Air handler cabinet and method of treating air

Abstract

A an air handler system, and a method of treating air with the system, the system including a heat exchanger portion configured to draw in room air and outside air to be applied to a heat exchanger, the outside air being drawn from an area adjacent to a room containing the air handler system, and an HVAC portion to perform heating and cooling to air to be circulated into the room, wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to deliver the outside air treated by the heat exchanger to the HVAC portion to be heated and cooled along with room air drawn into the HVAC portion.

1 . An air handler system comprising:
 a heat exchanger portion configured to draw in room air and outside air to be applied to a heat exchanger, the outside air being drawn from an area adjacent to a room containing the air handler system; and   an HVAC portion to perform heating and cooling to air to be circulated into the room;   wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to deliver the outside air treated by the heat exchanger to the HVAC portion to be heated and cooled along with room air drawn into the HVAC portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to expel the room air drawn into the heat exchanger portion outside the room after being passed through the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured in a first chamber, and the HVAC portion is configured in a second chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one heat exchanger portion vent to draw the room air into the first chamber;   at least one HVAC portion vent to draw the room air into the second chamber;   at least one heat exchanger portion outside air vent to draw the outside air in to the first chamber; and   at least one connecting vent to provide air communication between the first chamber and the second chamber.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one fan provided to the connecting vent to propel the treated outside air from the first chamber into the second chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a controller to control the fan to selectively propel the treated outside air from the first chamber into the second chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a sensor to sense one or more air qualities in the room and to control the fan according to the sensed air qualities. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger portion is configured to remove humidity and/or particulates from the outside air. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is an energy wheel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger portion is provided in a first chamber that is separated into first and second areas by the energy wheel. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a plate exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating air in an air handler system, the method comprising:
 drawing outside air from an outside area proximate the air handler system into a heat exchange chamber;   treating the outside air with a heat exchanger in the heat exchange chamber;   selectively drawing the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber into an HVAC chamber;   treating a mixture of the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber and indoor air drawn into the HVAC chamber from the room with an HVAC unit in the HVAC chamber; and   passing air from the HVAC unit into the room.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the treating the outside air with the heat exchanger in the heat exchange chamber includes drawing indoor air from the room into the heat exchange chamber to be used in the heat exchange along with the outside air drawn into the heat exchange chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selectively drawing the treated outside air from the heat exchange chamber into the HVAC chamber includes detecting one or more air qualities of the treated outside air being drawn from the heat exchange chamber and/or the indoor air being drawn into the HVAC chamber.