Multifunctional controlled mechanical ventilation unit

Abstract

A controlled mechanical ventilation unit (1), particularly of point dual-flow type, comprising: a casing (2) which houses a first channel (17) and a second channel (18) where an exhaust air flow and a fresh air flow circulate respectively; a heat exchanger (20) connected to the channels (17, 18) to exchange heat between the flows circulating in the two channels (17, 18); a refrigeration group (25) comprising a compressor (40), an evaporator (41), a condenser (42) and a capillary tube (43) connected by a cooling circuit (44) in which a refrigerant fluid circulates; the evaporator (41) being located along the second channel (18) to absorb heat from the fresh air circulating in the second channel (18) and dehumidify the fresh air; the condenser (42) being located along the first channel (17) to intercept the exhaust air flow leaving the exchanger (20).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102024000017449 filed on July 26, 2024 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention concerns a multifunctional controlled mechanical ventilation unit, which combines several functions in the same unit.BACKGROUND

[0003] It is known that to obtain an effective exchange of air in a closed environment, for example in buildings, both residential and buildings intended for a variety of activities, controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) machines are used.

[0004] CMV machines ensure effective exchange of air inside buildings of all types.

[0005] In particular in a residential context (but not only) so-called point or decentralized controlled mechanical ventilation units are used, which can be installed visible also in non-dedicated environments, namely in the room where the ventilation is required and not in a dedicated technical room.

[0006] In addition to high efficiency and low consumption, these particular units must also have compact overall dimensions and a high safety level, since they are intended for installation in any room where persons are present.

[0007] The CMV machines available today do not generally guarantee a high level of air comfort when the external conditions are critical in terms of humidity.

[0008] Due also to the need to limit overall dimensions and consumption and ensure a high safety level during use, the point CMV machines currently available are not able to dehumidify the air.

[0009] To obtain air dehumidification, it is necessary to use specific conditioners or dehumidifiers.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks highlighted above, providing a controlled mechanical ventilation unit, in particular of point type, namely installed visible in individual rooms, that combines with the traditional function of exchange of air the further function of air dehumidification.SUMMARY

[0011] The present invention therefore relates to a controlled mechanical ventilation unit as defined in the appended claim 1, and with regards to additional features, in the dependent claims.

[0012] Essentially, the CMV unit of the invention is configured to treat at least two counter-current air flows that pass through a heat exchanger that maximizes energy efficiency. A first air flow is drawn from the external environment and introduced into the room to be ventilated; the other flow draws exhaust air from the room and expels it to the outside. The air flows pass through a condenser and an evaporator of a refrigeration group so that they can be conditioned in terms of temperature and humidity.

[0013] In this way, the unit provides dehumidified fresh air, in a particularly simple and effective manner.

[0014] The particular internal arrangement of the various components allows for limited overall dimensions, so that the unit can be installed directly in the rooms where the exchange of air is required.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention is further described in the following nonlimiting embodiment examples, with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 is a front perspective view of a controlled mechanical ventilation unit in accordance with the invention; figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the unit of figure 1; figure 3 is a front view with parts removed for clarity of the unit of figure 1; figure 4 is a front perspective view with further parts removed for clarity of the unit of figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0016] In the attached figures, the number 1 indicates overall a controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) unit 1 of point (or decentralized) type with dual flow. As known, by "point" we mean a CMV machine which is installed visible in rooms where persons are normally permanently present (and not in technical rooms designed to house machines and equipment and only occasionally users); the expression "dual flow" indicates a CMV machine that operates with two air flows that take place simultaneously in respective separate distribution channels.

[0017] The unit 1 is therefore a CMV unit of point type with dual flow, which is installed in use in an installation room and is configured to circulate air in the room in which the unit is installed, drawing an exhaust air flow directly from the installation room and conveying it to the outside of the room; and introducing a fresh air flow, drawn from outside the installation room, directly into the installation room; the exhaust air flow and the fresh air flow are circulated simultaneously inside the unit 1 in respective separate channels.

[0018] In particular, the unit 1 comprises a casing 2, formed of various parts assembled together and having in particular a front cover plate 3, a rear wall 4, opposite the front plate 3, and lateral edges 5 that join the front plate 3 and the rear wall 4 and are preferably provided with grilles 6.

