초록 ▼

A ventilation device is provided for use in conjunction with systems and methods provided for cooling data centers. A Make-Up Air Dehumidification/Humidification Unit for the introduction of ventilation air and control of humidity within the enclosed space is provided to support other system compone

A ventilation device is provided for use in conjunction with systems and methods provided for cooling data centers. A Make-Up Air Dehumidification/Humidification Unit for the introduction of ventilation air and control of humidity within the enclosed space is provided to support other system components. An objective of the systems and methods according to this disclosure is to provide the necessary rejection of heat while providing a capability to limitedly add ventilation air and control of the absolute moisture content of the air within a data center.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A ventilation device operable in a humidification mode and a dehumidification mode, the device comprising: a first section configured to draw in outdoor air to form a first outdoor air stream during the dehumidification mode;a second section configured to draw in outdoor air to form a second outd

1. A ventilation device operable in a humidification mode and a dehumidification mode, the device comprising: a first section configured to draw in outdoor air to form a first outdoor air stream during the dehumidification mode;a second section configured to draw in outdoor air to form a second outdoor air stream during the humidification mode;a third section configured to draw in return air from an enclosed space to form a return air stream during the humidification mode;at least one heat exchanger that includes a first part in the first section and a second part in the second section;at least one humidifying element downstream from the heat exchanger which is active during the humidification mode to humidify the second outdoor air stream and inactive during the dehumidification mode;at least one dehumidifying coil upstream from the heat exchanger which is active during the dehumidification mode to cool the first outdoor air stream and inactive during the humidification mode; anda mixing chamber for mixing the second outdoor air stream and the return air stream from the enclosed space during the humidification mode;wherein during operation in the dehumidification mode, the first outdoor air stream travels through the first section and through the first part of the heat exchanger to cool the outdoor air, next through the dehumidifying coil where a temperature and a humidity of the first outdoor air stream is reduced, and then through the second part of the heat exchanger where the temperature is increased before exiting the device as a supply air stream, andwherein during operation in the humidification mode, the second outdoor air stream travels through the second section and through the second part of the heat exchanger to heat the outdoor air and the return air stream travels through the first part of the heat exchanger to cool the return air, and then the second outdoor air stream and the return air stream are mixed in the mixing chamber before passing through the humidifying element and exiting the device as the supply air stream. 2. The ventilation device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first inlet upstream from the heat exchanger to allow the first outdoor air stream to enter the device during dehumidification mode; and a second inlet upstream from the heat exchanger to allow the second outdoor air stream to enter the device during humidification mode. 3. The ventilation device according to claim 1, further comprising a return air damper to admit the return air stream to the device to facilitate humidification. 4. The ventilation device according to claim 1, further comprising an evaporative humidifier pad; and a mist eliminator positioned downstream of the evaporative humidifier pad in the mixed air flow direction; wherein during operation in the humidification mode, the mist eliminator removes water droplets from the supply air prior to the supply air exiting the device as the supply air stream. 5. The ventilation device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one outside air damper for regulating outside air flow through the first inlet. 6. The ventilation device according to claim 2, further comprising an outside air damper for regulating outside air flow through the second inlet. 7. The ventilation device according to claim 1, further comprising a supply air outlet downstream from the humidifying element where the supply air stream exits to the enclosed space. 8. The ventilation device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one air filter for the first outdoor air stream between the first inlet and the heat exchanger. 9. The ventilation device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one air filter for the second outdoor air stream between the second inlet and the heat exchanger. 10. The ventilation device according to claim 1, further comprising a ventilation fan for controlling the flow of the first or second outdoor air stream through the second part of the heat exchanger during operation. 11. The ventilation device according to claim 1, further comprising a recirculation fan for controlling the flow of the return air stream through the first part of the heat exchanger during the humidification mode. 12. The ventilation device according to claim 11, wherein during the humidification mode, the flow of the return air stream is controlled by variable speed operation of the recirculation fan directing the return air into the mixing chamber. 13. The ventilation device according to claim 12, wherein humidification is controlled by varying the speed of the recirculation fan such that when more humidification is required, the recirculation fan speeds up for greater flow of the return air, and when less humidification is required, the recirculation fan slows down. 14. The ventilation device according to claim 11, further comprising a recirculation air damper for regulating the flow of the return air stream to the recirculation fan. 15. The ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein during the humidification mode, the second outdoor air stream travels through the second part of the heat exchanger and the return air stream travels through the first part of the heat exchanger in a substantially parallel and in a substantially similar direction. 16. The ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the second outdoor air stream and the return air stream do not mix while traveling through the second part of heat exchanger and the first part of the heat exchanger, respectfully. 17. The ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein during humidification mode, heat is added to the second outdoor air stream from the return air stream by way of the heat exchanger. 18. The ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the enclosed space is a computer data center including multiple computer data servers and ancillary support devices, and the supply air stream is circulated through the multiple computer data servers to extract the heat generated by the servers. 19. The ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein a partition between the second part of the heat exchanger and the first part of the heat exchanger is offset toward the second part of the heat exchanger to expand the first part of the heat exchanger to allow a greater flow of the return air stream relative to a flow of the second outdoor air stream, without imposing an excess pressure drop. 20. The ventilation device according to claim 19, wherein the offset of the partition is selected based on climatological ambient design conditions to permit the flow of the return air stream up to three times the flow of the second outdoor air stream.