Ventilation apparatus

Abstract

A ventilation apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a casing having first and second indoor air suction holes formed at opposite ends thereof, an indoor air discharge hole and an outdoor air suction hole formed at a rear side thereof, and an outdoor air discharge hole formed at an upper side thereof. First and second heat exchanger installed within the casing, with a partition plate partitioning the interior of the casing into an indoor air exhaust chamber and an outdoor air suction chamber having an exhaust fan disposed and first and second supply fans respectively provided therein. Use of first and second air supply fan may reduce noise generated during operation, and simplified indoor and outdoor air flow paths may further reduce noise and enhance efficiency.

1 . A ventilation apparatus, comprising:
 a casing having first and second indoor air suction holes respectively formed in first and second lateral sides thereof, an indoor air discharge hole and an outdoor air suction hole formed in a rear side thereof, and at least one outdoor air discharge hole formed in an upper side thereof;   first and second heat exchangers installed within the casing;   a partition plate installed in the casing to partition a portion of the casing between the first and second heat exchangers into an indoor air exhaust chamber and an outdoor air suction chamber;   an exhaust fan provided in the indoor air exhaust chamber; and   first and second air supply fans provided in the outdoor air suction chamber to provide outdoor air to the first and second heat exchangers, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second heat exchangers each have an indoor air flow path that guides indoor air therethrough in a first direction and an outdoor air flow path that guides outdoor air therethrough in a second direction. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the indoor air flow path extends horizontally and the outdoor air flow path extends vertically through the first and second heat exchangers. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein an upper face of each of the first and second heat exchangers is aligned with a corresponding portion of the at least one outdoor air discharge hole formed in the upper side of the casing such that outdoor air that has undergone heat exchange in the first and second heat exchangers is discharged from the casing through the at least one outdoor air discharge hole. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising first and second outdoor air suction flow paths respectively formed between the first and second heat exchangers and a lower plate of the casing. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second air supply fans receive air through the outdoor air suction hole and blow air to the first and second outdoor air suction flow paths, respectively, for supply to the first and second heat exchangers, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first supporter supporting the first heat exchanger so as to separate the first heat exchanger from the lower plate of the casing and form a first flow space therebetween; and   a second supporter supporting the second heat exchanger so as to separate the second heat exchanger from the lower plate of the casing and form a second flow space therebetween.   
     
     
         8 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first supporter and the second supporter each have an opening formed therein in communication with the outdoor air suction chamber to guide air blown by the first and second air supply fans to the first and second heat exchangers via the first and second flow spaces, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 first and second fan mounts on which the first and second air supply fans are respectively mounted, wherein the first and second fan mounts are vertically installed within the casing and each have an opening formed therein that guides air blown by the first and second air supply fans into the first and second flow spaces, respectively.   
     
     
         10 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first air supply fan and the second air supply fan are separately installed in the casing and independently operated and controlled. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second air supply fans each include:
 a fan housing;   a blower rotatably installed in the fan housing; and   a motor installed at the fan housing and rotating the blower, wherein outdoor air is drawn into the fan housing through front and rear faces thereof and is discharged through an air discharge hole formed in a circumferential portion thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the fan housing of the first air supply fan and that of the second air supply fan have the same shape, and wherein the air discharge hole of the fan housing of the first air supply fan is oriented so as to discharge air toward the first heat exchanger, and the air discharge hole of the fan housing of the second air supply fan is oriented so as to discharge air toward the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the motor of the fan housing of the first air supply fan is installed on one of the front face or the rear face of its respective housing, and the motor of the fan housing of the second air supply fan is installed on the other of the front face or the rear face of its respective housing. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the partition plate comprises:
 a horizontal plate positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger;   a first sloped plate that extends at an incline from a first end of the horizontal plate toward a lower end of the first heat exchanger; and   a second sloped plate that extends at an incline from a second end of the horizontal plate toward a lower end of the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         15 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the partition plate has an upwardly convex shape. 
     
     
         16 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the casing includes a top cover and wherein the at least one outdoor air discharge hole comprises a first outdoor air discharge hole formed at a position corresponding to the first heat exchanger and a second outdoor air discharge hole formed at a position corresponding to the second heat exchanger, and wherein the exhaust fan includes air suction holes formed at two opposite ends thereof and an air discharge hole formed at a rear side thereof, and a controller controlling operation of the ventilation apparatus is installed between the exhaust fan and the top cover. 
     
     
         17 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a backflow shield preventing outdoor air discharged through upper ends of the first and second heat exchangers from flowing backward to the exhaust fan.   
     
     
         18 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the backflow shield includes a controller receiving space in which the controller is received, wherein the controller receiving space has an opened front face. 
     
     
         19 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a service cover covering front sides of the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, the exhaust fan, the first air supply fan, and the second air supply fan.   
     
     
         20 . A ventilation apparatus, comprising:
 a casing having a first indoor air suction hole formed in a first side thereof and a second indoor air suction hole formed in a second side thereof, an indoor air discharge hole and an outdoor air suction hole formed in a third side thereof, the third side extending between the first and second sides, and an outdoor air discharge hole formed in an upper side thereof;   first and second heat exchangers respectively installed in first and second interior portions of the casing;   a partition plate installed in a space formed between the first and second interior portions of the casing so as to partition the space into an indoor air exhaust chamber and an outdoor air suction chamber;   an exhaust fan provided in the indoor air exhaust chamber; and   first and second air supply fans provided in the outdoor air suction chamber and forming a distributed air supply flow path that draws outdoor air into the outdoor air suction chamber and distributes the outdoor air to the first and second heat exchangers.   
     
     
         21 . The ventilation apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the casing includes a top cover having a first outdoor air discharge hole formed at a position corresponding to a top of the first heat exchanger and a second outdoor air discharge hole formed at a position corresponding to a top of the second heat exchanger, and wherein the exhaust fan includes air suction holes formed at two opposite end faces thereof and an air discharge hole formed at a rear side thereof, and a controller controlling operation the ventilation apparatus is installed between the exhaust fan and the top cover.