Air processor and system for heating and cooling

Abstract

A heating and cooling system including an air processor, a compression subsystem, a heat box, a recuperator, and an operating system. The air processor includes a pre-conditioner, a drenched coil and a post conditioner. The heat box includes a refrigerant line in fluid communication with the compression subsystem, a heat exchange line, and a series of motorized shutters. The recuperator includes a thermal storage means, a supply pump and at least two heat exchange lines.

1 . An air processor for use in a heating and cooling system, said air processor comprising:
 a housing comprising a top, a bottom, a coil section and an air output section;   an air inlet in communication with said top of said housing;   a bypass damper in communication with said air inlet and said air output section of said housing;   a preconditioning coil chamber disposed within said coil section of said housing and proximate to said air inlet, said preconditioning coil chamber comprising a first portion of a refrigerant coil in communication with a source of refrigerant and a first portion of a thermal return coil;   a coil drenching spray system disposed within said coil section of said housing between said at least one humidification nozzle and said bottom of said housing, said coil drenching spray system comprising a spray sump dimensioned to hold a volume of water, a recirculatory spray pump in fluid communication with said spray sump, a drenched coil comprising a refrigerant inlet in communication with said source of refrigerant and a refrigerant outlet, and at least one spray nozzle in communication with said recirculatory spray pump and disposed over said drenched coil such that water sprayed from said at least one nozzle contacts said drenched coil;   a post-conditioning chamber disposed within said air output section between said bottom of said housing and said bypass damper, said post-conditioning chamber comprising a second portion of said thermal return coil and a first stage heating coil in communication with a source of heat transfer fluid; and   a processed air outlet disposed within said air output section of said housing between said bypass damper and said post-conditioning chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one ultraviolet emitter disposed within said coil section of said housing between said preconditioning coil chamber and said bottom or said housing. 
     
     
         3 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one humidification nozzle disposed within said coil section of said housing between said at least one ultraviolet emitter and said bottom of said housing, said at least one humidification nozzle comprising a connector for connection to a supply of high purity water. 
     
     
         4 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a filter section. 
     
     
         5 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said filter section comprises a pre-filter and a final filter. 
     
     
         6 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one evaporative cooling nozzle disposed within said air output section between said bypass damper and said processed air outlet, wherein said at least one evaporative cooling nozzle comprises a connector for connection to a supply of high purity water. 
     
     
         7 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a supply fan in fluid communication with said processed air outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one electric heater. 
     
     
         9 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 8  comprising a first electric heater disposed within said coil section of said housing between said recirculatory spray system and said top of said housing and a second electric heater disposed within said processed air outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said spray sump further comprises a inlet control valve for attachment to a potable water line and a drain control valve for attachment to a drain line. 
     
     
         11 . The air processor as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a fresh air inlet and an economizer damper disposed between said fresh air inlet and said air output section of said housing. 
     
     
         12 . A heating and cooling system comprising:
 an air processor comprising:
 a housing comprising a top, a bottom, a coil section and an air output section; 
 an air inlet in communication with said top of said housing; 
 a bypass damper in communication with said air inlet and said air output section of said housing; 
 a preconditioning coil chamber disposed within said coil section of said housing and proximate to said air inlet, said preconditioning coil chamber comprising a first portion of a refrigerant coil and a first portion of a thermal return coil; 
 a coil drenching spray system disposed within said coil section of said housing between said at least one humidification nozzle and said bottom of said housing, said coil drenching spray system comprising a spray sump dimensioned to hold a volume of water, a recirculatory spray pump in fluid communication with said spray sump, a drenched coil comprising a refrigerant inlet and outlet, and at least one spray nozzle in communication with said recirculatory spray pump and disposed over said drenched coil such that water sprayed from said at least one nozzle contacts said drenched coil; 
 a post-conditioning chamber disposed within said air output section between said bottom of said housing and said bypass damper, said post-conditioning chamber comprising a second portion of said refrigerant coil and a second portion of said thermal return coil; and 
 a processed air outlet disposed within said air output section of said housing between said bypass damper and said post-conditioning chamber; 
   a compression subsystem in communication with said air processor, said compression subsystem comprising and accumulator, a compressor, a reversing valve and at least one refrigerant line;   a heat box comprising a refrigerant line in fluid communication with said at least one refrigerant line of said compression subsystem, a heat exchange line and a series of motorized shutters;   a recuperator comprising a thermal storage means, a supply pump and at least two heat exchange lines, wherein a first heat exchange line is in fluid communication with said heat exchange line of said heat box and wherein said second heat exchange line is in communication with said air processor; and   an operating system in electrical communication with said air processor, said compression subsystem, said heat box and said recuperator, wherein said operating system comprises at least one input from at least one user control, an internal temperature sensor and an external temperature sensor, a processor comprising a computer program product for processing user and temperature information and determining an appropriate system operating condition based upon said user and temperature information, and at least one output to each of said air processor, said compression subsystem, said heat box and said recuperator.   
     
