Air conditioning and energy recovery system and method of operation

Abstract

A system ( 20 ) for conditioning air ( 30 ) includes conditioning circuits ( 26, 28 ). Each of the circuits ( 26, 28 ) includes a heat transfer coil ( 54, 60 ) residing in a supply section ( 22 ) of the system ( 20 ), and a heat transfer coil ( 56, 62 ) residing in a return section ( 24 ) of the system ( 20 ). A controller ( 50 ) in communication with the circuits ( 26, 28 ) determines one of a heating mode ( 78, 110 ) and a cooling mode ( 148, 150 ) for an interior space ( 34 ). The controller ( 50 ) selectively actuates the conditioning circuits ( 26, 28 ) to condition outside air ( 30 ) entering the supply section ( 22 ) to produce conditioned supply air ( 36 ) for provision into space ( 34 ) and to recover heating and cooling energy from return air ( 38 ) entering the return section ( 24 ) from the space ( 34 ) prior to its discharge from the system ( 20 ) as exhaust air ( 44 ).

1 . A system for conditioning air entering an interior space comprising:
 a first conditioning circuit for carrying a first fluid, said first conditioning circuit including a first coil, a second coil, and a first compressor interposed between said first and second coils, said first coil, said second coil, and said first compressor being in communication via a first fluid loop;   a second conditioning circuit for carrying a second fluid, said second conditioning circuit including a third coil, a fourth coil, and a second compressor interposed between said first and second coils, said third coil, said fourth coil, and said second compressor being in communication via a second fluid loop;   a supply section having an inlet for receiving outside air and having an outlet for providing supply air to said interior space, said first and third coils residing in said supply air section;   a return section having an inlet for receiving return air from said interior space and for releasing said return air as exhaust air outside of said interior space, said second and fourth coil residing in said return section; and   a controller in communication with said first and second conditioning circuits, wherein said controller determines one of a heating mode and a cooling mode for said interior space and selectively actuates said first and second conditioning circuits in response to said one of said heating mode and said cooling mode.   
   
   
       2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a third conditioning circuit, said third conditioning circuit comprising a fifth coil, a third compressor, and a third fluid loop, said fifth coil residing in said supply section, and said third fluid loop being in communication with said second fluid loop of said second conditioning circuit, wherein said controller determines a dehumidification mode and selectively actuates said third conditioning circuit in response to said dehumidification mode. 
   
   
       3 . A method of conditioning air entering an interior space comprising:
 conveying outside air through a first heat transfer coil residing in a supply section of a conditioning system;   selectively transferring heat energy between said outside air and said first heat transfer coil;   conveying said outside air through a second heat transfer coil residing in said supply section;   selectively transferring said heat energy between said outside air and said second heat transfer coil;   delivering said outside air as conditioned supply air to an interior space;   receiving return air from said interior space to a return section of said conditioning system;   conveying said return air through a third heat transfer coil residing in said return section;   selectively exchanging said heat energy between said return air and said third heat transfer coil;   conveying said return air through a fourth heat transfer coil residing in said return section;   selectively exchanging said heat energy between said return air and said fourth heat transfer coil; and   exhausting said return air as exhaust air outside of said interior space.