Outside air handling unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building systems require separate compressor-based refrigerant systems for outside air handling, which is costly and inefficient, especially when combined with liquid-based heating and cooling systems, as they often need to handle both heating and cooling loads simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An outside air handling unit that draws liquid from the building's primary riser system, using a liquid supply line connected to a chilled supply line, with a first coil for pre-cooling and a second coil for further conditioning, along with a liquid cooled condenser and a bypass circuit, eliminating the need for a separate compressor system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a compressor-based refrigerant system is used for outside air handling, then outside air can be conditioned, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the outside air handling function with the existing liquid-based heating and cooling system by integrating a heat exchanger that uses the building's chilled water and hot water loops. This eliminates the need for a separate compressor-based refrigerant system while maintaining the capability to condition outside air for ventilation.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid-based heat exchanger system serves multiple functions: it provides cooling through the chilled water loop, heating through the hot water loop, and outside air conditioning. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by eliminating dedicated equipment for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate compressor system is installed for outside air handling, then outside air conditioning is achieved, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the outside air handling function with the existing liquid-based heating and cooling infrastructure. By utilizing already-installed chilled water and hot water pipes, the system avoids the high installation costs associated with adding a separate compressor-based refrigerant system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the building's existing liquid-based heating and cooling infrastructure to provide outside air conditioning. The chilled water and hot water loops serve the dual purpose of their original function and outside air conditioning, eliminating the need for additional expensive equipment installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a compressor-based refrigerant system is used, then outside air can be cooled, but energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-based heat exchanger system efficiently handles outside air cooling by utilizing the building's existing chilled water loop, which is already optimized for heat transfer. This approach is more energy-efficient than adding a separate compressor-based system, as it avoids the high energy consumption of compression and refrigerant circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression-based refrigerant system with a liquid-based heat exchange system. This substitution eliminates the energy-intensive compression process while achieving the same cooling effect through efficient heat transfer using the building's existing chilled water infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the need for a separate compressor system, lowers installation costs, and improves efficiency by using the liquid-based system to condition outside air effectively for both heating and cooling, while minimizing the load on the compressor and extending its lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a first coil is provided to pre-cool the outside air entering the outside air handling unit
Implementation Method 2
a second coil is provided to further condition the outside air after the outside air encounters the first coil
Implementation Method 3
a liquid cooled condenser is provided, the liquid cooled condenser receives the liquid from the first coil
Data Source
AI summary
An outside air handling unit and method for delivering conditioned air to individual heating/cooling zones of a building regardless of whether heating/cooling in needed. The outside air handling unit includes a liquid supply line which is connected to and draws liquid from a chilled supply line of the building.