WO2013075722A1

WO2013075722A1 - A modular ventilation system with energy recovery

Info

Publication number: WO2013075722A1
Application number: PCT/DK2012/050429
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik BJØRN
Original assignee: Airmaster A/S
Priority date: 2011-11-24
Filing date: 2012-11-23
Publication date: 2013-05-30
Also published as: DK201170646A; DK177457B1

Abstract

A modular ventilation system comprising a stale air inlet with a stale air filter module, a fresh air inlet with a fresh air filter module, a heat exchanger module for receiving the stale air and the fresh air so as to exchange heat between the5 stale air and the fresh air, a stale air outlet fan module for drawing the stale air through the heat exchanger module and output heat exchanged stale air, a fresh air outlet fan module for drawing the fresh air through the heat exchanger module and output heat exchanged fresh air. The filter modules and the fan modules have identical first sets of interface edges and the heat exchanger has four identical10 second sets of interface edges mating the first sets of interface edges so as to allow the filter modules and the fan modules to be coupled to the heat exchanger module in any configuration.

Description

A MODULAR VENTILATION SYSTEM WITH ENERGY RECOVERY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for heating, ventilating and air conditioning, HVAC, and in particular to ventilation systems with energy recovery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recent years' increase in energy prices and concern as to global heating has resulted in a focus on using energy in an efficient manner. Conventionally, heating or cooling of houses or other buildings involves a heat source which raises the temperature of the air in the building. The air inside the building must be renewed to maintain an acceptable air quality in the building. Conventionally, renewal of air includes exhaust hot (or cold air) to the exterior and drawing in cold air (or hot air), and the temperature difference between interior and exterior air represents energy that can be transferred, at least to some extent, from e.g. the hot interior air to the colder exterior air by use of an energy recovery unit including fans, piping, heat exchanger etc. Such heat exchanger will reduce the net energy used to heat the air in the building. Such energy recovery units are often relatively large and require a substantial foot print in the building in which they are to be installed. Further, the architecture of buildings often varies a lot and even in apartment buildings, the individual apartments differ at least to the extent of different requirements as to piping to and from the ventilation system with energy recovery.

While other needs may prompt a desire for the present invention, differences in layout and architecture result in that ventilation systems with energy recovery in many instances are tailored to fit into a given building resulting in increased production costs and delivery time. Further, service of such energy recovery units is difficult due to the large variety of embodiments tailored to specific physical restrictions.

US 4,322,229 discloses an example of a unitary matrix, valve and fan housing for energy recovery. The housing is manufactured with a modular design allowing final on-site assembly in a number of varying configurations. However, the unit disclosed in US 4,322,229 still suffers from the drawback that the unitary matrix is a fixed stand-alone unit housing fans and heat storing matrix providing only limited geometrical flexibility. Hence, an improved ventilation system with energy recovery would be

advantageous, and in particular a more geometrically flexible ventilation system with energy recovery would be advantageous.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the prior art.

In particular, it may be seen as an object of the present invention to provide an ventilation system with energy recovery that solves the above mentioned problems of the prior art with respect to higher degrees of geometrical flexibility.

A further object may be to provide a ventilation system that is easy to assemble and having economical production costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a modular ventilation system comprising a stale air inlet for receiving stale air, a stale air filter module being provided for filtering the received stale air, a fresh air inlet for receiving fresh air, a fresh air filter module being provided for filtering the received fresh air, a heat exchanger module for receiving the filtered stale air and the filtered fresh air so as to exchange heat between the stale air and the fresh air, a stale air outlet with a stale air outlet fan module for drawing the stale air through the heat exchanger module and output heat exchanged stale air, a fresh air outlet with a fresh air outlet fan module for drawing the fresh air through the heat exchanger module and output heat exchanged fresh air, wherein the filter modules and the fan modules have identical first sets of interface edges and the heat exchanger has four identical second sets of interface edges mating the first sets of interface edges so as to allow the filter modules and the fan modules to be coupled to the heat exchanger module in any configuration.

Preferably, the ventilation system further comprises air duct elements for directing air flow through the heat exchanger module depending on the

configuration of the system.

In an embodiment the ventilation system with energy recovery comprises an inlet part (B) accommodating filter units for filtering fresh air and stale air, a core part accommodating a heat exchanger in which heat is exchanged between the stale air and the fresh air, and also containing a tray and pump for collecting and removing condensate from the heat exchanger, an outlet part accommodating two fans for drawing in fresh air and stale air respectively through the ventilation system with energy recovery, wherein said parts are assembled along mating edges to form the ventilation system with energy recovery, the mating edges being provided so that inlet part and the outlet part can swap position relatively to the core part without modifying the parts except from revealing or closing preformed openings in the elements to provide inlets or outlets, if needed, so as to change the configuration of the energy recovery unit without changing the ventilation and heat recovery action of the unit, and wherein each of the inlet part, the outlet part and the core part is formed by combining at least two elements.

