System and method for providing conditioned air to an enclosed structure

Abstract

An energy exchange system is configured to provide dry supply air to an enclosed structure. The system may include an energy transfer device having a first portion configured to be disposed within a supply air flow path and a second portion configured to be disposed within a regeneration air flow path. The energy transfer device is configured to decrease a humidity level of supply air. The energy transfer device is configured to be regenerated with regeneration air. The system may also include a first heat exchanger configured to be disposed within the supply air flow path downstream from the energy transfer device and within the regeneration air flow path upstream from the second portion of the energy transfer device. The first heat exchanger is configured to transfer sensible energy between the supply air and the regeneration air. The supply air is configured to be supplied to the enclosed structure after passing through the energy transfer device and the first heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy exchange system configured to provide supply air to an enclosed structure, the system comprising:
 an energy transfer device having a first portion configured to be disposed within a supply air flow path and a second portion configured to be disposed within a regeneration air flow path, the energy transfer device being configured to decrease a humidity level of the supply air, and wherein the energy transfer device is configured to be regenerated with regeneration air; and   a first heat exchanger configured to be disposed within the supply air flow path downstream from the energy transfer device and within the regeneration air flow path upstream from the second portion of the energy transfer device, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer sensible energy between the supply air and the regeneration air, wherein the the energy exchange system is configured to supply the supply air to the enclosed structure after the supply air passes through the energy transfer device and the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The energy exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosed structure comprises a grain bin for retaining grain, and wherein the energy exchange system is configured to supply the supply air to the grain bin in order to dry grain. 
     
     
         3 . The energy exchange system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more bypass ducts configured to be disposed within one or both of the supply air flow path or the regeneration air flow path, wherein the one or more bypass ducts are configured to bypass at least a portion of one or both of the supply air and the regeneration air around the energy transfer device. 
     
     
         4 . The energy exchange system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater configured to be disposed within a portion of regeneration air flow path upstream from the energy exchange device. 
     
     
         5 . The energy exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy transfer device comprises a desiccant wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The energy exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy transfer device comprises a supply liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) configured to be positioned within the supply air flow path, and a regeneration LAMEE configured to be positioned within the regeneration air flow path. 
     
     
         7 . The energy exchange system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater configured to be positioned within the supply air flow path downstream from the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The energy exchange system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing that contains the energy transfer device and the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The energy exchange system of  claim 8 , further comprising a wheeled base connected to the housing, wherein the wheeled base is configured to provide a mobile energy exchange system. 
     
     
         10 . The energy exchange system of  claim 8 , wherein the housing is configured to be operatively connected to a plurality of enclosed structures. 
     
     
         11 . The energy exchange system of  claim 1 , further comprising a duct configured to connect a regeneration air inlet of the regeneration air flow path to an air outlet of the enclosed structure. 
     
     
         12 . The energy exchange system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second heat exchanger having a first portion that is configured to be disposed within the regeneration air flow path downstream from the first heat exchanger and a second portion that is configured to be disposed within a return air path. 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing supply air to an enclosed structure, the method comprising:
 decreasing a humidity level of supply air with an energy transfer device having a first portion disposed within a supply air flow path and a second portion disposed within a regeneration air flow path;   transferring sensible energy between the supply air and regeneration air with a first heat exchanger that is within the supply air flow path downstream from the energy transfer device and within the regeneration air flow path upstream from the second portion of the energy transfer device;   regenerating the energy transfer device with the regeneration air that passes through the second portion of the energy transfer device disposed within the regeneration air flow path; and   supplying the supply air to the enclosed structure after the decreasing and transferring operations.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the enclosed structure comprises a grain bin that retains grain, and further comprising drying the grain within the grain bin with the supply air that is supplied to the grain bin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising bypassing at least a portion of one or both the supply air or the regeneration air around the energy transfer device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising heating the regeneration air after the transferring operation and before the regenerating operation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the energy transfer device comprises a desiccant wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the energy transfer device comprises a supply liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger (LAMEE) configured to be positioned within the supply air flow path, and a regeneration LAMEE configured to be positioned within the regeneration air flow path. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising heating the supply air after the transferring operation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising containing the energy transfer device and the first heat exchanger within a housing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising connecting a wheeled base to the housing. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising operatively connecting the housing to a plurality of enclosed structures. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising connecting a regeneration air inlet of the regeneration air flow path to an air outlet of the enclosed structure with a duct. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transferring sensible energy between the regeneration air and return air with a second heat exchanger having a first portion disposed within the regeneration air flow path downstream from the first heat exchanger and a second portion disposed within a return air path.