US2014054004A1PendingUtilityA1

Membrane support assembly for an energy exchanger

46
Assignee: VENMAR CES INCPriority: Aug 24, 2012Filed: Mar 12, 2013Published: Feb 27, 2014
Est. expiryAug 24, 2032(~6.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Phillip Paul LepoudreBlake Norman ErbKenneth Paul Coutu
F24F 3/1417F24F 3/147F28F 9/007F28F 13/12F28D 21/0015F24F 2003/1435F28D 15/00
46
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Claims

Abstract

A membrane support assembly is configured to be used with an energy exchanger, and is configured to be positioned within a fluid channel between first and second membranes. The assembly may include at least one support member configured to span between the first and second membranes, wherein the support member(s) is configured to support the fluid channel, and at least one turbulence promoter connected to the support member(s). The turbulence promoter(s) is configured to promote fluid turbulence within the fluid channel. The fluid turbulence within the fluid channel enhances energy transfer between the fluid channel and the first and second membranes.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A membrane support assembly configured to be used with an energy exchanger, wherein the membrane support system is configured to be positioned within a fluid channel between first and second membranes, the membrane support assembly comprising:
 at least one support member configured to span between the first and second membranes, wherein the at least one support member is configured to support the fluid channel; and   at least one turbulence promoter connected to the at least one support member, wherein the at least one turbulence promoter is configured to promote fluid turbulence within the fluid channel, and wherein the fluid turbulence within the fluid channel enhances energy transfer between the fluid channel and the first and second membranes.   
     
     
         2 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter is perpendicular to the at least one support member. 
     
     
         3 . The membrane support assembly  1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter is centered about a longitudinal axis of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         4 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter is offset with respect to a longitudinal axis of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         5 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter connects to the at least one support member proximate a lateral edge of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         6 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member comprises at least one planar support strut. 
     
     
         7 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a rounded leading end connected to a blunted end through an intermediate portion. 
     
     
         8 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a cylindrical post. 
     
     
         9 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a block-shaped post. 
     
     
         10 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises an elliptical-shaped post. 
     
     
         11 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a triangular-shaped post. 
     
     
         12 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a perforated screen. 
     
     
         13 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the perforated screen is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         14 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a waved support member having rounded peaks and valleys. 
     
     
         15 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a scalloped support member having connection beams connected to connection joints that are wider than the connection beams. 
     
     
         16 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a plurality of openings formed therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises at least one turbulence-promoting connection joint, wherein the at least one support member comprises parallel support beams connected to the at least one turbulence-promoting connection joint. 
     
     
         18 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a perforated screen. 
     
     
         19 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the perforated screen is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         20 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a perforated screen positioned along at least a portion of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         21 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the energy exchanger is a liquid-to-gas membrane energy exchanger. 
     
     
         22 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the energy exchanger is an air-to-air membrane energy exchanger. 
     
     
         23 . The membrane support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the energy exchanger is a liquid-to-liquid energy exchanger. 
     
     
         24 . An energy exchange system configured to exchange energy between an air stream and a liquid, the energy exchange system comprising:
 first and second membranes defining first and second liquid channels;   an air channel defined between the first and second membranes, wherein the air channel is configured to allow air to pass therethrough, and wherein the air contacts the membranes to exchange energy between the air and liquid within the first and second liquid channels; and   a membrane support assembly positioned within the air channel between the first and second membranes, the membrane support assembly comprising:
 at least one support member configured to span between the first and second membranes, wherein the at least one support member is configured to support the air channel; and 
 at least one turbulence promoter connected to the at least one support member, wherein the at least one turbulence promoter is configured to promote airflow turbulence within the air channel, and wherein the airflow turbulence within the air channel enhances energy transfer between the air channel and the first and second membranes. 
   
     
     
         25 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter is perpendicular to the at least one support member. 
     
     
         26 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter is centered about a longitudinal axis of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         27 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter is offset with respect to a longitudinal axis of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         28 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter connects to the at least one support member proximate a lateral edge of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         29 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one support member comprises at least one planar support strut. 
     
     
         30 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a rounded leading end connected to a blunted end through an intermediate portion. 
     
     
         31 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a cylindrical post. 
     
     
         32 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a block-shaped post. 
     
     
         33 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises an elliptical-shaped post. 
     
     
         34 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a perforated screen. 
     
     
         35 . The energy exchange system of  claim 34 , wherein the perforated screen is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         36 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a waved support member having rounded peaks and valleys. 
     
     
         37 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a scalloped support member having connection beams connected to connection joints that are wider than the connection beams. 
     
     
         38 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a plurality of openings formed therethrough. 
     
     
         39 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a turbulence-promoting connection joint, and wherein at least one support member comprises parallel support beams connected to the at least one turbulence-promoting connection joint. 
     
     
         40 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turbulence promoter comprises a perforated screen. 
     
     
         41 . The energy exchange system of  claim 40 , wherein the perforated screen is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         42 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one support member comprises a perforated screen positioned along at least a portion of the at least one support member. 
     
     
         43 . The energy exchange system of  claim 24 , wherein the membrane support assembly includes at least one interlocking member configured to securely interlock with at least a portion of the energy exchange system. 
     
     
         44 . An energy exchange system configured to exchange energy between first and second fluids, the energy exchange system comprising:
 first and second membranes defining first and second first fluid channels;   a second fluid channel defined between the first and second membranes, wherein the second fluid channel is configured to allow the second fluid to pass therethrough, and wherein the second fluid contacts the membranes to exchange energy between the second fluid and the first fluid within the first and second first fluid channels; and   a membrane support assembly positioned within the second fluid channel between the first and second membranes, the membrane support assembly comprising:
 at least one support member configured to span between the first and second membranes, wherein the at least one support member is configured to support the second fluid channel; and 
 at least one turbulence promoter connected to the at least one support member, wherein the at least one turbulence promoter is configured to promote fluid turbulence within the second fluid channel, and wherein the fluid turbulence within the second channel enhances energy transfer between the second channel and the first and second membranes. 
   
     
     
         45 . The energy exchanger system of  claim 44 , wherein the first fluid includes a gas or liquid, and wherein the second fluid includes the gas or the liquid. 
     
     
         46 . The energy exchanger system of  claim 44 , wherein the first fluid includes a first gas or a first liquid, and where the second fluid includes a second gas or a second liquid. 
     
     
         47 . The energy exchanger system of  claim 44 , wherein the first and second fluids include air.

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