said air to air heat exchanger passes, a control system that at least determines the temperature of the room air and controls the operation of said air-conditioner to operate only said air to air heat exchanger when said room air temperature is maintained below a pre-determined level and operates both said air to air heat exchanger and said vapour compression type cooling system when the room air temperature is above said pre-determined level, a water tank for supplying water to said air to air heat exchanger, wherein said evaporative cooling means of said air to air heat exchanger comprises a plurality of wicking members located within a plurality of air flow channels and wherein water from said water tank is supplied to the base of each said wicking member, and a secondary water supply that directs water from said water tank to the top of each said wicking member to provide a flushing flow down each said wicking member. 7. An air-conditioner unit comprising: a housing having at least one air inlet for receiving air to be conditioned and at least one air conditioned outlet for discharging conditioned air into a room, at least one fan for moving air from said inlet to said at least one air conditioned outlet, an air to air heat exchanger having a plurality of first channels, each of the first channels being defined by a respective pair of adjacent walls having first and second opposite ends respectively defining first and second openings through which said air flows, a plurality of second channels, each of the second channels being closed at a first end adjacent said first channel openings and open at a second end adjacent said first channel openings, wherein each of said second channels are formed between the walls of a pair of adjacent ones of said first channels, and evaporative cooling means in each of said second channels wherein a portion of said air flow exiting said first channels is diverted into said second channels to be cooled by said evaporative cooling means thereby cooling said air flow in said first channels by heat exchange across said walls, an exhaust outlet in said housing for discharging exhaust air from said second channels, a vapour compression-type cooling system having: an evaporator coil through which air from said air to air heat exchanger passes for further cooling, a condenser coil through which said exhaust air from said second channels passes, and a control system that at least senses the temperature of the room air and controls the operation of said air-conditioner to operate only said air to air heat exchanger when the room air temperature is below a pre-determined amount and operates both said air to air heat exchanger and vapour compression-type cooling system when the room air temperature is above said pre-determined amount. 8. An air-conditioner according to claim 7 further comprising a first air inlet receiving outside air and a second air inlet receiving air from the air conditioned room, said air from said first and second inlets being mixed prior to entering said air to air heat exchanger. 9. An air-conditioner according to claim 8 further comprising air flow control means on both said first and second inlets to at least partially open or close to control air flow through said inlets, said air flow control means being operated by said control system. 10. An air-conditioner according to claim 9 wherein said air flow control means on said second air inlet is closed when only said air to air heat exchanger is operating. 11. An air-conditioner according to claim 9 wherein said air flow control means on said first air inlet is partially opened to allow between 20 to 30 percent of total air flow through said first air inlet, and said air flow control means on said second air inlet is partially opened to allow the balance of the total air flow through said second air inlet. 12. An air-conditioner according to claim 7 further comprising a water tank for supplying water to said air to air heat exchanger. 13. An air-conditioner according to claim 12 further comprising a condensate collector on said evaporator coil that drains into said water tank. 14. An air-conditioner according to claim 12 wherein said evaporative cooling means of said air to air heat exchanger comprises a plurality of wicking sheets against each wall within each of said second channels and wherein water from said water tank is supplied to the base of each said wicking sheet. 15. An air-conditioner according to claim 14 further comprising a secondary water supply that directs water from said water tank to the top of each said wicking sheet to provide a flushing flow down each said sheet. 16. An air-conditioner according to claim 7 further comprising air flow control means on said at least one air conditioned outlet to restrict air flow therethrough to control the rate of said diverted air flow through said second channels. 17. An air-conditioner according to claim 7 further comprising at least one fan in said exhaust outlet for discharging said exhaust air from said second channels.