Advanced energy recovery ventilator

Abstract

A composite ion exchange membrane is made by combining ionomer with porous polyolefin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The composite ion exchange membrane may be used in the core of an energy recovery ventilator. The core of the energy recovery ventilator may comprise corrugated or pleated supports for supporting the composite ion exchange membrane. The air flow into the energy recovery ventilator may be modified to actively create non-laminar flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An advanced energy recovery ventilator comprising:
 a) a composite ion exchange membrane comprising:
 i) a porous polyolefin support layer having a thickness and comprising a plurality of pores that extend through the thickness; 
 ii) an ionomer coupled to the porous support layer; 
 iii) an intake side; 
 iv) an extract side that is opposite the intake side; 
    wherein the composite ion exchange membrane is non-permeable, having a Gurley Densometer reading of at least 500 seconds;   b) an intake air inlet for receiving intake air   c) an exhaust air outlet;    wherein intake air enters the intake air inlet, passes by the intake side of said composite ion exchange membrane and exits the exhaust air outlet of the energy recovery ventilator as exhaust air;   d) an extract air inlet for receiving extract air;   e) a supply air outlet;    wherein extract air enters the extract air inlet, passes by the extract side of said composite ion exchange membrane and exits the supply air outlet of the energy recovery ventilator as supply air.   
     
     
         2 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the extract air is hotter than the supply air. 
     
     
         3 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust air is hotter than the intake air. 
     
     
         4 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the extract air comprises moisture and wherein said moisture in the extract air is transferred through the composite ion exchange membrane to the intake air. 
     
     
         5 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the porous support layer comprises expanded porous polyethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 5 , wherein the ionomer is imbibed into the expanded porous polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 6 , wherein the ionomer is imbibed into the pores of the polyolefin layer. 
     
     
         8 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the support layer is polyethylene. 
     
     
         9 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 8 , wherein the support layer is expanded Ultra-High Molecular Weight porous Polyethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the support layer is polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the ionomer is a styrene-based ion exchange ionomer. 
     
     
         12 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the composite ion exchange membrane is less than 25 microns thick. 
     
     
         13 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the composite ion exchange membrane is less than 15 microns thick. 
     
     
         14 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the composite ion exchange membrane is less than 10 microns thick. 
     
     
         15 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the composite ion exchange membrane is less than 5 microns thick. 
     
     
         16 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the composite ion exchange membrane comprises corrugations. 
     
     
         17 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the composite ion exchange membrane comprises corrugations. 
     
     
         18 . The advanced energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the composite ion exchange membrane is configured in an exchange module comprising a plurality of flow channels configured from corrugated composite ion exchange membrane.