DEHUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM

Abstract

An air handling system includes an fan system and an outdoor system. The fan system and the outdoor system are connected by a refrigeration circuit. The fan system includes a dehumidification system.

Claims

1. An air handling system comprising an fan system for being located inside a building structure and comprising: a housing having an outdoor air inlet, an indoor air inlet, and an indoor air outlet, a fan configured to displace air through at least one of the outdoor air inlet and the indoor air inlet, a filter module located downstream of the fan, an evaporator located downstream of the filter module, and a PTC heater located downstream of the evaporator, and an outdoor system for being located outside the building structure and comprising: a compressor, a condenser, and a throttling element, wherein the evaporator and the compressor, a condenser, and the throttling element form a refrigerant circuit.

2. The air handling system of claim 1, wherein the outdoor system further includes a heat exchanger and a switching valve, and wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to the condenser and the refrigerant circuit, and the switching valve is configured to switch flow of the refrigerant between the heat exchanger and the condenser.

3. The air handling system of claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger is connected with a water supply pipe and a water outlet pipe.

4. The air handling system of claim 2, wherein the evaporator is a finned heat exchanger.

5. The air handling system of claim 1, further including a water trap under the evaporator for receiving condensed water from the evaporator.

6. The air handling system of claim 1, wherein the fan system is operable in an indoor air circulation mode and an outdoor air circulation mode.

7. The air handling system of claim 6, wherein in the indoor air circulation mode, the outdoor air inlet is closed, and the fresh air fan displaces air to enter through the indoor air inlet.

8. The air handling system of claim 7, wherein in the outdoor air circulation mode, the indoor air inlet is closed and the outdoor air inlet is opened so that the fan displaces air through the outdoor air inlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows an internal schematic diagram of an exemplary fan system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows an internal schematic diagram of yet another exemplary fan system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows an internal schematic diagram of another exemplary fan system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 4 shows an internal schematic diagram of yet another exemplary fan system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0022] FIG. 5 shows an internal schematic diagram of yet another exemplary fan system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] A fan system 100 of a fresh air system or an air handling unit according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. The fan system 100 is used for installation indoors and communicates with outdoor ambient air through pipes passing through a wall W. The system further includes an outdoor system 18 coupled to the fan system (or indoor unit 100) and arranged outside relative to the wall W.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the fan system 100 includes: a housing 12 having an outdoor air inlet 4, an indoor air inlet 17 and an indoor air outlet 11. A damper 5 is placed in ducting defining the outdoor air inlet 4 to control the opening and closing of the outdoor air inlet 4. A filter module includes a primary filter 7 and a high-efficiency HEPA filter 8 located in the housing 12 downstream of both the outdoor air inlet 4 and the indoor air inlet 17.

[0025] The indoor fan system 100 further includes a fresh air fan 6 located in the housing 12 and configured to guide air entering the housing 12 from, for example, the outdoor air inlet 4 and/or the indoor air inlet 17. The fresh air fan 6 is positioned directly adjacent to and downstream from the damper 5 and the indoor air inlet 17. Air is pushed by the fan 6 through the primary filter 7 and the high-efficiency HEPA filter 8 in turn, and then is discharged to the outside of the housing 12 through the indoor air outlet 11 to provide filtered air to the room.

[0026] The air is also conditioned prior to being discharged into the room. The fan system 100 further includes an evaporator 9 located in the air path between the filter module and the indoor air outlet 11. A PTC heater 10 is also located in the air path between the evaporator 9 and the indoor air outlet 11.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor system 18 includes a compressor 1, a condenser 2, and a throttling element 3. Evaporation occurs only inside the indoor fan system 100. The evaporator 9 is fluidly connected with the compressor 1, the condenser 2, the throttling element 3 through conduits 15 (i.e. cooper pipes). The conduits 15 together constitute the refrigerant circuit of the dehumidification device continuously circulating the refrigerant between in the fan system 100 and the outdoor system 18 when the evaporator 9 is operating. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the evaporator 9 may be, for example, a finned heat exchanger. In other embodiments, the evaporator 9 can also adopt other heat exchanger forms.