Preferred embodiments of ventilation systems according to the present invention are characterised in that the parts are at the same time load bearing and provided thermal insulation of the ventilation system.

Preferably, the parts of the ventilation system are provided so that once assembled into a unit, the unit is airtight and fluid sealed and no further sealing of the unit is needed.

In the present context a number of terms are used in a manner being ordinary to a skilled person. However, some of these are explained in further detail below. Accommodating is preferably used to means that an item is contained within the part housing the item.

Mating edges is preferably used to mean edges that are adapted to each other so as to fit together.

Swap is preferably used to mean the process of two modules or parts changing positions in the unit in a manner where a first module or part takes the position of a second and the second part or module takes the position of the first. During such swapping, the orientation of the parts or modules involved may be rotated.

No modification of the parts is preferably used to mean that the element or module of which a part is composed maintain its geometry (e.g. no mass modification process is applied to the elements), although their mutual orientation may be changed.

A Configuration of the unit is preferably used to mean a distinct assembly of the various parts and modules. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention, and in preferred embodiments thereof will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show ways of implementing the present invention and are not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

Figure 1 shows in a 3-dimensional view a first embodiment of a ventilation system with energy recovery according to the present invention, Figure 2 shows the system of figure 1 in an exploded view, the ventilation system is seen from below relative to its orientation in use,

Figure 3 shows internal details of the embodiment of figure 1; in figure 3 outer surfaces of the ventilation system with energy recovery have been removed and flow paths indicated. Figure 4 shows a 2-dimensional view of a first assembling mechanism between two elements Figure 5 shows a 3-dimensional view of a second assembling mechanism between two elements

Figure 6 shows in a 3-dimensional view an embodiment of the ventilation system with energy recovery in an exploded view which is laterally reversed from the ventilation system with energy recovery showed on figure 2, the ventilation system is seen from below relatively to its orientation in use,

Figure 7 shows in a 3-dimensional view a further embodiment of a ventilation system with energy recovery according to the present invention,

Figure 8 shows a ventilation system with energy recovery with its cold side facing up in the figure and its warm side facing down,

Figure 9 shows a ventilation system with energy recovery with its cold side facing to the left in the figure and its warm side facing to the right,

Figure 10 shows a first configuration of an embodiment of a ventilation system with energy recovery according to the invention with a central heat exchanging module and interchangeable filter modules and fan modules,

Figure 11 shows an exploded view of the ventilation system in figure 10,

Figure 12 shows a second configuration of the ventilation system in figure 10, Figure 13 shows an exploded view of the ventilation system in figure 12,

Figure 14 shows an embodiment of a ventilation system with energy recovery according to the invention with a central heat exchanging module and

interchangeable filter modules and fan modules, Figure 15 shows an exploded view of the ventilation system in figure 14, and

Figure 16 is an exploded view of a fan module for use in a ventilation system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows an assembled view of a ventilation system with energy recovery A according to a first embodiment of the invention and in a first configuration. The ventilation system with energy recovery A is intended for installation in e.g. houses and apartments, and comprises an opening for inlet of stale, inside air as well as an opening for inlet of fresh outside air. A fan inside the ventilation system with energy recovery enables air to flow into the ventilation system with energy recovery A. The ventilation system with energy recovery further comprises a flow path for the stale, inside air and another flow path for the fresh outside air, which flow paths include a heat exchanger through by means of which the heat goes from the warmer air flow to the cooler air flow.

In situations where the indoor temperature is higher than the outside

temperature, the stale, warm, inside air enables a heating of the fresh, cool outside air and exhaust the fresh warmed-up air to the inside surroundings and exhaust the stale, cooled air to the outside surroundings. In the same way, if the indoor temperature is lower than the outside temperature, the ventilation system with energy recovery can be used for cooling down the incoming fresh, warm, outside air and exhaust this to the indoor surroundings.

Due to the modular structure (as will be further detailed below) of the invention, the ventilation system with energy recovery A may be configured in a number of ways, as will be disclosed in further detail in a later paragraph. This entails the advantage of a geometrically flexible construction, and that the openings for inlet and outlet of air can be positioned depending upon the needed location and orientation, e.g. laterally or up/down reversed from the configuration on figure 1, which gives an advantage in e.g. apartment buildings, where a large number of ventilation systems with energy recovery are required, and where apartments are laterally reversed, as the very same modules can be used for establishing ventilation systems with energy recovery meeting different geometrical requirements or desires.

