Outside air distribution system

Abstract

An energy recovery ventilator (“ERV”) connecting an outside air intake to an outside air supply for an AHU or an interior space. The ERV includes a damper for controlling the outside air inflow to the AHU or the interior space. A humidity sensor and a temperature sensor can be mounted within the inlet air path proximate the damper to monitor the temperature and humidity of outside air approaching the ERV through the outside air intake. The damper can be positioned to according to the measured temperature and humidity of the outside air to control the outside air being supplied to the AHU or the interior space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy recovery ventilator, comprising:
 an outer housing defining an interior chamber, the outer housing comprising:
 an indoor input for receiving an indoor air outflow into the interior chamber, 
 an indoor output through which the indoor air outflow exits the interior chamber, the indoor output being fluidly connected to an indoor outlet for venting the indoor air outflow to an outside space, 
 an outdoor input for receiving an outdoor air inflow into the interior chamber for intermixing with the indoor air outflow, the outdoor input being fluidly connected to an outdoor inlet for receiving the outdoor air inflow from the outside space, and 
 an outdoor output through which the outdoor air inflow exits the interior chamber; and 
   a damper assembly coupled to the outdoor input, the damper assembly having a moveable damper plate for selectively obstructing the outdoor input to control the outdoor air inflow into the interior chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an environmental sensor array comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a combination thereof mounted proximate the outdoor input for monitoring conditions of the outdoor air inflow approaching the outdoor input;   wherein the damper plate is positioned to obstruct the outdoor input if the monitored conditions of the outdoor air inflow exceed a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The energy recovery ventilator of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an outdoor air supply fan operable to draw the outdoor air inflow into the interior chamber at a predetermined flow rate.   wherein the outdoor air supply fan is disabled if the monitored conditions of the outdoor air inflow exceed a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The energy recovery ventilator of  claim 3 , wherein the outdoor air supply fan is operable to draw fresh outdoor air through ducting proximate the sensor array before measurement of conditions of the outdoor airflow. 
     
     
         5 . The energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the damper assembly further comprising:
 a duct section for rotatably receiving the damper plate, wherein the duct section can comprise an engagement tab for rotatably coupling the duct section and the damper plate to the outer housing.   
     
     
         6 . The energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the indoor input, the indoor output, the outdoor input, and the outdoor output comprises an extended mount, the extended mount further comprising:
 a port portion shaped to interface with ducting and defining an opening;   an insulation collar encircling the port portion and configured to engage the ducting;   wherein the insulation collar comprises an insulation material limiting thermal bridging between the port portion and the insulation collar.   
     
     
         7 . The energy recovery ventilator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one L-shaped bracket including a housing portion and a support portion extending transversely from the housing portion:   wherein the housing portion is configured to receive a fastener to couple the L-shaped bracket to the outer housing and the support portion is configured to receive a second fastener to couple the L-shaped bracket to a support structure.   
     
     
         8 . A ventilation system, comprising:
 an energy recovery unit comprising an outer housing defining an interior chamber, the outer housing comprising:
 an indoor input for receiving an indoor air outflow into the interior chamber, 
 an indoor output through which the indoor air outflow exits the interior chamber, the indoor output being fluidly connected to an indoor outlet for venting the indoor air outflow to an outside space, 
 an outdoor input for receiving an outdoor air inflow into the interior chamber for intermixing with the indoor air outflow, the outdoor input being fluidly connected to an outdoor inlet for receiving the outdoor air inflow from the outside space, 
 an outdoor output through which the outdoor air inflow exits the interior chamber, and 
 a damper assembly coupled to the outdoor input, the damper assembly having a moveable damper plate for selectively obstructing the outdoor input to control the outdoor air inflow into the interior chamber. 
   
     
     
         9 . The ventilation system of  claim 8 , wherein the indoor input is operably connected at least one of an interior space and an air handling unit for receiving the indoor air outflow. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilation system of  claim 8 , wherein the outdoor output is operably connected at least one of an interior space and an air handling unit for providing the outdoor air inflow. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilation system of  claim 10 , wherein the indoor air outflow intermixes with the outdoor air inflow to condition the outdoor air inflow before the outdoor air inflow exits the interior chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilation system of  claim 8 , the energy recovery ventilator further comprising:
 an environmental sensor array comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a combination thereof mounted proximate the outdoor input for monitoring conditions of the outdoor air inflow approaching the outdoor input;   wherein the damper plate is positioned to obstruct the outdoor input if the monitored conditions of the outdoor air inflow exceed a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The ventilation system of  claim 12 , the energy recovery ventilator further comprising:
 an outdoor air supply fan operable to draw the outdoor air inflow into the interior chamber at a predetermined flow rate.   wherein the outdoor air supply fan is disabled if the monitored conditions of the outdoor air inflow exceed a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The ventilation system of  claim 13 , wherein the outdoor air supply fan is operable to draw fresh outdoor air through ducting proximate the sensor array before measurement of conditions of the outdoor airflow. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilation system of  claim 8 , the energy recovery ventilator further comprising:
 a duct section for rotatably receiving the damper plate, wherein the duct section can comprise an engagement tab for rotatably coupling the duct section and the damper plate to the outer housing.   
     
     
         16 . The ventilation system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the indoor input, the indoor output, the outdoor input, and the outdoor output comprises an extended mount, the extended mount further comprising:
 a port portion shaped to interface with ducting and defining an opening;   an insulation collar encircling the port portion and configured to engage the ducting;   wherein the insulation collar comprises an insulation material limiting thermal bridging between the port portion and the insulation collar.   
     
     
         17 . The ventilation system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 at least one L-shaped bracket including a housing portion and a support portion extending transversely from the housing portion;   wherein the housing portion is configured to receive a fastener to couple the L-shaped bracket to the outer housing and the support portion is configured to receive a second fastener to couple the L-shaped bracket to a support structure.   
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling an outdoor air inflow into an interior space, comprising:
 providing an energy recovery ventilator defining an interior chamber and including an indoor input, an indoor output, an outdoor input, and an outdoor output;   providing an indoor air outflow into interior chamber through the indoor input, wherein the indoor air inflow exits the interior chamber through the indoor output;   providing an outdoor air inflow into interior chamber through the outdoor input to intermix with the indoor air outflow, wherein the outdoor air inflow exits the interior chamber through the outdoor output;   moving a damper plate positioned proximate the outdoor input to selectively obstruct the outdoor input to limit outdoor air inflow into the interior chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 monitoring temperature and humidity of the outdoor air inflow approaching the outdoor input; and   moving the damper plate to obstruct the outdoor input to limit outdoor air inflow when at least one of the temperature and the humidity of the outdoor air inflow exceeds a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 operating an outdoor air supply fan to draw the outdoor air inflow through the outdoor input;   wherein the outdoor air supply fan is disabled when at least one of the temperature and the humidity of the outdoor air inflow exceeds the predetermined threshold.