초록 ▼

A system (20) for conditioning air (30) includes conditioning circuits (26, 28). Each of the circuits (26, 28) includes a heat transfer coil (54, 60) residing in a supply section (22) of the system (20), and a heat transfer coil (56, 62) residing in a return section (24) of the system (20). A contro

A system (20) for conditioning air (30) includes conditioning circuits (26, 28). Each of the circuits (26, 28) includes a heat transfer coil (54, 60) residing in a supply section (22) of the system (20), and a heat transfer coil (56, 62) residing in a return section (24) of the system (20). A controller (50) in communication with the circuits (26, 28) determines one of a heating mode (78, 110) and a cooling mode (148, 150) for an interior space (34). The controller (50) selectively actuates the conditioning circuits (26, 28) to condition outside air (30) entering the supply section (22) to produce conditioned supply air (36) for provision into space (34) and to recover heating and cooling energy from return air (38) entering the return section (24) from the space (34) prior to its discharge from the system (20) as exhaust air (44). An additional cooling circuit (218) residing in a cooling section (214) pre-conditions outside air (30) by reducing the temperature of outside air (30) before supply section (22) of system (20) conditions outside air (30) for interior space (34).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for conditioning air entering an interior space comprising: a first conditioning circuit for carrying a first fluid, said first conditioning circuit including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a compressor interposed between said first and second heat exchangers;a supp