The ventilation system with energy recovery A typically consists of 17 different elements and 22 elements in total. All possible configurations require usage of the 22 elements. This will ease the work load in packing and storage since the same elements are stored and delivered not depending on the required configuration.

With reference to figure 1 the ventilation system with energy recovery A comprises three parts: An inlet part B, an outlet part C, and a core part D. These parts are indicated by indication lines 50 in the figures, which indication lines 50 are not part of the system. Each of the parts are hollow structures is adapted to defined flow paths and accommodating functional parts (filters, fans, heat exchanger, drip tray etc.) of the ventilation system with energy recovery A. The inlet part B and the core part D have mating edges defined by the extremities and upon assembly of the inlet part B and the core part D these mating edges abut each other, and forms typically a fluid tight seal.

Similarly, the core part D and the outlet part C have mating edges which upon assembly abut each other typically to form a fluid tight seal.

The inlet part B comprises an opening for inlet of fresh, outside air 24 and an opening for exhausting inside air 25. The outlet part C comprises an opening 29 for exhausting stale, air to the outside surroundings. Exhaustion of heated (or cooled) outside air 39 into the building is done through an opening 30 in the core part D.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the ventilation system with energy recovery A according to a first embodiment of the invention and in a first configuration.

The inlet part B, the outlet part C, and the core part D defines a sealed unit where internal flow paths are defined by internal wall parts of the modules in

combination with the exterior of the modules. The inlet part B comprises two filter housing elements 3 and 4, an inlet element 10, two plug elements 16, and a plug element with a hole 17. The hole is intended for a sensor arranged to measure e.g. the temperature inside the ventilation system and wires to the sensor extend through hole 17, and a sealing is provided to seal the hole once the wire and sensor is arranged. Such hole 17 may be provided at other locations of the ventilation system, or the position of elements 17 and 16 may swap.

The filter housing elements 3 and 4 are assembled for housing or accommodating a ventilation filter as well as inlet of outside air, i.e. circular shaped inlet openings 21, 22, 23, and 24, and furthermore square shaped inlet opening 25 for inside air. The two plug elements 16 are assembled to the openings 21 and 22 and thereby blocking the openings 21 and 22, and the plug element with a hole 17 is assembled to the opening 23 and thereby blocking the opening 23, and thus leaving one opening 24 unblocked for inlet of air. The square shaped inlet element 10 is assembled to the opening 25. The square shaped opening 25 has the dimensions in accordance with ventilations requirements. The square shaped element 10 is assembled towards the top edge of the square shaped opening 25 leaving an opening towards element 4 in the bottom of the square shaped opening 25 for inlet of inside air.

The outlet part C comprises two motor elements 6 and 7, two ventilator elements 13, and three plug elements 16. The motor housing elements 6 and 7 are assembled for housing or

accommodating a motor as well as exhausting air, i.e. circular shaped outlet openings 26, 27, 28, and 29, and also enabling assembly of the square shaped ventilation elements 13, which are assembled between the two motor elements. The three plugs 16 are assembled to the openings 26, 27, and 28 blocking the openings 26, 27, and 28, and thus leaving one opening 29 unblocked for exhaustion of air.

The core part D comprises a square shaped silencer element 11, which has a square shaped opening 30 on one side. The core part D further comprises an outlet element 12, a channel element 8, a pump insertion element 14, a filter motor element 9, two centre elements 1 and 2, a pump element 15 and a channel element 5.

The outlet element 12 is assembled to the opening 30 of the silencer element 11 enabling air outlet and silencing sound in the air. The channel element 8 is assembled to the silencer element 11 enabling an air channel. The channel element 8 is assembled to centre element 2 providing two square openings 31 and 32. The square shaped pump insertion element 14 is assembled to the opening 31 of element 8 enabling a continuous air flow through the channels, and the square shaped filter motor element 9 is assembled to the opening 32.

Channel element 5 is assembled to centre element 1 enabling a continuous air flow through the channels, and also enabling a square shaped opening 33. The pump element 15 is assembled to the opening 33. The two centre elements 1 and 2 are assembled providing a section centre section between the channel elements 5 and 8, thus enabling assembly of part B and C to part D.

All elements the ventilation system with energy recovery A are made of expanded polypropylene (EPP) and are produced using heat moulding. The corners are rounded and angles between adjoining surfaces provided so as to provide mould slip.

