Air handling unit for use with an air conditioning system

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an air handling unit (AHU) for use with an air conditioning system. The AHU comprises a housing defining the shape of the AHU, through which air is moved; a heat exchanger is disposed inside the housing. The heat exchanger is configured to facilitate a transfer of heat to and from the air moving through the housing. The AHU further comprises a diagonal-flow fan disposed inside the housing, wherein an air inflow into the fan and/or an air flow path through the fan is substantially axial, aligned along an axis of rotation of the fan, and wherein the AHU has a height-to-width ratio in a range between 1.8 and 2.0.

1 . An air handling unit (AHU) for use with an air conditioning system, the AHU comprising:
 a housing defining the shape of the AHU, through which air is moved;   a heat exchanger disposed inside the housing, the heat exchanger configured to facilitate a transfer of heat to and from the air moving through the housing; and   a diagonal-flow fan disposed inside the housing, wherein an air inflow into the fan and/or an air flow path through the fan is substantially axial, aligned along an axis of rotation of the fan, and wherein the AHU has a height-to-width ratio in a range between 1.8 and 2.3.   
     
     
         2 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein the fan has a height-to-width ratio in a range between 0.55 and 0.75. 
     
     
         3 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of height of the fan to an overall height of the AHU is in a range of 0.2 to 0.3. 
     
     
         4 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein a gap between an outlet plane of the heat exchanger and an inlet plane of the fan is in a range between 0 and 1 times an inlet diameter of the fan. 
     
     
         5 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein an outlet plane of the heat exchanger aligns with an inlet plane of the fan. 
     
     
         6 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an inlet of the fan is disposed within a space between heat exchange slabs associated with the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein an air inlet of the fan is substantially aligned to the air flow path through the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is substantially V-shaped or substantially A-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein shaft power to a motor driving the fan is in a range from 0.1 hp to 0.75 hp. 
     
     
         10 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein a rated speed of a rotor associated with the fan is in a range from 1400 RPM to 2500 RPM. 
     
     
         11 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein the speed of a motor associated with the fan is controllable from 50% to 120% of a rated speed of the motor. 
     
     
         12 . The AHU of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is driven by a motor equipped with drive electronics which are mounted remotely from the motor or integrated with the motor. 
     
     
         13 . An air handling unit (AHU) for use with an air conditioning system, the AHU comprising:
 a housing defining shape of the AHU, through which air is moved;   a heat exchanger disposed inside the housing, the heat exchanger configured to facilitate a transfer of heat to and from the air moving through the housing; and   a diagonal-flow fan disposed inside the housing, wherein an air inflow into the fan and/or an air flow path through the fan is substantially axial, aligned along an axis of rotation of the fan, and   wherein height of the fan is less than width of the fan, and a gap between an outlet plane of the heat exchanger and an inlet plane of the fan is in a range between 0 and 1 times an inlet diameter of the fan.   
     
     
         14 . The AHU of  claim 13 , wherein the fan has a height-to-width ratio in a range between 0.55 and 0.75. 
     
     
         15 . The AHU of  claim 13 , wherein the ratio of height of the fan to an overall height of the AHU is in a range of 0.2 to 0.3. 
     
     
         16 . The AHU of  claim 13 , wherein the AHU has a height-to-width ratio in a range between 1.8 and 2.3. 
     
     
         17 . The AHU of  claim 13 , wherein an air inlet of the fan is substantially aligned to the air flow path through the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The AHU of  claim 13 , wherein a gap between a fan outlet plane of the fan and an outlet plane of the housing is substantially zero.