Dedicated Outdoor Air System and a Housing Therefor

Abstract

A dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) includes an outdoor air channel, an energy exchange chamber, and a HEX chamber. The energy exchange chamber receives outdoor air from the outdoor air channel and includes an air exchanger generating supply air by transferring energy between the outdoor air and return air. The HEX chamber receives the supply air from the energy exchange chamber. The HEX chamber includes a HEX assembly for cooling and/or heating the supply air provided by the energy exchange chamber. The HEX chamber is defined by a frame including a plurality of sides and an insulating component. A first side of the frame defines an aperture to slidably accept the HEX assembly into an enclosed position within the frame. The insulating component is fixedly arranged within the frame and includes a working surface configured for sliding the HEX assembly into the enclosed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A housing suitable for a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), the housing having multiple chambers including a first chamber defined therein, wherein the first chamber is configured for housing a heat exchanger (HEX) assembly, and wherein the first chamber is defined by a frame comprising:
 a plurality of sides, wherein a first side of the frame defines an aperture therein configured to slidably accept the HEX assembly into an enclosed position within the frame, and wherein two sides opposite to each other and perpendicular to the first side include openings therein; and   an insulating component fixedly arranged within the plurality of sides of the frame, wherein the insulating component comprises a working surface configured for sliding the HEX assembly into the enclosed position.   
     
     
         2 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the working surface is angled towards the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The housing of  claim 1 , further comprising a metal drain pan having a first pan surface slidably arranged on the working surface of the insulating component, and wherein the first pan surface of the metal drain pan is defined by the working surface of the insulating component. 
     
     
         4 . The housing of  claim 3 , wherein a second pan surface of the metal drain pan faces the HEX assembly, wherein the second pan surface is opposite to the first pan surface. 
     
     
         5 . The housing of  claim 3 , wherein the frame further comprises a metal support structure attached to the metal drain pan, wherein the metal support structure forms a supporting surface perpendicular to the first side of the frame when the metal drain pan is arranged on the insulating component. 
     
     
         6 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the working surface comprises a pair of slopes decreasing in perpendicular directions from a corner of the frame opposite to the aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The housing of  claim 1 , further comprising a plank arranged at the working surface of the insulating component and fixed to the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The housing of  claim 1 , further comprising two metal rails arranged at opposing sides of the working surface of the insulating component, wherein each of the two metal rails is fixed to the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the working surface of the insulating component is coated with a coating having a coating friction coefficient less than an insulator friction coefficient of the insulating component. 
     
     
         10 . The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the coating is substantially water-resistant. 
     
     
         11 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating component comprises expanded polystyrene. 
     
     
         12 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a second chamber, wherein the second chamber is an energy exchange chamber for housing an air exchanger configured to receive outdoor air and return air, and wherein the openings of the frame define an air path across the HEX assembly when the DOAS is in operation. 
     
     
         13 . A dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), comprising:
 an outdoor air channel configured to receive outdoor air;   an energy exchange chamber configured to receive the outdoor air from the outdoor air channel, the energy exchange chamber comprising an air exchanger configured to generate supply air by transferring energy between the outdoor air and return air; and   a heat exchanger (HEX) chamber configured to receive the supply air from the energy exchange chamber, wherein the HEX chamber comprises a HEX assembly configured to cool and/or heat the supply air provided by the energy exchange chamber, and wherein the HEX chamber is defined by a frame comprising:
 a plurality of sides, wherein a first side of the frame defines an aperture therein configured to slidably accept the HEX assembly into an enclosed position within the frame, and wherein two sides opposite to each other and perpendicular to the first side include openings therein; and 
 an insulating component fixedly arranged within the plurality of sides of the frame, wherein the insulating component comprises a working surface configured for sliding the HEX assembly into the enclosed position. 
   
     
     
         14 . The DOAS of  claim 13 , wherein the energy exchange chamber further comprises:
 a supply filter for filtering the outdoor air to be received by the air exchanger; and   an exhaust filter for filtering the return air to be received by the air exchanger.   
     
     
         15 . The DOAS of  claim 13 , wherein one of the openings of the HEX chamber is a supply air duct connector to convey the supply air away from the HEX assembly following cooling and/or heating. 
     
     
         16 . The DOAS of  claim 13 , wherein the outdoor air channel, the energy exchange chamber, and the HEX chamber are arranged within a system frame, and wherein the system frame is substantially cuboidal. 
     
     
         17 . The DOAS of  claim 16 , wherein a frame height of the system frame corresponds to a height of the energy exchange chamber, wherein a frame depth of the system frame corresponds to a depth of the HEX assembly, and wherein the height of the energy exchange chamber and the depth of the HEX assembly depend at least in part on a predetermined air flow volume of the DOAS. 
     
     
         18 . The DOAS of  claim 13 , further comprising a return air channel configured to provide the DOAS with the return air. 
     
     
         19 . The DOAS of  claim 13 , further comprising an exhaust air section comprising an exhaust air fan and an exhaust air duct connection, wherein the exhaust air section is configured to:
 receive exhaust air generated by the air exchanger transferring energy between the outdoor air and the return air; and   expel, via the exhaust air fan, the exhaust air through the exhaust air duct connection.   
     
     
         20 . The DOAS of  claim 13 , wherein the HEX chamber further comprises a supply air fan configured to propel the supply air provided by the energy exchange chamber to the HEX assembly.