Office air handling unit

Abstract

An office air handling unit includes an intake, return and output system. The intake system transfers air from an external environment and through a preheating and cooling unit that regulates the temperature of the air entering the interior zone. The return system re-circulates air from the interior zone to the exterior zone through the use of a fan. The return system also regulates the temperature of the air entering the exterior zone by using a preheat unit and cooling unit. The output system allows for the transfer of air from the exterior zone to the external environment, re circulates the air back into the return system or re-circulates the air back into the intake system. The intake system allows for the transfer of air from the external environment to the return system to bypass the interior zone and provide fresh air to the exterior zone.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An air handling unit for use in a building having an interior and exterior zones, wherein said unit comprises: an intake system coupled to the interior zone; an output system coupled to the exterior zone; a return system coupled between the interior and exterior zones; wherein said intake system transfers air from an external environment to the interior zone; wherein said return system transfers air from the interior zone to the exterior zone; and wherein said output system transfers air from the exterior zone to the external environment.  
     
     
         2 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said intake system includes a first supply fan.  
     
     
         3 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said intake system includes a preheating unit and a cooling unit.  
     
     
         4 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said intake system includes a heat recovery unit.  
     
     
         5 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said intake system includes a filter.  
     
     
         6 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said return system includes a first return fan, a flow rate sensor and a pressure sensor.  
     
     
         7 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said return system includes a preheating unit and a cooling unit.  
     
     
         8 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said output system includes a second return fan, a flow rate sensor and a pressure sensor.  
     
     
         9 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said output system includes a heat recovery unit.  
     
     
         10 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said intake system is further coupled to said return system.  
     
     
         11 . The unit as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said return system includes a second supply fan.  
     
     
         12 . The unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said output system is coupled to said return system, wherein the air moving through said output system is re-circulated to said return system and back into the exterior zone.  
     
     
         13 . The unit as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said intake system is coupled to said output system at a location that would allow air from said input system to mix with the air in said output system before being re-circulated to the exterior zone.  
     
     
         14 . A method of handling air for use in a building having interior and exterior zones, said method comprising the steps of: supplying air from an external environment to the interior zone; re-circulating the air from the interior zone to the exterior zone; and removing the air from the exterior zone to the external environment.  
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of allowing for the transfer of air from the external environment to the exterior zone.  
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of allowing for the transfer of air from the exterior zone to be re-circulated back into the exterior zone.  
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of allowing for the transfer of air from the exterior zone to be re-circulated back into the interior zone.  
     
     
         18 . An air handling unit for use in a building having an interior and exterior zones, wherein said unit comprises: an intake system coupled to the interior zone; a return system coupled between the exterior and interior zones; an output system coupled to said return system; wherein said intake system transfers air from an external environment to the interior zone; wherein said return system combines air from the exterior and interior zones and transfers the air back to the exterior zone; and wherein said output system transfers air from said return system zone to the external environment.  
     
     
         19 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said intake system includes a first supply fan.  
     
     
         20 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said intake system includes a preheating unit and a cooling unit.  
     
     
         21 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said intake system includes a heat recovery unit.  
     
     
         22 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said intake system includes a filter.  
     
     
         23 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said return system includes a return fan, a flow rate sensor and a pressure sensor.  
     
     
         24 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said return system includes a preheating unit and a cooling unit.  
     
     
         25 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said output system includes a heat recovery unit.  
     
     
         26 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said intake system is coupled to said return system, wherein said air from said intake system moves directly into said return system without moving though the interior zone.  
     
     
         27 . The unit as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said return system includes a second supply fan.  
     
     
         28 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said return system is coupled to said intake system, wherein the air can be transferred from said return system and re-circulated through said intake system.  
     
     
         29 . The unit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said return system includes: a first passageway extending between interior and exterior zones; a second passageway that extends from said first passageway and back to the exterior zone; and wherein the air flowing through said first passageway from the interior and exterior zones mix in said second passageway and re-circulates to the exterior zone.  
     
     
         30 . A method of handling air for use in a building having interior and exterior zones, said method comprising the steps of: supplying air from an external environment to the interior zone; re-circulating the air from the interior zone to the exterior zone; removing the air from the exterior zone; re-circulating the air removed from the exterior zone back into the exterior zone; and removing the air from the exterior zone into the external environment.  
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising the step of mixing the air removed from the exterior zone with the air re-circulating from the interior zone.  
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising the step of removing air from the internal environment to the external environment.  
     
     
         33 . The method as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising the step of supplying air from the external environment to the exterior zone.  
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising the step of re-circulating air from the exterior zone to the interior zone.