All elements of the ventilation system with energy recovery A abut one or more elements, and the edges of an element that abut another element has a special design which serves as an assembly mechanism to seal the gap between two elements and thermally insulate, and preferably also electrically insulate, the ventilation system with energy recovery A. The edges of an element which do not abut another element are rounded. The design of an assembly mechanism can be seen on figure 4, where one element (element Y on figure 4) has a male fitting, and the other element

(element X on figure 4) has a female fitting. The female fitting is placed on the mated edge of one element and comprises a slot 46 along the edge, and the opposite male fitting is placed on the mated edge of the other element and comprises tongue 47. This tongue-and-groove joint is advantageous since it can be assembled and disassembled by hand.

Due to the low stiffness of EPP, it is possible to assemble the male fitting into the female fitting by pressing the two elements against each other and thereby slightly bending the slot 46 of one element until the elements join and the slot 46 will rearrange to its default position.

E.g. part D is assembled by the elements 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, and 15.

Element 1 and 1 are assembled and an edge of element 1 has a profile as element Y on figure 4, and the mated edge of the element has a profile as element X on figure 4. When pressing mating edges of elements 1 and 2 together the elements will attach. This assembling mechanism is used for fitting the elements together edge to edge and thereby strongly joining the abut elements and furthermore providing a smooth surface.

Another way of assembling elements is shown on figure 5. All edges that abut another element have either a slot 48 or a ridge 49 placed on the middle of the edge. One element (element X' on figure 5) has an edge with a spiky ridge 49, and the opposite element (element Y' on figure 5) has an edge with a matching slot 48. The ridge 49 projects a little less than the depth of the slot 48 allowing a thin layer of glue between the elements. The elements are assembled by applying the edge of one element to the mated edge of the opposite element joining the ridge 49 on element X' to the slot 48 of the opposite element Y'. The ridges and slots serve as fix points for the assembly and before assembling two elements a thin layer of glue is applied to the edges giving means for keeping the elements together.

Although not needed in many of the preferred embodiments, stabilisation and support of the ventilation system with energy recovery A, and prevent the elements and parts from detaching, a support structure may be applied to the ventilation system with energy recovery (A). The support structure may

preferably be in the form of a steel box or a box made from a fibre board, such as a medium density fibre board. Such boxes may also be applied to the ventilation system to make it fire- retard ant and/or to silence the ventilation system.

The box is designed with internal dimensions adapting it to receive the assembled parts and elements in a firm fit, and it has openings corresponding to the openings 21-30 for all configurations of the ventilation system with energy recovery A. The box is open on one side which serves as an opening for mounting the ventilation system with energy recovery A, and after mounting the ventilation system with energy recovery A into the box, the box is closed with a steel lid, which is fastened with one screw in each of the four corners of the lid.

The modular structure of the invention entails 32 different configurations of the ventilation system with energy recovery A. For all configurations the same 22 elements are used. Figure 1 shows a configuration where the inlet of fresh outside air comes through the opening 24 while openings 21, 22, and 23 are closed with plugs. Since the plug 16 fits into any of the four holes 21, 22, 23, and 24, this gives four different openings that can be used for inlet of fresh outside air. The configuration in figure 1 shows that the stale air is exhausted to the outdoor surroundings through the opening 29 while the openings 26, 27, and 28 are closed with a plug, 16. Since plug element 16 also fits into any of the four holes 26, 27, 28, and 29, this gives four different openings that can be used for exhausting the stale air to the outdoor surroundings.

With four possibilities for inlet of fresh outside air, and four possibilities for exhausting stale air to the outdoor surroundings, this gives 16 different

configurations to be used. As can be seen on figure 10 it is possible to laterally reverse the ventilation system with energy recovery A. When laterally reversing the ventilation system with energy recovery A there is still four different possibilities for inlet of fresh outside air, and four possibilities for exhausting stale air to the outdoor surroundings, which gives another 16 different configurations to be used. In total this gives 32 different configurations to be used.

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the ventilation system with energy recovery A according to a second embodiment of the invention and in a second configuration. This configuration is a laterally reversed configuration of the first configuration on figure 2.

The inlet part B comprises two filter housing elements 3 and 4, an inlet element 10, two plug elements 16, and a plug element with a hole 17.

