MAKE-UP AIR HEATING SYSTEM

Abstract

A make-up air heating system includes an enclosure defining an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. A heating source is positioned within the inlet chamber and a blower is positioned within the outlet chamber. A motor assembly positioned within the enclosure includes a motor enclosure and a motor. The motor is coupled to the blower.

Claims

1. A make-up air heating system, comprising: an enclosure defining an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; a heating source positioned within the inlet chamber; a blower positioned within the outlet chamber; a motor assembly including a motor enclosure and a motor, the motor coupled to the blower; and an auxiliary conduit assembly including an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, the inlet conduit fluidly coupling air external to the enclosure with the motor enclosure and the outlet conduit fluidly coupling the motor enclosure with the inlet chamber.

2. The make-up air heating system of claim 1, wherein the motor includes an output shaft operable to rotate the blower.

3. The make-up air heating system of claim 2, wherein a rotational axis of the output shaft is coaxial with a rotational axis of the blower.

4. The make-up air heating system of claim 2, wherein the output shaft is directly connected to the blower.

5. The make-up air heating system of claim 1, wherein the blower comprises an impeller rotatable to draw air through a central opening in the impeller an impart a centrifugal force on the air.

6. The make-up air heating system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes an air inlet fluidly coupled with the inlet chamber and an air outlet fluidly coupled with the outlet chamber, and further wherein the air inlet, the air outlet, the blower and the motor are all positioned along a rotational axis of the blower.

7. A make-up air heating system, comprising: an enclosure defining an inlet and an outlet; a heating source positioned within the enclosure; a blower positioned to move air from the inlet to the outlet; and a motor including an output shaft coupled to the blower to rotate the blower about a rotational axis, wherein the inlet, the outlet, the blower and the output shaft are positioned along the rotational axis.

8. The make-up air heating system of claim 7, further comprising an auxiliary conduit assembly including an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, the inlet conduit fluidly coupling air external to the enclosure with a motor enclosure housing the motor and the outlet conduit fluidly coupling the motor enclosure with an inlet chamber.

9. The make-up air heating system of claim 7, wherein the blower comprises an impeller rotatable to draw air through a central opening in the impeller an impart a centrifugal force on the air.

10. A method of operating a make-up air heating system, comprising: operating a heat source to heat air within an inlet chamber of an enclosure; and operating a blower using a motor positioned within an enclosure, the blower moving air through an inlet into an inlet chamber of the enclosure, into an outlet chamber of the enclosure and through an outlet of the enclosure, wherein the inlet, the outlet, the blower and the motor are positioned along a rotational axis of the blower.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the blower comprises an impeller rotatable to draw air through a central opening in the impeller an impart a centrifugal force on the air.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a make-up air heating system from an inlet side.

[0004] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the make-up air heating system of FIG. 1 from an outlet side.

[0005] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the make-up air heating system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

[0006] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an exemplary make-up air heating system 100. System 100 includes an enclosure 102 (e.g., rectangular, cylindrical) defining an air inlet 104 and an air outlet 106. The enclosure 102, in one embodiment, can be formed of a plurality of panels (e.g., metal) arranged to house components therein. The air inlet 104 is formed within one panel of the enclosure 102 and includes a grate to prevent undesired access to an interior of the enclosure. The air outlet 106 is formed in one panel of the enclosure and further includes a grate to prevent undesired access to an interior of the enclosure. Additionally, in one embodiment, air outlet 106 includes an annular flange configured to connect to an interior of a structure or ductwork.

[0007] A heat source 110, a blower 112 and a motor assembly 114 are positioned within enclosure 102. A control assembly 116 includes several elements (e.g., sensors, controllers) to operate system 100. During operation of system 100, control assembly 116 controls motor assembly 114 to provide power (e.g., rotational power) to blower 112, thus forcing air external to enclosure 102 through air inlet 104 to an inlet chamber 120. Heat source 110 (e.g., gas burner, resistance heater) heats air within chamber 120 and blower 112 forces heated air into an outlet chamber 122. Ultimately, heated air from outlet chamber 122 exits enclosure 102 through outlet 106.

[0008] Motor assembly 114 includes a motor enclosure 130 housing a motor 132. The motor 132 includes an output shaft 134 directly coupled to blower 112. Rotation of output shaft 134 causes rotation of blower 112 about a rotational axis A. Air inlet 104, air outlet 106, blower 112 and motor 132 are all positioned along rotational axis A. Accordingly, as compared with current make-up heated air systems, belts or other forms of connection between a motor and a blower can be eliminated.

[0009] In the embodiment illustrated, blower 112 is an enclosed impeller (also referred to as a shrouded impeller) that includes a central opening where air is drawn into the blower 112 and blades of the impeller impart a centrifugal force on the air into the outlet chamber 122. In other embodiments, blower 112 can be an open impeller, semi-open impeller, fan or other mechanism to force air from the inlet chamber 120 to the outlet chamber 122 and out air outlet 106.

[0010] Motor enclosure 130, in one embodiment, includes a sealed housing that is fluidly separated from outlet chamber 122. System 100 further includes an auxiliary flow assembly 140 that includes an inlet conduit 142 leading to motor enclosure 130 and an outlet conduit 144 leading from the motor enclosure 130 to inlet chamber 120. Inlet conduit 142 is fluidly coupled to atmosphere through an inlet 150 and outlet conduit 144 is fluidly coupled to inlet chamber 120 through an outlet 152. Upon operation of blower 112, air is drawn through inlet 150 into inlet conduit 142 and to the motor enclosure 130. Air flows around motor 132 within motor enclosure 130 to cool the motor 132. Air then flows through outlet conduit 144 to outlet 152 and into inlet chamber 120, where air is mixed with air entering through air inlet 104.

[0011] Various embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustrating the details thereof and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The details and features of the disclosed embodiment[s] are not intended to be limiting, as many variations and modifications will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all variations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.