Total heat exchanger

Abstract

A total heat exchanger in accordance with a preferred embodiment includes air-guiding means ( 21 ), a heat-pipe heat exchanger ( 31 ) and a total heat exchange member ( 41 ). The air-guiding means is for providing a first airflow from outdoors and a second airflow from indoors. The heat-pipe heat exchanger includes at least one heat pipe ( 32 ) spanning across said first and second airflows simultaneously for conducting a sensible heat exchange between the airflows. The total heat exchange member is capable of exchanging sensible heat and latent heat between said first and second airflows, and defines therein a first air passage and a second air passage intersecting with and isolated from each other. A total heat exchange of sensible heat and latent heat between the first and second airflows is carried out in the total heat exchange member when the airflows flow through the first and second air passages respectively.

1 . A total heat exchanger comprising: 
 air-guiding means for providing a first airflow from outdoors and a second airflow from indoors into the total heat exchanger;    a heat-pipe heat exchanger comprising at least one heat pipe spanning across said first and second airflows simultaneously for conducting a sensible heat exchange between the first and second airflows; and    a total heat exchange member defining therein a first air passage and a second air passage intersecting with and isolated from each other, a total heat exchange of sensible heat and latent heat between the first and second airflows being carried out in the total heat exchange member when the first and second airflows flow through the first and second air passages respectively.    
   
   
       2 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-pipe heat exchanger further comprises a plurality of cooling fins attached to the at least one heat pipe.  
   
   
       3 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 2 , further comprising a system enclosure for enclosing the air-guiding means, the heat-pipe heat exchanger and the total heat exchange member therein.  
   
   
       4 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the system enclosure is divided into a plurality of individual housings, and the air-guiding means, the heat-pipe heat exchanger and the total heat exchange member are contained in the individual housings, respectively.  
   
   
       5 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the heat-pipe heat exchanger is located between the air-guiding means and the total heat exchange member, and the first and second airflows flow successively through the heat-pipe heat exchanger and the total heat exchange member.  
   
   
       6 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein every two adjacent housings are separated by a partition plate arranged therebetween.  
   
   
       7 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the system enclosure is divided into two housings, the air-guiding means is contained in one of the housings and the heat-pipe heat exchanger and the total heat exchange member are contained in the other housing.  
   
   
       8 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the heat-pipe heat exchanger has a V-shaped configuration and is disposed on the total heat exchange member for covering two adjacent surfaces thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the heat-pipe heat exchanger has a partition plate arranged at a central portion thereof for preventing the first and second airflows from mixing as the airflows flow through the heat-pipe heat exchanger.  
   
   
       10 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the total heat exchange member is angularly disposed in the enclosure with each common edge of every two adjacent surfaces, through which the first and second air passages extend respectively, hermetically attached to an inner surface of the enclosure.  
   
   
       11 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the common edge of the total heat exchange member is connected to the inner surface of the enclosure via a Y-shaped connecting member.  
   
   
       12 . A total heat exchanger comprising: 
 an air-guiding member for providing a first airflow and a second airflow;    a sensible heat exchange member spanning across said first and second airflows for conducting a sensible heat exchange between the airflows; and    a total heat exchange member being capable of exchanging sensible heat and latent heat simultaneously between said first and second airflows, the total heat exchange member having a multi-layer structure formed by a plurality of partition plates made of heat-conductive and moisture-permeable material and a plurality of spacing members inserted between the partition plates, and defining therein first and second air passages intersecting with and isolated from each other for carrying out a total heat exchange of sensible heat and latent heat between the first and second airflows as the airflows flow through the air passages respectively.    
   
   
       13 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the spacing members are wavy-shaped, and the first and second air passages are defined by the spacing members being disposed between every two adjacent partition plates with the wavy configurations of the spacing members being alternately arranged at 90 degree.  
   
   
       14 . The total heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the sensible heat exchange member comprises at least one heat pipe and a plurality of cooling fins attached to the heat pipe.  
   
   
       15 . A method for conducting heat exchange between first air flow and second air flow, comprising the following steps: 
 guiding the first air flow through one of two ends of a heat pipe and the second air flow through the other end of the heat pipe, wherein the two ends of the heat pipe are evaporating end and condensing end, respectively, the evaporating end absorbing heat and the condensing end dissipating the heat and the heat being transferred from the evaporating end to the condensing end through the heat pipe; then    guiding the first air flow and the second air flow through a total heat exchanger member to conduct sensible and latent heat exchange between the first air flow and the second air flow.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first air flow is an indoor air flow to be exhausted to outdoors and the second air flow is an outdoor air flow to be supplied to indoors.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heat pipe is provided with fins thereon, the first and second air flows being divided into small air flows by the fins when the first and second air flows through the heat pipe.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fins are located beside the total heat exchange member.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fins are located on the total heat exchange member.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the total heat exchange member is enclosed in an enclosure having four sides, the total heat exchange member has four corners connected the four sides, respectively.