     
         13 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said heat box further comprises a fan disposed such that air may be blown over said refrigerant line and said heat exchange line and wherein said output from said computer program product of said operating system controls an operation of said motorized shutters and said fan, 
     
     
         14 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said heat box further comprises a plurality of conductive plates attached to, and in heat conducting relation to, aid refrigerant line and said heat exchange line. 
     
     
         15 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising at least one of a potable water heater and a radiant heat water heater in communication with said heat exchange line of said heat box, wherein said output from said computer program product of said operating system controls a flow of heat transfer fluid from said heat box to at least one of said potable water heater and said radiant heat water heater when said system is in a cooling mode of operation. 
     
     
         16 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said recuperator further comprises at least one solar collector array in fluid communication with said thermal storage means. 
     
     
         17 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising an ice storage unit through which a heat transfer fluid line is disposed, wherein said heat transfer fluid line is in fluid communication with said air processor. 
     
     
         18 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 17  further comprising a coaxial chiller, wherein said heat transfer fluid line is disposed through said coaxial chiller and said ice storage unit and wherein said coaxial chiller is disposed relative to said ice storage unit such that a heat transfer fluid passing through said heat transfer fluid line passes through said coaxial chiller before passing through said ice storage unit. 
     
     
         19 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising a first check valve and a second check valve;
 wherein said first check valve is in communication with one of said at least one refrigerant line from said compression subsystem and said refrigerant coil of said preconditioning coil chamber and is disposed so as to control a flow of refrigerant to said refrigerant coil of said preconditioning coil chamber;   wherein said second check valve is in communication with said refrigerant coil of said preconditioning coil chamber and said refrigerant inlet of said drenched coil of said coil drenching spray system; and   wherein said output from said computer program product of said operating system controls said first check valve and said second check valve based upon whether said system is in a cooling mode of operation or a heating mode of operation.   
     
     
         20 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said spray sump of said coil drenching spray system comprises an inlet control valve in communication with a potable water supply line and a drain control valve in fluid communication with an overflow drain;
 wherein said inlet control valve and said drain control valve are computer controlled valves; and   wherein said output from said computer program product of said operating system controls a position of said inlet control valve and said drain control valve based upon a signal from said external temperature sensor such that said spray sump is filled when an external temperature is at least 55° Fahrenheit and such that said spray sump is drained when said external temperature is below 50° Fahrenheit.   
     
     
         21 . A heating and cooling system comprising:
 an air processor;   a compression subsystem in communication with said air processor, said compression subsystem comprising and accumulator, a compressor, a reversing valve and at least one refrigerant line;   a heat box comprising a refrigerant line in fluid communication with said at least one refrigerant line of said compression subsystem, a heat exchange line and a series of motorized shutters;   a recuperator comprising a thermal storage means, a supply pump and at least two heat exchange lines, wherein a first heat exchange line is in fluid communication with said heat exchange line of said heat box and wherein said second heat exchange line is in communication with said air processor; and   an operating system in electrical communication with said air processor, said compression subsystem, said heat box and said recuperator, wherein said operating system comprises at least one inputs from at least one user control, an internal temperature sensor and an external temperature sensor, a processor comprising a computer program product for processing user and temperature information and determining an appropriate system operating condition based upon said user and temperature information, and at least one output to each of said air processor, said compression subsystem, said heat box and said recuperator.   
     
     
         22 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said heat box further comprises a fan disposed such that air may be blown over said refrigerant line and said heat exchange line and wherein said output from said computer program product of said operating system controls an operation of said motorized shutters and said fan, 
     
     
         23 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said heat box further comprises a plurality of conductive plates attached to, and in heat conducting relation to, aid refrigerant line and said heat exchange line. 
     
     
         24 . The heating and cooling system as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said recuperator further comprises at least one solar collector array in fluid communication with said thermal storage means.