[0019] The casing 2 is provided with an exhaust air inlet 11, an exhaust air outlet 12, a fresh air inlet 13 and a fresh air outlet 14. The outlet 12 and the inlet 13, located for example on the rear wall 4, are provided with respective connecting edges 15 connectable in use to respective ducts (not illustrated) communicating with an external environment; the inlet 11 and the outlet 14 are located on the lateral edges 5, below the grilles 6, and communicate directly with the installation room.

[0020] Inside the casing 2 a first channel 17 connects the exhaust air inlet 11 and the exhaust air outlet 12, and a second channel 18, separate from the first channel 17 and not communicating with it, connects the fresh air inlet 13 with the fresh air outlet 14.

[0021] The unit 1 further comprises: a heat exchanger 20 connected to the channels 17, 18 to exchange heat between the flows circulating in the two channels 17, 18; a first fan 21 located along the first channel 17 to draw exhaust air from the installation room and circulate exhaust air along the first channel 17; a second fan 22 located along the second channel 22 to circulate fresh air through the second channel 22; an exhaust air filter 23 located along the first channel 17 upstream of the exchanger 20; a fresh air filter 24 located along the second channel 18 upstream of the exchanger 20; a refrigeration unit 25; a control unit 26 connected to a control panel 27 that can be used by a user to control operation of the unit 1.

[0022] The exchanger 20 is internally provided with separate ducts located respectively along the channels 17, 18 so as to receive and process separately the exhaust air flow circulating in the channel 17 and the fresh air flow circulating in the channel 18, and exchange heat between them.

[0023] The exchanger 20 therefore has an inlet 31 and an outlet 32 for the exhaust air, located along the channel 17; and an inlet 33 and an outlet 34 for the fresh air, located along the channel 18.

[0024] Preferably, the exchanger 20 has a prismatic body 35, for example with a hexagonal base, with two opposite base walls 36 substantially parallel to each other and to the front plate 3 and the rear wall 4, and a plurality of side walls 37 orthogonal to the base walls 36. The inlet 31 and the outlet 32 for the exhaust air are located on respective diametrically opposite side walls 37a, 37b of the body 35; and the inlet 33 and outlet 34 for the fresh air are located on respective further opposite side walls 37c, 37d of the body 35.

[0025] The fan 21 for circulation of the exhaust air and the fan 22 for circulation of the fresh air are preferably centrifugal fans and are located downstream of the exchanger 20 along the channel 17 at the exhaust air outlet 12 and along the channel 18 at the fresh air outlet 14 respectively. The fans 21, 22 are arranged so as to extract axially from the respective ducts 17, 18 the air leaving the exchanger 20, and introduce radially the air into the ducts 17, 18 towards the exhaust air outlet 12 and towards the fresh air outlet 14.

[0026] The exhaust air filter 23 is located along the channel 17 upstream of the inlet 31 of the exchanger 20 and faces the side wall 37a having the inlet 31, in particular between the exhaust air inlet 11 and the inlet 31; the fresh air filter 24 is located along the channel 18 upstream of the inlet 33 of the exchanger 20 and faces the side wall 37c having the inlet 33, in particular between the fresh air inlet 13 and the inlet 33.

[0027] The refrigeration unit 25 comprises a compressor 40, an evaporator 41, a condenser 42 and a capillary tube 43 connected by a cooling circuit 44 in which a refrigerant fluid circulates.

[0028] The evaporator 41 is located along the channel 18 at the inlet 33 of the exchanger 20 to absorb heat from the fresh air and cause condensation of the humidity present in the fresh air; in particular, the evaporator 41 faces the side wall 37c of the exchanger 20 provided with the inlet 33 and is located between the filter 24 and the side wall 37c; below the evaporator 41 a condensate collection container 45 is positioned, connected to a condensate discharge 46 for example located on the rear wall 4 of the casing and connectable to an external pipe.

[0029] Also the exchanger 20 can be provided with a condensate discharge tube 47, in turn connectable to an external pipe by means of a fitting located on the rear wall 4.

[0030] The condenser 42 is located along the channel 17 at the outlet 32 of the exchanger 20 to intercept the exhaust air flow leaving the exchanger 20. In particular, the condenser 42 is located upstream of the fan 21 and faces the side wall 37b of the exchanger 20 provided with the outlet 32.

