System and method for providing conditioned air to an enclosed structure

Abstract

An energy exchange system is configured to provide dry supply air to an enclosed structure. The system may include an energy transfer device having a first portion configured to be disposed within a supply air flow path and a second portion configured to be disposed within a regeneration air flow path. The energy transfer device is configured to decrease a humidity level of supply air. The energy transfer device is configured to be regenerated with regeneration air. The system may also include a first heat exchanger configured to be disposed within the supply air flow path downstream from the energy transfer device and within the regeneration air flow path upstream from the second portion of the energy transfer device. The first heat exchanger is configured to transfer sensible energy between the supply air and the regeneration air. The supply air is configured to be supplied to the enclosed structure after passing through the energy transfer device and the first heat exchanger.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a system and method for providing conditioned air to an enclosed structure, and more particularly, relate to an energy exchange system and method configured to provide conditioned air to a commodities storage structure, such as a grain silo or bin, for example.[0002]Enclosed structures, such as occupied buildings, factories, and animal barns, typically include a heating / ventilation / air conditioning (HVAC) system that is configured to condition ventilated and / or recirculated air in the structure. The HVAC system includes a supply path and a return and / or exhaust path. The supply path receives air, for example outside or ambient air, re-circulated air, or outside or ambient air mixed with re-circulated air, and channels and distributes the air into the enclosed structure. The air is conditioned by the HVAC system to provide a desired temperature and humidity of supply air discharged into the en...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of providing supply air to an enclosed structure. The method may include decreasing a humidity level of supply air with an energy transfer device having a first portion disposed within a supply air flow path, transferring sensible energy between the supply air and regeneration air with a first heat exchanger that is within the supply air flow path downstream from the energy transfer device and within the regeneration air flow path upstream from the second portion of the energy transfer device, regenerating the energy transfer device with the regeneration air that passes through a second portion of the energy transfer device disposed within a regeneration air flow path, and supplying the supply air to the enclosed structure after the decreasing and transferring operations.

Problems solved by technology

Without energy recovery, conditioning the supply air typically requires a significant amount of auxiliary energy.

If grain, that is too moist, is stored in a grain silo or bin, the grain may spoil.

Therefore, if the moisture level of the grain is too high, farmers typically wait for the grain to further ripen before harvesting the grain.

However, systems that utilize air blowers typically take several days, weeks, or even months to adequately dry a bin full of grain, depending on the moisture content of the outdoor air.

Moreover, a great deal of energy may be used to run the air blowers or fans over such long periods.

Accordingly, the cost of energy, whether in the form of electricity, diesel fuel, or the like, used to power the air blowers or fans may be a major expense.

Additionally, a typical tower dryer system consumes a relatively large amount of energy, both in terms of the continuous movement of grain from bin(s) to tower, as well operation of the gas-fired burner.

However, if the grain is not continuously moved through the tower, the heat may partially or fully cook protein inside kernels of the grain, thereby reducing the nutritional value of the grain.

Further, some crops, such as mustard, generally require even lower heating temperatures, such as below 115° F. Accordingly, the tower dryer system and method may generate temperatures that are too high for certain crops and grains.

Therefore, currently-known systems and methods may inefficiently and detrimentally dry grain within a silo or bin, for example.

Air blowers or fans may dry grain by using a relatively large amount of energy over a relatively long period of time.

Further, tower dryer systems may overheat the grain, thereby reducing its nutritional value.

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