The filter housing elements 3 and 4 are assembled for housing or accommodating a ventilation filter as well as inlet of outside air, i.e. circular shaped inlet openings 21, 22, 23, and 24, and furthermore square shaped inlet opening 25 for inside air. The two plug elements 16 are assembled to the openings 22 and 23 and thereby blocking the openings 22 and 23, and the plug element with a hole 17 is assembled to the opening 21 and thereby blocking the opening 21, and thus leaving one opening 24 unblocked for inlet of air. The square shaped inlet element 10 is assembled to the opening 25. In general, units according to the present invention are preferably dimensioned according to a desired design criterion, typically restrictions as to dimensions (such as foot-print) and yielding capacity. Accordingly, openings in the unit are typically dimensioned to meet such criteria. The square shaped element 10 is assembled towards the top edge of the square shaped opening 25 leaving an opening towards element 3 in the bottom of the square shaped opening 25 for inlet of inside air.

The outlet part C comprises two motor housing elements 6 and 7, two ventilator elements 13, and three plug elements 16. The motor housing elements 6 and 7 are assembled for housing or

accommodating a motor as well as exhausting air, i.e. circular shaped outlet openings 26, 27, 28, and 29, and also enabling assembling the square shaped ventilation elements 13, which are assembled between the two motor elements. The three plugs 16 are assembled to the openings 26, 27, and 28 blocking the openings 26, 27, and 28, and thus leaving one opening 29 unblocked for exhausting of air.

The outlet element 12 is assembled to the opening 30 of the silencer element 11 enabling air outlet. The channel element 5 is assembled to the silencer element 11 enabling an air channel. The channel element 5 is assembled to centre element 2 providing two square openings 31 and 32. The square shaped pump insertion element 14 is assembled to the opening 31 of element 5 enabling a continuous air flow through the channels. Channel element 8 is assembled to centre element 1 enabling a continuous air flow through the channels, and also enabling a square shaped opening 33 and 34. The pump element 15 is assembled to the opening 33, and the square shaped filter motor element 9 is assembled to the opening 34. The two centre elements 1 and 2 are assembled providing a centre section between the channel elements 5 and 8, thus enabling assembling part B and C to part D.

The configuration on figure 6 gives a ventilation system with energy recovery A which is laterally reversed from the configuration of the first configuration on figure 2 and still using the same elements. This is possible due to the fact that all elements have the same assembling mechanism, and it is therefore possible to swap some of the elements and still maintain a fluid tight sealing between the elements. Additionally parts B and C have identically shaped edges along the edges that are assembled with part D, and they can therefore be swapped and reversed. The plugs 16 and 17 all fit into any of the openings 21-24 and 26-29 which therefore makes it possible to freely configure which hole should be closed and which should be left open. It is in general preferred to arrange the wires and connection of the ventilation system, so that they extend or face downwardly, when the ventilation system is in use.

In order to maintain the interior flow paths of the ventilation system with energy recovery A, some elements in part D are also swapped; however elements 1 and 2 typically maintain their mutual position. I.e. element 8 and 9 are positionally swapped with element 5. This is also possible inter alia due to the fact that the elements have the same assembly mechanism. Additionally, motor element 9 can be assembled on both opening 32 on element 2 and opening 34 on element 1. Thereby, the flow path internally in the ventilation system can be changed to meet the configuration of the elements. Additionally element 5 and 8 need to be swapped in order to maintain the flow paths of the ventilation system with energy recovery A. However, both elements 5 and 8 also both need to be able to be assembled with element 11, which is possible due to the fact that the assembly mechanism on both elements are the same. As also apparent from the figures, elements 14 and 15 maintain their position relatively to the elements 1 and 2. The various configurations of the elements make it possible to change the flow paths internally in the ventilation system A so that e.g. the flow path is adapted to flow intentionally through the various components, such as filters, pump, condensate tray, condensate pump, heat exchanger.

Figure 3 shows internal details of the embodiment of figure 1; in figure 3 outer surfaces of the ventilation system with energy recovery has been removed to reveal various functional parts of the ventilation system with energy recovery A visible. In addition, flow paths for fresh air, bypass of fresh air and inside air are indicated.

As indicated above and in figure 3, the ventilation system with energy recovery A comprises the following functional features: two fans 35 and 45, a heat exchanger 36 and two filter units 37 and 38. The ventilation system with energy recovery A further comprises a unit for collecting condensate from the heat exchanger 36, which preferably is placed below the heat exchanger 36. Fresh air 39 is drawn in by use of the fan 45 into the ventilation system with energy recovery A through the opening 24 (see figure 1) and flows towards and through a filter unit 37 filtering particles having sizes larger than a given size off. The given size is selected during the design of the ventilation system with energy recovery to meet a designer defined criterion. A preferred purpose of the filtering units 37, 38 is to avoid blockage of the heat exchanger 36 by particles contained in the airstream passing the heat exchanger 36.