[0028] By placing the compressor 1, the condenser 2, and the throttling element 3 in the outdoor system 18, the volume of the fan system 100 can be reduced. Also, by locating the compressor 1, the condenser 2 and the throttling element 3 outdoors, the noise generated by the operation of those elements will be less perceptible to persons located inside the wall W. In a other dehumidification units, a condenser may be located near an evaporator in the indoor system to provide efficiencies known to those of ordinary skill in the art. However, because the condenser 2 of the present fan system 100 resides outside in the outdoor system 18, and is thus not located near the evaporator 9 of the present fan system 100, the heating function of a condenser in a traditional dehumidification unit is replaced by the PTC heater 10. The PTC heater 10 is not a condenser.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, there is a water trap 13 below the evaporator 9 for receiving the condensed water that may form on the evaporator 9 during operation. There is also a drain pump 14 in the water trap 13, which is used to drain the condensate collected in the water trap 13 through a drain pipe 16 to the outdoors, for example.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing 12 of the fan system 100 also has an indoor air inlet 17, which may provide internal air circulation from the room or building in a single-channel fresh air system. The indoor air inlet 17 may also include a damper 25 that can open and close the indoor air inlet 17. As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor air inlet 17 is connected to the outdoor air inlet 4 and there is an air path between the air outlet 4 and the filter module (including the primary filter 7 and the high efficiency HEPA filter 8).

[0031] The fan system 100 shown in FIG. 1 can operate in an indoor air circulation mode or an outdoor air circulation mode by opening and closing one or both of the dampers 5, 25 to pull air from either side of the wall W. In the indoor air circulation mode, the outdoor air inlet 4 is closed and the indoor air inlet 17 is opened so that fresh air fan 6 pulls air from the room through the indoor air inlet 17. The air in the shell 12 flows through the primary filter 7 and the high-efficiency HEPA filter 8, and then discharged out of the shell 12 through the indoor air outlet 11 (i.e. returned into the room).

[0032] In the outdoor air circulation mode, the outdoor air inlet 4 is opened, and the indoor air inlet 17 is closed. The fresh air fan 6 guides air entering the housing 12 through the outdoor air inlet 4 and forces the air through the primary filter 7 and the high-efficiency HEPA filter 8. The air is then discharged outside of the housing 12 through the indoor air outlet 11.

[0033] In both modes of air circulation, the air flows through the primary effect filter 7 and the high efficiency HEPA filter 8. Then, and before being discharged to the outside of the housing through the indoor air outlet 11, the air will flow through the evaporator 9 and the PTC heater 10 in sequence. In addition, when the dehumidifier is turned on, the combination of the evaporator 9 and the PTC heater 10 can effectively reduce the relative humidity of the air prior to being discharged through indoor air outlet. Therefore, fresh and dry air is discharged from the indoor air outlet 11.

[0034] When the indoor humidity exceeds a set or predetermined value, the fresh air system can be placed in the indoor air circulation mode using a controller or thermostat. Signals may be sent, from the controller 30 or thermostat to the evaporator 9 and the PTC heater 10 of the dehumidification device to turn these devices on. One or more sensors 32 may be coupled to the controller or thermostat to sense the relative humidity of the room or building and automatically activate the system when the predetermined value is reached. Compared with opening the dehumidifier evaporator 9 and PTC heater 10 in the outdoor air circulation mode, the evaporator 9 and the PTC heater 10 of the dehumidification device can be activated in the indoor air circulation mode to reduce the relative humidity of the air more quickly. In the indoor air circulation mode, the outdoor air inlet 4 is closed, the indoor air inlet 17 is opened, the evaporator 9 and the PTC heater 10 are activated, and the relative humidity of the indoor air is reduced.

[0035] The evaporator 9 is configured to cool the air passing therethrough. The air exchanges heat with the refrigerant liquid from the outdoor system 18 in the evaporator 9 and then flows through the PTC heater 10 for heating. After dehumidification is completed, it is discharged to the outside of the housing through the indoor air outlet 11. The water condensed in the evaporator 9 accumulates in the drip pan 13 and is discharged to the outside by the drain pump 14 through the drain pipe 16. When the air humidity is not high (i.e. at the predetermined humidity) and the dehumidification function is not required, the evaporator 9 and the PTC heater 10 of the dehumidifier can be turned off in the indoor air circulation mode and the outdoor air circulation mode.

