Heat recovery ventilator

Abstract

A heat recovery wheel for a heat exchanger includes a wheel rim defining an outer perimeter of the heat recovery wheel, and a plurality of wheel passages located between the wheel rim and the wheel axis. The plurality of wheel passages are at least partially defined by one or more passage fins. At least a portion of a passage fin of the plurality of passage fins extends non-parallel to the wheel axis between a first wheel end and a second wheel end. The plurality of wheel passages are configured for flow of a first airflow and a second airflow therethrough for thermal energy exchange between the first airflow and the second airflow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a housing, the housing defining:
 a first airflow chamber through which a first airflow is directed; and 
 a second airflow chamber through which a second airflow is directed; and 
   a heat recovery wheel disposed in the housing and rotatable about a wheel axis, the heat recovery wheel including:
 a wheel rim defining an outer perimeter of the heat recovery wheel; and 
 a plurality of wheel passages located between the wheel rim and the wheel axis, the plurality of wheel passages at least partially defined by one or more passage fins, at least a portion of a passage fin of the plurality of passage fins extending non-parallel to the wheel axis between a first wheel end of the heat recovery wheel and a second wheel end of the heat recovery wheel; 
 wherein the plurality of wheel passages are configured for flow of the first airflow and the second airflow therethrough for thermal energy exchange between the first airflow and the second airflow. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passage fin extends linearly non-parallel to the wheel axis from the first wheel end to the second wheel end. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passage fin includes:
 a first fin portion extending from the first wheel end parallel to the wheel axis;   a second fin portion extending from the second wheel end parallel to the wheel axis, circumferentially offset from the first fin portion; and   a third fin portion connecting the first fin portion to the second fin portion, the third fin portion non-parallel to the wheel axis.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein circumferentially adjacent passage fins are non-parallel. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passage fin is discontinuous between the first wheel end and the second wheel end. 
     
     
         6 . A heat recovery wheel for a heat exchanger, comprising:
 a wheel rim defining an outer perimeter of the heat recovery wheel; and   a plurality of wheel passages located between the wheel rim and the wheel axis, the plurality of wheel passages at least partially defined by one or more passage fins, at least a portion of a passage fin of the plurality of passage fins extending non-parallel to the wheel axis between a first wheel end and a second wheel end;   wherein the plurality of wheel passages are configured for flow of a first airflow and a second airflow therethrough for thermal energy exchange between the first airflow and the second airflow.   
     
     
         7 . The heat recovery wheel of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one passage fin extends linearly non-parallel to the wheel axis from the first wheel end to the second wheel end. 
     
     
         8 . The heat recovery wheel of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one passage fin includes:
 a first fin portion extending from the first wheel end parallel to the wheel axis;   a second fin portion extending from the second wheel end parallel to the wheel axis, circumferentially offset from the first fin portion; and   a third fin portion connecting the first fin portion to the second fin portion, the third fin portion non-parallel to the wheel axis.   
     
     
         9 . The heat recovery wheel of  claim 6 , wherein circumferentially adjacent passage fins are non-parallel. 
     
     
         10 . The heat recovery wheel of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one passage fin is discontinuous between the first wheel end and the second wheel end.