After the fresh air 39 has passed through the filter unit 37, it flow towards and through the heat exchanger 36 in which heat is exchanged with the inside air drawn into the ventilation system with energy recovery A. After passage of the heat exchanger 36, the fresh air flows towards and through the fan 45, where after it leaves the ventilation system with energy recovery A through opening 30 (see figure 2).

The flow of inside air 40 into, through and out of the ventilation system with energy recovery A is similarly to the flow of fresh air 39. Thus, inside air 40 is drawn in by use of the fan 35 into the ventilation system with energy recovery A through the opening 25 and flows towards and though the filter unit 38, having the same function as to filter of particles as the filter unit 37. After passage of the filter unit 38, the air flows towards and through the heat exchanger 36 in which heat is exchanged with the filtered fresh air 39. After passage of the heat exchanger 36, the inside air 40 flows towards and through the fan 35, where after it leaves the ventilation system with energy recovery A through opening 29 (see fig. 1). During use of the ventilation system with energy recovery A, it is often desired to have bypassed an amount of fresh air from going into the heat exchanger 36. This could e.g. be due to the fact that a high efficiency of the heat exchanger 36 as to heat exchange requires a certain amount of airflow and that the need for fresh air exceeds that certain amount of airflow in the heat exchanger 36. The bypass is accomplished by leading an amount of fresh air, bypass air 41, towards the fan 45 in a flow path bypassing the heat exchanger 36, e.g. as indicated in fig. 3. The amount of bypass air 41 is determined e.g. by a valve arranged, adjustable shutters or similar typically arranged at the outlet of the filter unit 37 (not shown).

To avoid mixing of the various air streams in the heat recovering unit A, separate flow channels are defined in the heat recovering unit A in such a manner that inside air 40 is not mixed with fresh air 39 and bypass air 41 and vice versa. The flow channels are e.g. defined by separating walls e.g. as shown in fig. 3 with numeral 42a which separates the internal volume of inlet part B into two chambers 43 and 44 constituting two separate flow channels and accommodating the filter elements 37 and 38.

The fans 35 and 45 are preferably low noise centrifugal blower fans of

conventional types. The rotational speed of the fans is preferably adjustable so as to render it possible to control the amount of air drawn through the ventilation system with energy recovery A.

Figure 7 shows in a 3-dimensional view a further embodiment of a ventilation system with heat recovery according to the present invention. The unit shown in fig. 7 contains a different shaped element 11 (with reference to e.g. fig. 2) and this element 51 has a dimension extending along the full length of the unit. The element 51 has been provided with eight openings 52, which is shown in fig. 7 as circular openings although differently shaped openings. The openings 52 are configurable by suitable plugs (e.g. 16 and 17 in fig. 2) to form inlet, outlet, exhaust, intake etc. as disclosed herein in 2 x 4⁴ = 512 different combinations of arrangement.

In figures 8 and 9 is shown two configurations of a relatively flat ventilation system with energy recovery according to the invention. The system can be configured according to individual needs.

The flexibility of the system allows e.g. the configuration in figure 8 where the "cold side" faces upward with the intake of cold fresh air CF and the outlet of cold used air CU, and the "warm side" faces downward with the intake of warm used air WU and the outlet of warm fresh air WF.

In other applications the configuration in figure 9 where the "cold side" faces to the left hand side with the intake of cold fresh air CF and the outlet of cold used air CU, and the "warm side" faces to the right hand side with the intake of warm used air WU and the outlet of warm fresh air WF.

Components and modules of a system according to the invention will typically be accommodated in a housing composed of two shells that are assembled along mating edges to form a closed airtight housing. Preferred materials for the housing shells are expanded polypropylene, EPP, or expanded polystyrene, EPS. Systems for domestic use may be accommodated in housings well above one metre in the long direction, while dimensions in a short direction can be a few tens of centimetres. With rectangular housings this means that long edges of the shells are separated by a distance corresponding to the length of the short edges, while short edges of the shells are separated by a distance corresponding to the length of the long edges. Production tolerances are mainly proportional to dimensions, and since the long edges of the shells are a relatively short distance apart, this in turn means that the distance between opposed long edges of a shell is manufactured to relatively small tolerances, and further, since the short edges of the shells are a relatively long distance apart, this in turn means that the distance between opposed short edges of a shell is manufactured to relatively large tolerances. This difference in tolerances results in correspondingly different requirements to the mating surfaces of edges to be joined in order to ensure an airtight housing when the shells have been assembled.

