IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,253,276
Granted Patent B2
US 12,253,276 · App. 18/099,734 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Ventilation apparatus with total heat exchanger

Inventors: Janghee Park (Seoul, KR); Jinwoo Lee (Seoul, KR); Yongki Jeong (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
F24F12/006F24F3/001F24F11/74F24F11/77F24F13/20F24F13/30F24F11/65F24F2012/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,253,276
App. No.
18/099,734
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ventilation apparatus includes a housing having an indoor air inlet, an air discharge opening, an outdoor air inlet, and an indoor air outlet; a total heat exchanger located in the housing, an inner space of the housing being partitioned into a space for the total heat exchange element, an outdoor air inlet space, an outdoor air discharge space facing the outdoor air inlet space, an indoor air inlet space, and an indoor air discharge space facing the indoor air inlet space, a bypass duct having a bypass passage configured to bypass the total heat exchange element, the bypass passage communicating with the indoor air inlet space and the indoor air discharge space. Indoor air passes through at least one of the total heat exchanger and the bypass passage according to an operation mode of the ventilation apparatus.

Claims (76)

1. A ventilation apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an inner space, the housing including:

a front surface having an indoor air inlet and an air discharge opening; and

a rear surface having an outdoor air inlet and an indoor air outlet;

a separation wall configured to divide the inner space of the housing into a ventilation portion and an air conditioning portion, the separation wall having an indoor air communication hole and an outdoor air communication hole;

a total heat exchanger located in the ventilation portion, the total heat exchanger having a hexahedral shape such that a front surface of the total heat exchanger contacts the front surface of the housing and a rear surface of the total heat exchanger contacts the rear surface of the housing;

an inner space of the ventilation portion being partitioned into a space for the total heat exchanger, an outdoor air inlet space, an outdoor air discharge space, an indoor air inlet space, and an indoor air discharge space;

a suction fan disposed in the outdoor air discharge space, the suction fan having an outlet connected to the outdoor air communication hole;

an exhaust fan disposed in the indoor air discharge space, the exhaust fan having an outlet connected to the indoor air outlet;

a bypass duct having a bypass passage configured to bypass the total heat exchanger, the bypass passage having an inlet communicating with the indoor air inlet space and an outlet communicating with the indoor air discharge space;

a supply-side mullion provided in the air conditioning portion and located adjacent the outdoor air communication hole, the supply-side mullion defining an outdoor air supply passage communicating with the outdoor air communication hole;

a discharge-side mullion provided in the air conditioning portion and located adjacent to the indoor air communication hole, the discharge-side mullion defining an indoor air discharge passage communicating with the indoor air communication hole;

an air conditioning passage defined between the supply-side mullion and the discharge-side mullion;

an evaporator disposed in the air conditioning passage;

an evaporation fan disposed in the air conditioning passage;

a supply damper provided on the supply-side mullion, the supply damper being configured to direct outdoor air passing through the outdoor air communication hole to flow to the outdoor air supply passage or to the air conditioning passage;

an exhaust damper provided on the discharge-side mullion, the exhaust damper being configured to direct indoor air flowing along the indoor air discharge passage to flow to the indoor air communication hole, to the air conditioning passage, or to both the indoor air communication hole and the air conditioning passage; and

a bypass damper mounted at the inlet of the bypass passage to direct indoor air passing through the indoor air communication hole to flow to one of the indoor air inlet space and the bypass passage,

wherein the air discharge opening communicates with both the outdoor air supply passage and the air conditioning passage, and

wherein indoor air passing through the indoor air communication hole passes through at least one of the total heat exchanger and the bypass passage according to an operation mode of the ventilation apparatus.

2. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode is a quick ventilation/mixed cooling mode, the quick ventilation/mixed cooling mode being configured such that:

the suction fan, the exhaust fan, the evaporation fan, and the evaporator are operated,

an opening degree of the exhaust damper is adjusted such that a first part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage passes into the air conditioning passage and a second part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage passes through the indoor air communication hole,

the bypass damper is opened such that the second part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air communication hole passes through the bypass passage and the indoor air outlet,

the supply damper is opened such that the outdoor air passing through the outdoor air inlet sequentially passes through the outdoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the indoor air discharge space, the suction fan, the outdoor air communication hole, and the air conditioning passage, and

the first part of the indoor air and the outdoor air passing through the air conditioning passage together sequentially pass through the evaporation fan, the evaporator, and the air discharge opening.

3. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode is a quick cooling mode, the quick cooling mode being configured such that:

the evaporation fan and the evaporator are operated,

the suction fan and the exhaust fan are not operated, and

an opening degree of the exhaust damper is adjusted such that all of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage sequentially passes through the evaporation fan, the evaporator, and the air discharge opening.

4. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode is a quick ventilation mode, the quick ventilation mode being configured such that:

the suction fan and the exhaust fan are operated;

the evaporation fan is not operated,

the supply damper is closed such that the outdoor air passing through the outdoor air inlet sequentially passes through the outdoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the indoor air discharge space, the suction fan, the outdoor air communication hole, the outdoor air supply passage, and the air discharge opening, and

the exhaust damper is closed and the bypass damper is opened such that all of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage sequentially passes through the indoor air communication hole, the bypass passage, the exhaust fan and the indoor air outlet.

5. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode is a quick ventilation/outdoor air cooling simultaneous mode, the quick ventilation/outdoor air cooling simultaneous mode being configured such that:

the suction fan, the exhaust fan, the evaporation fan, and the evaporator are operated,

the exhaust damper is closed and the bypass damper is opened such that all of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage sequentially passes through the indoor air communication hole, the bypass passage, the exhaust fan and the indoor air outlet, and

the supply damper is opened such that the outdoor air passing through the outdoor air inlet sequentially passes through the outdoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the indoor air discharge space, the suction fan, the outdoor air communication hole, the air conditioning passage, the evaporation fan, the evaporator, and the air discharge opening.

6. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode is a quick ventilation/quick cooling mixed mode, the quick ventilation/mixed cooling mode being configured such that:

the suction fan, the exhaust fan, the evaporation fan, and the evaporator are operated,

an opening degree of the exhaust damper is adjusted such that a first part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage passes into the air conditioning passage and a second part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage passes through the indoor air communication hole,

the bypass damper is opened such that the second part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air communication hole passes through the bypass passage, the exhaust fan and the indoor air outlet,

the supply damper is closed such that the outdoor air passing through the outdoor air inlet sequentially passes through the outdoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the indoor air discharge space, the suction fan, the outdoor air communication hole, the outdoor air supply passage, and the air discharge opening, and

the first part of the indoor air passing through the air conditioning passage sequentially passes through the evaporation fan, the evaporator, and the air discharge opening.

7. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode is a total heat exchange ventilation/mixed cooling mode, the total heat exchange ventilation/mixed cooling mode being configured such that:

the suction fan, the exhaust fan, the evaporation fan, and the evaporator are operated,

an opening degree of the exhaust damper is adjusted such that a first part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage passes into the air conditioning passage and a second part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage passes through the indoor air communication hole,

the bypass damper is closed such that the second part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air communication hole sequentially passes through the indoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the exhaust fan, and the indoor air outlet,

the supply damper is opened such that the outdoor air passing through the outdoor air inlet sequentially passes through the outdoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the indoor air discharge space, the suction fan, the outdoor air communication hole, and the air conditioning passage, and

the first part of the indoor air and the outdoor air passing through the air conditioning passage together sequentially pass through the evaporation fan, the evaporator, and the air discharge opening.

8. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode is a total heat exchange ventilation/quick cooling mixed mode, the total heat exchange ventilation/quick cooling mixed mode being configured such that:

the suction fan, the exhaust fan, the evaporation fan, and the evaporator are operated,

an opening degree of the exhaust damper is adjusted such that a first part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage passes into the air conditioning passage and a second part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage passes through the indoor air communication hole,

the bypass damper is closed such that the second part of the indoor air passing through the indoor air communication hole sequentially passes through the indoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the exhaust fan, and the indoor air outlet,

the supply damper is closed such that the outdoor air passing through the outdoor air inlet sequentially passes through the outdoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the indoor air discharge space, the suction fan, the outdoor air communication hole, the outdoor air supply passage, and the air discharge opening, and

the first part of the indoor air passing through the air conditioning passage sequentially passes through the evaporation fan, the evaporator, and the air discharge opening.

9. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode is a total heat exchange ventilation/outdoor air cooling simultaneous mode, the total heat exchange ventilation/outdoor air cooling simultaneous mode being configured such that:

the suction fan, the exhaust fan, the evaporation fan, and the evaporator are operated,

the supply damper is opened such that the outdoor air passing through the outdoor air inlet sequentially passes through the outdoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the indoor air discharge space, the suction fan, the outdoor air communication hole, the air conditioning passage, the evaporation fan, the evaporator, and the air discharge opening, and

the exhaust damper and the bypass damper are closed such that all of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage sequentially passes through the indoor air communication hole, the indoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the exhaust fan, and the indoor air outlet.

10. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operation mode is a total heat exchange ventilation mode, the total heat exchange ventilation mode being configured such that:

the suction fan and the exhaust fan are operated,

the evaporation fan and the evaporator are not operated,

the supply damper is closed such that the outdoor air passing through the outdoor air inlet sequentially passes through the outdoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the indoor air discharge space, the suction fan, the outdoor air communication hole, the outdoor air supply passage, and the air discharge opening, and

the exhaust damper and the bypass damper are closed such that all of the indoor air passing through the indoor air discharge passage sequentially passes through the indoor air communication hole, the indoor air inlet space, the total heat exchanger, the exhaust fan, and the indoor air outlet.

11. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of partition walls extending from four side edges of the total heat exchanger to partition the inner space of the ventilation portion excluding the space for the total heat exchanger into the outdoor air inlet space, the outdoor air discharge space, the indoor air inlet space, and the indoor air discharge space.

12. The ventilation apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the supply-side mullion and the discharge-side mullion extend vertically.

13. The ventilation apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the ventilation portion is located above the air conditioning portion.

14. The ventilation apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the indoor air inlet and the air discharge opening are located below the separation wall.

15. The ventilation apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the outdoor air inlet and the indoor air outlet are located above the separation wall.

16. The ventilation apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising an air duct connected to each of the indoor air inlet, the air discharge opening, the outdoor air inlet, and the indoor air outlet.

17. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an outdoor air discharge duct in communication with the air discharge opening, the outdoor air discharge duct having an outer duct and an inner duct located within the outer duct.

18. The ventilation apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the outdoor air discharge duct further includes a discharge cover mounted on discharge ends of the outer duct and the inner duct.

19. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the supply-side mullion and the discharge-side mullion extend vertically.

20. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ventilation portion is located above the air conditioning portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2023
From: PARK, JANGHEE; LEE, JINWOO; JEONG, YONGKI
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 064757/0741 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0104150 · Aug 19, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240060677A1 · Feb 22, 2024
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