1. A system for conditioning air entering an interior space comprising: a first conditioning circuit for carrying a first fluid, said first conditioning circuit including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a compressor interposed between said first and second heat exchangers;a supply section having an inlet for receiving air and having an outlet for providing supply air to said interior space, said first heat exchanger residing in said supply section;a return section having a first inlet for receiving return air from said interior space and an outlet for releasing said return air outside of said interior space, said second heat exchanger residing in said return section;a controller in communication with said conditioning circuit; anda second conditioning circuit comprising a third heat exchanger, and a second compressor;wherein: said third heat exchanger resides in said supply section;said second conditioning circuit is in fluid communication with said first conditioning circuit; andsaid controller determines a dehumidification mode and selectively actuates said second conditioning circuit in response to said dehumidification mode. 2. A system for conditioning air entering an interior space comprising: a conditioning circuit for carrying a fluid, said conditioning circuit including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a compressor interposed between said first and second heat exchangers;a supply section having an inlet for receiving outside air and having an outlet for providing supply air to said interior space, said first heat exchanger residing in said supply section;a return section having a first inlet for receiving return air from said interior space and an outlet for releasing said return air outside of said interior space, said second heat exchanger residing in said return section; anda controller in communication with said conditioning circuit. 3. A system for conditioning air entering an interior space comprising: a conditioning circuit for carrying a fluid, said conditioning circuit including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a compressor interposed between said first and second heat exchangers, wherein a first one of said first and second heat exchangers heats air passing therethrough and a second one of said first and second heat exchangers cools air passing therethrough;a supply section having an inlet for receiving air and having an outlet for providing supply air to said interior space, said first heat exchanger residing in said supply section;a return section having a first inlet for receiving return air from said interior space and an outlet for releasing said return air outside of said interior space, said second heat exchanger residing in said return section; anda controller in communication with said conditioning circuit. 4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first heat exchanger cools air in said supply section and said second heat exchanger heats said return air in said return section. 5. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first heat exchanger heats air in said supply section and said second heat exchanger cools said return air in said return section. 6. A system for conditioning air entering an interior space comprising: a conditioning circuit for carrying a fluid, said conditioning circuit including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a compressor interposed between said first and second heat exchangers;a supply section having an inlet for receiving air and having an outlet for providing supply air to said interior space, said first heat exchanger residing in said supply section;a return section having a first inlet for receiving return air from said interior space and an outlet for releasing said return air outside of said interior space, said second heat exchanger residing in said return section; anda controller in communication with said conditioning circuit; whereinsaid supply section further comprises:a cooling inlet comprising a first air path and a second air path, said first and second air paths configured to receive said air;a cooling circuit for carrying a cooling fluid;a media exchanger having an input end and an output end, said media exchanger configured to accept said air in said first air path, cool said cooling fluid with said air in said first air path, and release said air in said first air path air from said system;an indirect exchanger wherein said air in said second air path is cooled by said cooling fluid, anda cooling outlet coupled to said supply section;wherein said air from said second air path is cooled by said indirect exchanger while passing from said cooling inlet to said cooling outlet for providing said supply air without said supply air coming into contact with said cooling fluid. 7. A system as claimed in claim 6, said cooling section further comprising: a direct exchanger configured to use said cooling fluid to cool said air in said second air path while said air in said second air path passes through said direct exchanger from said indirect exchanger to said cooling outlet for providing supply air wherein said air in said second air path comes in contact with said cooling fluid in said direct exchanger. 8. A system for conditioning air entering an interior space comprising: a conditioning circuit for carrying a fluid, said conditioning circuit including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a compressor interposed between said first and second heat exchangers;a supply section having an inlet for receiving air and having an outlet for providing supply air to said interior space, said first heat exchanger residing in said supply section, said supply section receiving and conditioning only outside air;a return section having a first inlet for receiving return air from said interior space and an outlet for releasing said return air outside of said interior space, said second heat exchanger residing in said return section; anda controller in communication with said conditioning circuit. 9. A method for conditioning air entering an interior space comprising: obtaining supply air from outside of said interior space;exchanging heat between said supply air and a heat transporting fluid in a first heat exchanger;releasing said supply air into said interior space;obtaining return air from said interior space;exchanging heat between said return air and said heat transporting fluid in a second heat exchanger, said heat transporting fluid being circulated between said first and second heat exchangers; andreleasing said return air outside of said interior space. 10. A method as described in claim 9 further comprising adjusting a humidity level of said outside air to a desirable setting prior to releasing said outside air into said interior space. 11. A method as described in claim 9 wherein said activity of exchanging heat between said supply air and said heat transporting fluid cools said supply air and said activity of exchanging heat between said return air and said heat transporting fluid heats said return air. 12. A method as described in claim 9 wherein said activity of exchanging heat between said supply air and said heat transporting fluid heats said supply air and said activity of exchanging heat between said return air and said heat transporting fluid cools said return air. 13. A system for conditioning air entering an interior space comprising: a first conditioning circuit for carrying a first fluid, said conditioning circuit including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a first compressor interposed between said first and second heat exchangers;a second conditioning circuit for carrying a second fluid, said second conditioning circuit including a third heat exchanger, a fourth heat exchanger, and a second compressor interposed between said third and fourth heat exchangers;a supply section having a supply inlet for receiving air and having a supply outlet for providing supply air to said interior space;a return section having a return inlet for receiving return air from said interior space and a return outlet for releasing said return air outside of said interior space; anda controller in communication with said conditioning circuit;wherein: said first and third heat exchangers of said first and second conditioning circuits, respectively, reside in said supply section; andsaid second and fourth heat exchangers of said first and second conditioning circuits, respectively, reside in said return section. 14. A system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising: a third conditioning circuit comprising a fifth heat exchanger, and a third compressor;wherein: said fifth heat exchanger resides in said supply section;said third conditioning circuit is in communication with said second conditioning circuit; andsaid controller determines a dehumidification mode and selectively actuates said third conditioning circuit in response to said dehumidification mode. 15. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein a first one of said first and second heat exchangers heats air passing therethrough and a second one of said first and second heat exchangers cools air passing therethrough. 16. A system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first heat exchanger and said third heat exchanger cool air in said supply section and said second heat exchanger and said fourth heat exchanger heat said return air in said return section. 17. A system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first heat exchanger and said third heat exchanger heat air in said supply section and said second heat exchanger and said fourth heat exchanger cool said return air in said return section. 18. A system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising: a cooling section having: a cooling inlet comprising a first air path and a second air path, said first and second air paths configured to receive air;a cooling circuit for carrying a cooling fluid;a media exchanger having an input end and an output end, said media exchanger configured to accept said air in said first air path, cool said cooling fluid with the air, and release the air from said system;an indirect exchanger wherein said air in said second air path is cooled by said cooling fluid, anda cooling outlet coupled to said supply section;wherein said air from said second air path is cooled by said indirect exchanger while passing from said cooling inlet to said cooling outlet for providing said supply air without said supply air coming into contact with said cooling fluid. 19. A system as claimed in claim 18, said cooling section further comprising: a direct exchanger configured to use said cooling fluid to cool said air in said second air path while said air passes through said direct exchanger from said indirect exchanger to said cooling outlet for providing said supply air wherein said air in said second air path comes in contact with said cooling fluid. 20. A system for conditioning air comprising: a cooling section having: a cooling inlet comprising a first air path and a second air path, said first and second air paths configured to receive said air;a cooling circuit for carrying a cooling fluid;an indirect exchanger wherein said air in said second air path is cooled by said cooling fluid;a media exchanger having an input end and an output end, said media exchanger configured to accept said air in said first air path, cool said cooling fluid with the air, and release the air from said system; anda cooling outlet;wherein a temperature of said air from said second air path is reduced by said indirect exchanger while passing from said cooling inlet to said cooling outlet without said air coming into contact with said cooling fluid. 21. A system as claimed in claim 20 further comprising: a sump;wherein said cooling circuit is configured to permit said cooling fluid to pass from said sump to said indirect exchanger, then to said media exchanger, from which said cooling fluid returns to said sump. 22. A system as claimed in claim 20, wherein a flow control valve controls the flow of said cooling fluid to control the reduction of said temperature of said second outside air in said second air path. 23. A system as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a flush line configured to clear said cooling circuit of obstructions. 24. A system as claimed in claim 20, said cooling section further comprising: a direct exchanger configured to use said cooling fluid to cool said air in said second air path while said air passes through said direct exchanger from said indirect exchanger to said cooling outlet for providing supply air wherein said air in said second air path directly communicates with said cooling fluid in said direct exchanger.