In figure 10 is shown an embodiment of a modular ventilation system with energy recovery according to the invention in a first configuration. The ventilation system has a heat exchanger module 1010 with two filter modules 1020, 1021 and two fan modules 1030, 1031 coupled to the heat exchanger module 1010. Air guiding elements 1040, 1041 are coupled to the heat exchanger module 1010 and respective ones of the filter modules 1020, 1021 and fan modules 1030, 1031 to establish internal air ducts in the ventilating system. Like described above, fresh air and stale air are drawn in through the filter modules 1020, 1021 and through the heat exchanger module 1010 and the two streams of air leave the system through the fan modules 1030, 1031.

In figure 11 is shown the modules in an exploded view of the system in figure 10. In figure 12 is shown an embodiment of a modular ventilation system with energy recovery according to the invention in a second configuration using the same or identical modules and elements as in figures 10 and 11. The ventilation system has a heat exchanger module 1210 with two filter modules 1220, 1221 and two fan modules 1230, 1231 coupled to the heat exchanger module 1210. Air guiding elements 1240, 1241 are coupled to the heat exchanger module 1210 and respective ones of the filter modules 1220, 1221 and fan modules 1230, 1231 to establish internal air ducts in the ventilating system. Like described above, fresh air and stale air are drawn in through the filter modules 1220, 1221 and through the heat exchanger module 1210 and the two streams of air leave the system through the fan modules 1230, 1231. In comparison to figure 10 the pair of filter modules and the pair of fan modules are swapped whereby a "left hand" configuration can be changed to a "right hand" configuration using the same or identical modules and elements. In figure 13 is shown the modules in an exploded view of the system in figure 12.

In figure 14 is shown an embodiment of a modular ventilation system with energy recovery according to the invention. The ventilation system has a heat exchanger module 1410 with two filter modules 1420, 1421 and two fan modules 1430, 1431 coupled to the heat exchanger module 1410. Air guiding elements 1440, 1441 and 1442, 1443 are coupled to the heat exchanger module 1410 and respective ones of the filter modules 1420, 1421 and fan modules 1430, 1431 to establish internal air ducts in the ventilating system. Like described above, fresh air and stale air are drawn in through the filter modules 1420, 1421 and through the heat exchanger module 1410 and the two streams of air leave the system through the fan modules 1430, 1431. In comparison to figures 10 and 12 the filter modules 1420, 1421 are coupled to the heat exchanger module 1410 at opposite sides of the heat exchanger module and the fan modules 1430, 1431 are coupled to the heat exchanger module side by side with the filter modules 1420, 1421. The filter modules 1420, 1421 and the fan modules 1430, 1431 can also be arranged as in figures 10 and 12.

Figure 16 is an exploded view of a fan module 1630 like the fan modules used in figures 14-15. The fan module 1630 has a motor with a fan 1631 that is accommodated in a fan module housing comprising an air inlet housing part 1632 and an air outlet housing part 1633 which are assembled along mating edges to form an airtight housing with an air inlet opening defined in the air inlet housing part 1632 and an air outlet defined in the air outlet housing part 1633. In use, the air inlet housing part 1632 will be oriented with the air inlet opening facing a corresponding opening in the heat exchanger module so as to draw air from the heat exchanger module. The air inlet housing part 1632 and the air outlet housing part 1633 have a square cross section perpendicular to the shown axial direction, and the air outlet housing part 1633 can be assembled with the air inlet housing part 1632 in different angular positions relative to the air inlet housing part, where the positions are determined by the geometry of the inlet and outlet housing parts. Hereby the air outlet opening can be oriented as shown or at angles ±90 degrees and 180 degrees relative to the shown orientation. Hereby a ventilation system using fan modules 1630 can be configured with the air outlets not only as shown in figures 10, 12 and 14 but with one or both air outlets oriented at 90 degrees relative thereto. This gives a high degree of flexibility.

In the shown embodiment the mating edges of the air inlet housing part 1632 and the air outlet housing part 1633 define a square resulting in four possible angles of relative orientation. Other fixed angular orientations can be obtained by the mating edges defining a regular polygon such as a hexagon or an octagon, and free angular orientation can be obtained if the mating edges define a circle.

The embodiments in figure 10, 11, 12 and 13 correspond to figure 8, and the embodiment in figure 14 and 15 correspond to figure 9. In all embodiments the heat exchanger module will normally have a drip tray for collecting condensed water and a pump for removing condensed water.

In all the embodiments shown and described the filter modules and the fan modules have identical first sets of interface edges, and the heat exchanger has four identical second sets of interface edges mating the first sets of interface edges so as to allow the filter modules and the fan modules to be coupled to the heat exchanger module in any configuration.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms "comprising" or "comprises" do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as "a" or "an" etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.