[0031] Preferably, the side walls 37b, 37c of the exchanger 20 facing the condenser 42 and the evaporator 41 respectively are adjacent to each other.

[0032] The control unit 26 controls operation of the unit 1, based on instructions provided by the user via the control panel 27 and / or following predefined operation programs.

[0033] In use, the unit 1 draws exhaust air from the installation room by means of the fan 21; in particular, the exhaust air enters the unit 1 through the exhaust air inlet 11 and passes through the channel 17 crossing the filter 23, the exchanger 20 and the condenser 42, and is expelled through the outlet 12.

[0034] The unit 1 introduces fresh air into the installation room by means of the fan 22; in particular, the fresh air enters the unit 1 through the fresh air inlet 13 and passes through the channel 18 crossing the filter 24, the evaporator 41 and the exchanger 20, and is introduced into the installation room through the outlet 14. Before being introduced into the installation room, the fresh air is cooled and dehumidified in the evaporator 41, thus ensuring improved quality of the air taken into the installation room.

[0035] Lastly, it is understood that further modifications and variations that do not depart from the scope of the attached claims 1 can be made to the controlled mechanical ventilation unit described and illustrated here.

Claims

1. A controlled mechanical ventilation unit (1), particularly of point dual-flow type, comprising a casing (2), provided with an exhaust air inlet (11) and a fresh air outlet (14) communicating directly, in use, with an installation room in which the unit (1) is installed, and an exhaust air outlet (12) and a fresh air inlet (13) provided with respective connecting edges (15) connectable in use to respective ducts communicating with an external environment; wherein the casing (2) houses a first channel (17), connecting the exhaust air inlet (11) with the exhaust air outlet (12), and a second channel (18), separate from and not communicating with the first channel (17) and connecting the fresh air inlet (13) with the fresh air outlet (14); the unit (1) further comprising, within the casing (2), a heat exchanger (20) connected to the channels (17, 18) to exchange heat between the flows circulating in the channels (17, 18); a first fan (21) placed along the first channel (17) to circulate exhaust air, taken from outside the casing (2), along the first channel (17); a second fan (22) placed along the second channel (22) to circulate fresh air, coming from an external duct, along the second channel (22); characterized by comprising a refrigeration group (25), housed within the casing (2) and comprising a compressor (40), an evaporator (41), a condenser (42) and a capillary tube (43) connected by a cooling circuit (44) in which a refrigerant fluid circulates; the evaporator (41) being located along the second channel (18) to absorb heat from the fresh air circulating in the second channel (18) and dehumidify the fresh air; the condenser (42) being located along the first channel (17) to intercept the exhaust air flow leaving the exchanger (20).

2. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator (41) is located at an inlet (33) for fresh air of the exchanger (20); and the condenser (42) is located at an outlet (32) for exhaust air of the exchanger (20).

3. The unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first fan (21) is located at the exhaust air outlet (12) and the second fan (22) is located at the fresh air outlet (14).

4. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first fan (21) and the second fan (22) are centrifugal fans.

5. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exchanger (20) has a prismatic body (35), in particular having a hexagonal base, with two opposite substantially parallel base walls (36) and a plurality of side walls (37) orthogonal to the base walls (36); and the evaporator (41) and the condenser (42) face respective adjacent side walls (37c, 37b) of the exchanger (20).

6. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an exhaust air filter (23) located along the first channel (17) upstream of the exchanger (20); and a fresh air filter (24) located along the second channel (18) upstream of the exchanger (20).

7. The unit according to claim 6, wherein the exhaust air filter (23) is placed upstream of the evaporator (41).

8. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exhaust air inlet (11) and the fresh air outlet (14) are located on respective lateral edges (5) of the casing (2); and the exhaust air outlet (12) and the fresh air inlet (13) are located on a rear wall (4) of the casing (2), orthogonal to said lateral edges (5).

9. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exchanger (2) is internally provided with separate ducts respectively placed along the channels (17, 18) so as to separately receive and process the exhaust air flow circulating in the first channel (17) and the fresh air flow circulating in the second channel (18), and exchange heat between said flows.

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