[0036] In addition, the evaporator 9 and the PTC heater 10 in the present disclosure can be independently controlled. The fan system 100 also has a cooling function. The indoor space may be cooled while the system is in the outdoor air circulation mode or the indoor air circulation mode. On this basis, the evaporator 9 is turned on and the PTC heater 10 is turned off. In this way, air-conditioning and/or refrigeration can be provided.

[0037] The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrates a system that provides a single-channel fresh air system. In other embodiments, this kind of split dehumidification device may provide a dual-channel fresh air system as shown in FIG. 2.

[0038] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a fan system 200 for a dual-channel fresh air system. In FIG. 2, similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The structure of the fan system 200 shown in FIG. 2 is similar to that of the fan system 100 shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly the description above for fan system 100 is incorporated by reference herein to fan system 200.

[0039] One difference between fan system 200 and fan system 100 is that the structure of the fan equipment 200 is configured for a dual-channel fresh air system, which includes an exhaust fan 61. The casing 12 of the fan equipment 200 has an outdoor air inlet 4, an indoor air inlet 17, an outdoor air outlet 27, and an indoor air outlet 11. The outdoor air inlet 4 has a damper 5, which can control the opening and closing of the outdoor air inlet 4. The exhaust fan 61 is located in the housing 12 and is configured to guide the air entering the housing 12 through the indoor air inlet 17 to form. The air flow discharged to the outside of the housing 12 through the outdoor air outlet 27. The dotted line in FIG. 2 shows one example of a flow path of the air.

[0040] The fan system 200 also includes: a heat exchange module J and a filter module F. A fresh air fan 62 is located in the housing 12 and is configured to guide air entering the housing 12 from, for example, the outdoor air inlet 4. The air passes through the heat exchange module J and the filter module F in turn, and then is discharged to the outside of the housing 12 through the indoor air outlet 11 to provide filtered air to the room. An evaporator 9 is located in the air path between the filter module J and the indoor air outlet 11. A PTC heater 10 is located in the air path between the evaporator 9 and the indoor air outlet 11.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the outdoor system 18 includes a compressor 1, a condenser 2, and a throttling element 3. Evaporation occurs inside fan equipment 200. The evaporator 9 is fluidly connected with the compressor 1, the condenser 2, the throttling element 3 through a copper pipe 15, and together constitute the refrigerant return of the dehumidification device.

[0042] When the fan system 200 of the fresh air system is turned on, the air flows through the heat exchange module J and the filter module F. Before being discharged to the outside of the housing 12 through the indoor air outlet 11, the air flows through the evaporator 9 and the PTC heater 10 in sequence. When the device is turned on, the combination of the evaporator 9 and the PTC heater 10 can effectively reduce the relative humidity of the air flowing therethrough. As a result, fresh and dry air is discharged from the indoor air outlet 11. When the air humidity is not high and the dehumidification function is not required, the evaporator 9 of the dehumidification device and the PTC heating can also be turned off. For example, when the indoor space needs to be cooled, the evaporator 9 can be turned on and the PTC heater 10 can be turned off at the same time.

[0043] In addition to the functions of humidification and cooling, the fan system according to the present disclosure may also have a heating function. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a fan system 100 with heating function. The system shown in FIG. 3 is substantially similar to the system shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the same reference numbers are used in FIG. 3 and the disclosure of the system of FIG. 1 is incorporated by reference for the fan system shown and described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, the outdoor system 18 may further include a four-way reversing valve 19 (also referred to as a four-way valve for short). The four-way valve 19 is connected to the refrigerant circuit of the dehumidifier and is used to switch the functions of the evaporator 9 and the condenser 2 to each other so that the dehumidifier can work in heating mode. When the dehumidifier is working in heating mode, the four-way valve 19 is connected in such a way that the condenser 2 absorbs heat and the evaporator 9 dissipates heat, so that the air flowing through the evaporator 9 is heated to pass through the indoor air outlet 11 and provide heated air to the room. It should be noted that the fan system with heating function as shown in FIG. 3 is also suitable for a dual-channel fresh air system as shown in FIG. 2.