Claims

1. A modular ventilation system (A) comprising

- a stale air inlet for receiving stale air, a stale air filter module (1020, 1021, 1220, 1221, 1420, 1421) being provided for filtering the received stale air,

a fresh air inlet for receiving fresh air, a fresh air filter module (1020, 1021, 1220, 1221, 1420, 1421) being provided for filtering the received fresh air, a heat exchanger module (1010, 1210, 1410) for receiving the filtered stale air and the filtered fresh air so as to exchange heat between the stale air and the fresh air,

a stale air outlet with a stale air outlet fan module (1030, 1031, 1230, 1231, 1430, 1431) for drawing the stale air through the heat exchanger module and output heat exchanged stale air,

- a fresh air outlet with a fresh air outlet fan module (1030, 1031, 1230, 123, 1430, 1431) for drawing the fresh air through the heat exchanger module and output heat exchanged fresh air,

wherein the filter modules (1020, 1021, 1220, 1221, 1420, 1421) and the fan modules (1030, 1031, 1230, 1231, 1430, 1431) have identical first sets of interface edges and the heat exchanger module (1010, 1210, 1410) has four identical second sets of interface edges mating the first sets of interface edges so as to allow the filter modules (1020, 1021, 1220, 1221, 1420, 1421) and the fan modules (1030, 1031, 1230, 1231, 1430, 1431) to be coupled to the heat exchanger module (1010, 1210, 1410) in any configuration.

2. A ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the air filter modules form an inlet part (B), the outlet fan modules form an outlet part (C) and the heat exchanger module form a core part (D), where the inlet part (B), the outlet part (C) and the core part (D) define a sealed unit where internal flow paths are defined by internal wall parts of the elements in combination with the exterior of the elements, said flow passages guide the fresh air and stale air from inlet openings (21-25) to outlet openings (26-30) provided in the unit, through the filtering units (37, 38) the heat exchanger (36) and the fans (35, 45).

3. A ventilation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein two or more elements of the core part (D) are shaped so that they can be swapped to maintain the flow path of the ventilation system with energy recovery using the same elements regardless of the configuration of the ventilation system with energy recovery

4. A ventilation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet part (B) comprising a number of blockable openings (21-24) forming a number of selectable inlets, a given opening is selected as inlet by blocking by use of a plug element (16, 17) the remaining openings.

5. A ventilation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet part (C) comprising a number of blockable openings (26-29) forming a number of selectable outlets, a given opening is selected as outlet by blocking by use of a plug element (16, 17) the remaining openings.

6. A ventilation system according any of the preceding claims, wherein mating edges of the inlet part, the core part and the outlet part along which the parts are assembled are defined so that the edges abut each other, and comprising a slot (46, 48) and a ridge (47, 49).

7. A ventilation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the various elements of each part are assembled being assembled along mating edges to form the parts of the energy recovering unit.

8. A ventilation system unit according any of the preceding claims, wherein mating edges two or more of the elements along which the elements are assembled are defined so that the edges abut each other, and comprising a slot (46, 48) and a ridge (47, 49).

9. A ventilation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the various parts and elements are fixed to each by gluing the parts and elements together along the mating edges.

10. A ventilation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the unit further comprising a support structure, in the form of a tube grid, preferably made of steel, or a box having internal dimensions adapting it to receive the assembled parts and elements in a firm fit.

11. A ventilation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the unit further comprising a unit for collecting condensate from the heat exchanger.

12. A ventilation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elements are designed so that they are reusable in various configurations in a manner wherein the number of elements and the elements are identical regardless of the configuration of the unit.

13. A ventilation system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elements and parts a made from expanded polypropylene (EPP) or expanded polystyrene (EPS).

14. A ventilation system according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising air duct elements (1040, 1041, 1240, 1241, 1440, 1441, 1442, 1443) for directing air flow through the heat exchanger module depending on the configuration of the system.

15. A ventilation system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fan modules (1630) have a motor with a fan (1631) that is accommodated in a fan module housing comprising an air inlet housing part (1632) and an air outlet housing part (1633) which are assembled along mating edges to form an airtight housing with an air inlet opening defined in the air inlet housing part (1632) and an air outlet defined in the air outlet housing part (1633), where the air inlet housing part (1632) and the air outlet housing part (1633) have a cross section allowing the air outlet housing part (1633) to be assembled with the air inlet housing part (1632) in a plurality of angular positions relative to the air inlet housing part (1632).