Air Handling Unit That Eliminates Corner Singularities and Eddies for High Energy Efficiency and Its Evaporator Heat Exchanger Coil Arrangements

Abstract

An air handling unit with a cross-sectional profile of continuous curvature eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency in comparison to rectangular air handling units. A housing has an outer shell, an inner shell, and an insulation shell between the outer and inner shells. A blower and motor assembly forces air through an air intake opening over a heat exchanger, and out through an air discharge opening. An upper door and a lower door in the wall of the housing allow maintenance access to the blower and motor assembly and the heat exchanger. Three heat exchanger coil arrangements are also disclosed: an A-coil arrangement, a parallel coil arrangement, and a circular coil arrangement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements comprises:
 a housing;   an air intake opening;   an air filter;   a heat exchanger;   a blower and motor assembly;   an air discharge opening;   the housing comprises a top end and a bottom end positioned vertically opposite each other along the housing, wherein a central axis of the housing is oriented vertically;   a cross-sectional profile of the housing being of continuous curvature;   the air intake opening traversing through the housing at the bottom end;   the air filter being positioned within the housing adjacent to the air intake opening;   the heat exchanger and the blower and motor assembly being positioned vertically adjacent to each other within the housing; and   the air discharge opening traversing through the housing at the top end.   
     
     
         2 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the cross-sectional profile being circular, wherein the housing is cylindrical. 
 
     
     
         3 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 an air discharge plenum; 
 the air discharge plenum being adjacently connected to the top end of the housing; 
 the air discharge plenum traversing through the top end of the housing; and 
 the air discharge opening traversing through the air discharge plenum. 
 
     
     
         4 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the heat exchanger being positioned within the housing adjacent to the air intake opening; 
 the filter being positioned adjacent to the air intake opening opposite the heat exchanger; and 
 the blower and motor assembly being positioned within the housing between the heat exchanger and the air discharge opening. 
 
     
     
         5 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the blower and motor assembly being positioned within the housing adjacent to the air intake opening and opposite the air filter; and 
 the heat exchanger being positioned within the housing between the blower and motor assembly and the air discharge opening. 
 
     
     
         6 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the air intake opening traversing through the bottom end of the housing. 
 
     
     
         7 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the heat exchanger being triangular in shape. 
 
     
     
         8 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the heat exchanger comprises a first coil panel and a second coil panel; 
 the first coil panel and the second coil panel being oriented parallel to each other; and 
 the first coil panel and the second coil panel being positioned vertically offset from each other within the housing. 
 
     
     
         9 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the heat exchanger being cylindrical; 
 the heat exchanger comprises a vertical gap; 
 an axis of the heat exchanger being oriented vertically; 
 the vertical gap being oriented parallel to the axis of the heat exchanger; and 
 the vertical gap laterally traversing through a perimeter of the heat exchanger into an interior of the heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         10 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a drip tray; and 
 the drip tray being positioned beneath the heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         11 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the housing further comprises an upper door and a lower door; 
 the upper door being positioned adjacent to the blower and motor assembly; and 
 the lower door being positioned adjacent to the heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         12 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the housing further comprises an upper door and a lower door; 
 the upper door being positioned adjacent to the heat exchanger; and 
 the lower door being positioned adjacent to the blower and motor assembly. 
 
     
     
         13 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 an outer top cover; 
 an air discharge plenum; 
 the outer top cover being positioned concentric to the housing; 
 the outer top cover being connected to the top end of the housing; and 
 the air discharge plenum traversing through the outer top cover. 
 
     
     
         14 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the housing further comprises an outer shell and an inner shell; and 
 the outer shell being concentrically positioned around the inner shell. 
 
     
     
         15 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 14  comprises:
 the housing further comprises an insulation shell; and 
 the insulation shell being positioned between the outer shell and the inner shell. 
 
     
     
         16 . The air handling unit that eliminates corner singularities and eddies for high energy efficiency and its evaporator heat exchanger coil arrangements as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 an air filter compartment; 
 the air filter compartment being positioned within the housing adjacent to the air intake opening; and 
 the air filter being removably positioned within the air filter compartment.