[0045] A fan system with heat recovery function according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 4. The heat recovery function may provide, for example, domestic hot water. The system shown in FIG. 4 is substantially similar to the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Accordingly, the same references numbers are used to describe common features between the system shown in FIG. 4 and the system shown in FIG. 1. The disclosure of the system shown in FIG. 1 is incorporated by reference for the system of FIG. 4.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the outdoor system 18 may include a tube or double-pipe heat exchanger 90. The double-pipe heat exchanger 90 is connected to the refrigerant circuit in parallel with the condenser 2. Tube heat exchanger 90 is connected with a water supply pipe 96 and a water outlet pipe 95. Under the action of a water pump 94, the water in the heat exchanger 90 can be discharged.

[0047] The outdoor system 18 also has a first solenoid valve 91 and a second solenoid valve 92, which are used to select between the two-pipe heat exchanger 90 and the condenser 2. At least one of the solenoid valves 91, 92 is connected in the refrigerant circuit. For example, in a situation where the dehumidification device described above needs to be opened, the first solenoid valve 91 and the second solenoid valve 92 can be configured so that the condenser 2 is connected to the refrigerant circuit and the double-pipe heat exchanger 90 is closed. When the first solenoid valve 91 and the second solenoid valve 92 are configured so that the double-pipe heat exchanger 90 is connected to the refrigerant return, the outdoor system 18 is in the heat recovery mode. The use of the double-pipe heat exchanger 90 can recover up to 100% of the condensation heat, so when the compressor works in cooling mode, the heat exchanger 90 can provide hot water, for example. In addition, in the heat recovery mode, the outdoor heat exchanger will be removed from the condenser 2 (usually an air-cooled condenser 2, which is noisier). By switching to the double-pipe heat exchanger 90, noise can be reduced.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5, a fan system with the heat recovery function as shown in FIG. 4 is also suitable for a dual-channel fresh air system as shown in FIG. 2. The same reference numbers are used in FIG. 5 as FIGS. 2 and 4. Accordingly, the description related to FIGS. 2 and 4 are incorporated by reference for FIG. 5.

[0049] Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the outdoor system 18 also has a double-pipe heat exchanger 90. The first solenoid valve 91 and the second solenoid valve 92 are coupled to the heat exchanger 90 and the condenser 2 in the refrigerant circuit such that the refrigerant can be switched between the double-pipe heat exchanger 90 and the condenser 2. Similarly, with the double-pipe heat exchanger 90, up to 100% of the heat from condensation can be recovered, so that the double-pipe heat exchanger 90 can produce hot water, for example.

[0050] According to the present disclosure, in an internal circulation process of the refrigerant inside the dehumidification device, the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant is discharged through the operation of the compressor. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas enters the condenser and is cooled into a low-temperature and high-pressure liquid, which is then intercepted by a throttling element. The flow is depressurized and becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase body, then evaporates through the evaporator to absorb heat, and finally returns to the compressor to become a low temperature low pressure gas. The refrigerant continuously circulates during this process.

[0051] In the external circulation process of the air in the fresh air system, the humid air first passes through a cold water coil or a fluorine coil cooling the surface temperature to a temperature that is lower than the dew point temperature of the humid air. The humid air will form condensate and at the same time reduce the moisture content and temperature. At this time, the relative humidity of the air will rise, and then through the PTC heater to absorb heat for heating, the temperature rises, the moisture content does not change, the relative humidity is reduced, realizing humid air and reducing the absolute humidity and relative humidity at the same time.

[0052] In the illustrative embodiment the entire dehumidification device is not installed inside the fan system, but a split dehumidification device including an fan system and an outdoor system is used. In some embodiments, only the evaporator in the dehumidification device is installed inside the fan system, and the compressor, the condenser, and throttling element are separated from the evaporator and moved to the outside of the fan system. In some embodiments, the compressor, the condenser, and throttling element are located outdoors. Further, the fan system may include one or more heaters (such as electric heaters or PTC heaters) to replace the heating power of the condenser since the condenser is located outdoors.

[0053] Since the compressor, condenser, throttling element and other parts are removed from the fan system, it can make the indoor wind. Further, the size of the fan system equipment can he made smaller. In addition, since the noisy compressor is removed from the fan system, indoor noise can be reduced. Since the compressor, condenser, throttling element and other modules are directly placed outdoors, the maintenance is simpler and will also reduce the risk of refrigerant leakage.

[0054] The foregoing descriptions are merely illustrative specific embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art make equivalent changes, modifications and combinations without departing from the concept and principle of the present disclosure.