Apparatus for exchanging energy and mass between fluid streams

Abstract

A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly having an exchange media, a central housing, a first end housing with fluid stream diverting chambers to provide a fluid flow passage from a first inlet of the first end housing to the exchange media, and provide a fluid flow passage from the exchange media to a first outlet of the first end housing, a second end housing having fluid stream diverting chambers to provide a fluid flow passage from a second inlet of the second end housing to the exchange media, and provide a fluid flow passage from the exchange media to a second outlet of the second end housing. The first and second end housings have a skirt portion extending generally parallel to a central axis of the end housings. The exchange media is rotated by a motor via a shaft, and the shaft is fastened to a recess in a side surface of the exchange media by a drive transfer means.

1 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly, comprising:
 a) an exchange media;   b) a central housing encompassing at least a portion of the exchange media;   c) a first end housing connected to one end of the central housing and having a first inlet and a first outlet, the first end housing having fluid stream diverting chambers arranged to provide a fluid flow passage from the first inlet of the first end housing to the exchange media, and provide a fluid flow passage from the exchange media to the first outlet of the first end housing;   d) a second end housing connected to another end of the central housing and having a second inlet and a second outlet, the second end housing having fluid stream diverting chambers arranged to provide a fluid flow passage from the second inlet of the second end housing to the exchange media, and provide a fluid flow passage from the exchange media to the second outlet of the second end housing;   wherein the first end housing has a skirt portion extending generally parallel to a central axis of the first end housing and the second end housing has a skirt portion extending generally parallel to a central axis of the second end housing.   
   
   
       2 . The regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the skirt portions provide sealing surfaces for sealing between the first end housing and the central housing and between the second end housing and the central housing. 
   
   
       3 . The regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a first O-ring seal is provided between the skirt portion of the first end housing and the central housing, and a second O-ring seal is provided between the skirt portion of the second end housing and the central housing. 
   
   
       4 . The regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the central housing includes grooves opening radially to accommodate the first and second O-rings. 
   
   
       5 . The regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the exchange media includes inner rings at either end thereof, and wherein the end housings include bores in which the inner rings are rotatably mounted. 
   
   
       6 . The regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the exchange media includes, at either end thereof, outer rings connected to the respective inner rings, and wherein the end housings include annular slots accommodating the outer rings, to provide at least one of sealing the exchange media and supporting the exchange media. 
   
   
       7 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one insert inserted between the exchange media and in one of the first and second end housings for focusing the fluid flow passages from the inlet of one end housing to a central region of the exchange media and from the central region of the exchange media to the outlet of the other end housing 
   
   
       8 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly, comprising:
 a) an exchange media;   b) a central housing encompassing at least a portion of the exchange media;   c) a first end housing connected to one end of the central housing, and having a first inlet and a first outlet, the first end housing having fluid stream diverting chambers arranged to provide a fluid flow passage from the first inlet of the first end housing to the exchange media, and provide a fluid flow passage from the exchange media to the first outlet of the first end housing;   d) a second end housing connected to another end of the central housing, and having a first inlet and a first outlet, the second end housing having fluid stream diverting chambers arranged to provide a fluid flow passage from the second inlet of the second end housing to the exchange media, and provide a fluid flow passage from the exchange media to the second outlet of the second end housing;   wherein the exchange media is rotatably mounted in the end housings, and is rotated by a motor via a shaft, and wherein the shaft is fastened to a recess arranged in a side surface of the exchange media by a drive transfer means.   
   
   
       9 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising at least one insert inserted between the exchange media and in one of the first and second end housings for focusing the fluid flow passages from the inlet of one end housing to a central region of the exchange media and from the central region of the exchange media to the outlet of the other end housing. 
   
   
       10 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly, comprising:
 a) an exchange media; and   b) a central housing encompassing at least a portion of the exchange media;   c) a first end housing connected to one end one end of the central housing and having a first inlet and a first outlet, the first end housing having fluid stream diverting chambers arranged to provide a fluid flow passage from the first inlet of the first end housing to the exchange media, and provide a fluid flow passage from the exchange media to the first outlet of the first end housing;   d) a second end housing connected to another end of the central housing and having a second inlet and a second outlet, the second end housing having fluid stream diverting chambers arranged to provide a fluid flow passage from the second inlet of the second end housing to the exchange media, and provide a fluid flow passage from the exchange media to the second outlet of the second end housing;   wherein a rotation sensor is arranged on the central housing to read indications generated by a rotation impulse means arranged on or towards an outer surface of the exchange media.   
   
   
       11 . The regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the rotation sensor is a Hall effect sensor and the rotation impulse means is a magnet. 
   
   
       12 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising at least one insert inserted between the exchange media and in one of the first and second end housings for focusing the fluid flow passages from the inlet of one end housing to a central region of the exchange media and from the central region of the exchange media to the outlet of the other end housing 
   
   
       13 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly, comprising:
 a) an exchange media;   b) a central housing encompassing at least a portion of the exchange media;   c) a first end housing integral with a central housing;   d) a second end housing and having a seal provided between the second end housing and the first end housing; and   e) a first inlet and a first outlet provided in one of the first and second end housings, and a second inlet and a second outlet provided in one of the first and second end housing.   
   
   
       14 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the integral first and central housing and the second housing are each formed from a plastic material. 
   
   
       15 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the second end housing includes a generally annular lip dimension to overlap the central housing, with a seal provided between the annular lip and the central housing. 
   
   
       16 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising at least one insert inserted between the exchange media and in one of the first and second end housings for focusing the fluid flow passages from the inlet of one end housing to a central region of the exchange media and from the central region of the exchange media to the outlet of the other end housing. 
   
   
       17 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly, comprising:
 a) an exchange media;   b) a central housing encompassing at least a portion of the exchange media;   c) first and second housings sealingly connected to the central housing and providing first bearing elements for the exchange media, wherein the exchange media is provided with second bearing elements, rotatably mounted in the first bearing elements, to support the exchange media for rotation within the housing; and   d) a first inlet and a first outlet in one of the first and second end housing, and a second inlet and a second outlet in one of the first and second housing, the first and second inlets and outlets providing fluid communication to the exchange media, to establish two separate flow streams through the exchange media, whereby at least one of energy and/or mass can be exchanged between the two flow streams by rotation of the exchange media through the two flow streams.   
   
   
       18 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the exchange media is substantially continuous, without a central shaft. 
   
   
       19 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the second bearing elements for the exchange media comprise in inner rings, and wherein the first bearing elements comprise bores in the first and second end housings with the inner rings rotatably mounted in the bores. 
   
   
       20 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the exchange media includes outer rings, connected to the inner rings, and wherein the first and second end housing include annular slots accommodating the outer rings, to provide at least a sealing function for the exchange media. 
   
   
       21 . A regenerative energy and/or mass exchange assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising at least one insert inserted between the exchange media and in one of the first and second end housings for focusing the fluid flow passages from the inlet of one end housing to a central region of the exchange media and from the central region of the exchange media to the outlet of the other end housing