This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Environmental control systems are utilized in residential, commercial, and industrial environments to control environmental properties, such as temperature and humidity, for occupants of the respective environments. The environmental control system may control the environmental properties through control of an air flow delivered to the environment. In some cases, environmental control systems include a vapor compression system, which includes heat exchangers, such as a condenser and an evaporator, that transfer thermal energy between the vapor compression system and the environment. Fans or blowers may direct a flow of supply air across a heat exchange area of the evaporator, and refrigerant circulating through the evaporator may absorb thermal energy from the supply air. Accordingly, the evaporator may discharge conditioned air, which is subsequently directed toward a cooling load, such as an interior of a building. In some instances, the evaporator may condense moisture suspended within the supply air, and condensate may form on an exterior surface of the evaporator. The condensate is generally directed to a drain pan configured to collect the condensate generated by the evaporator. However, the air flow passing across the evaporator may displace condensate formed and/or accumulated on the evaporator. Unfortunately, the velocity of the air flow may transfer the displaced condensate to a location or region beyond the drain pan.
A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.
The present disclosure relates to a condensate collection assembly. The condensate collection assembly includes a drain pan configured to collect condensate generated by a heat exchanger of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The condensate collection assembly also includes a condensate capture receptacle configured to couple to the heat exchanger. The condensate capture receptacle is further configured to overlap with the heat exchanger relative to a direction of air flow across the heat exchanger, to discharge condensate to the drain pan, and to be suspended above the drain pan relative to a direction of gravity.
The present disclosure also relates to a condensate collection assembly comprising a condensate trough configured to couple to a downstream end of a heat exchanger disposed within an air flow path of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, relative to a direction of air flow across the heat exchanger. The condensate trough is further configured to capture condensate generated by the heat exchanger and to be disposed within the air flow path and offset from a drain pan of the HVAC system.
The present disclosure further relates to an HVAC system that includes a heat exchanger disposed within an air flow path and configured to condition an air flow directed across the heat exchanger. The HVAC system also includes a condensate collection assembly configured to capture condensate generated by the heat exchanger. The condensate collection assembly includes a condensate capture receptacle configured to couple to the heat exchanger and to overlap with the heat exchanger relative to a direction of air flow across the heat exchanger along the air flow path. The condensate collection assembly is further configured to discharge condensate to a drain pan disposed beneath the heat exchanger and to be suspended above the drain pan relative to a direction of gravity.
Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. These described embodiments are examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.
As used herein, the terms “approximately,” “generally,” and “substantially,” and so forth, are intended to convey that the property value being described may be within a relatively small range of the property value, as those of ordinary skill would understand. For example, when a property value is described as being “approximately” equal to (or, for example, “substantially similar” to) a given value, this is intended to mean that the property value may be within +/−5%, within +/−4%, within +/−3%, within +/−2%, within +/−1%, or even closer, of the given value. Similarly, when a given feature is described as being “substantially parallel” to another feature, “generally perpendicular” to another feature, and so forth, this is intended to mean that the given feature is within +/−5%, within +/−4%, within +/−3%, within +/−2%, within +/−1%, or even closer, to having the described nature, such as being parallel to another feature, being perpendicular to another feature, and so forth. Further, it should be understood that mathematical terms, such as “planar.” “slope,” “perpendicular,” “parallel,” and so forth are intended to encompass features of surfaces or elements as understood to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, and should not be rigidly interpreted as might be understood in the mathematical arts. For example, a “planar” surface is intended to encompass a surface that is machined, molded, or otherwise formed to be substantially flat or smooth (within related tolerances) using techniques and tools available to one of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, a surface having a “slope” is intended to encompass a surface that is machined, molded, or otherwise formed to be oriented at an angle (e.g., incline) with respect to a point of reference using techniques and tools available to one of ordinary skill in the art.
As briefly discussed above, a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system may be used to thermally regulate a space within a building, home, or other suitable structure. For example, the HVAC system may include a vapor compression system that transfers thermal energy between a heat transfer fluid (e.g., a working fluid), such as a refrigerant, and a fluid to be conditioned, such as air. The vapor compression system includes heat exchangers (e.g. a condenser, an evaporator) that are fluidly coupled to one another via one or more conduits to form a refrigerant circuit. A compressor may be used to circulate the refrigerant through the refrigerant circuit and enable the transfer of thermal energy between components of the vapor compression system (e.g., the condenser, the evaporator) and one or more thermal loads (e.g., an environmental air flow, a supply air flow).
Generally, one or more heat exchangers of the HVAC system may operate to condition a flow of air that is supplied to a conditioned space, such as interior of a building. The air to be conditioned may include ambient (e.g., outside) air, return air, a mixture of ambient air and return air, and/or another suitable flow of air. The HVAC system may include one or more fans or blowers that direct a flow of air across a heat exchange area of a heat exchanger to enable conditioning (e.g., heating, cooling, dehumidification) of the air. For example, an evaporator of the HVAC system may be configured to place refrigerant circulating through the evaporator in a heat exchange relationship with the air flow. In this way, the refrigerant within the evaporator may absorb thermal energy from the air flow, thereby cooling the air flow before the air flow is discharged toward a conditioned space as a supply air flow.
Cooling of the air flow via the evaporator may cause moisture suspended within the air flow to condense, thereby forming condensate. In certain instances, condensate generated via the evaporator may initially collect on the heat exchange area of the evaporator. Condensate formed and/or accumulated on the evaporator may fall (e.g., via force of gravity) toward a drain pan positioned vertically beneath the evaporator. The drain pan may collect the condensate that falls from the evaporator and direct the condensate toward a drain or other suitable discharge outlet. Unfortunately, in some applications, the evaporator may be arranged (e.g., positioned, oriented) in a manner that reduces the effectiveness of conventional drain pans.
For example, in some cases an HVAC system or HVAC unit having an evaporator may be arranged to direct an air flow across the evaporator in a generally lateral direction, such as either left to right or right to left. An air flow directed across the evaporator may cause condensate formed and/or accumulated thereon to become dislodged from the evaporator. More specifically, the air flow may dislodge the condensate from the evaporator and displace or carry the condensate in a direction (e.g., lateral direction) of the air flow. Moreover, increased turbulence and/or velocity of the air flow may cause the dislodged condensate to travel away from the evaporator (e.g., in a direction of the air flow). Condensate carried by the air flow may not fall, via force of gravity, into the drain pan positioned beneath the evaporator, which may result in the condensate permeating areas or regions external to the drain pan and/or HVAC unit. Therefore, it is now recognized that improved condensate collection systems are desirable for HVAC systems.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an improved condensate collection assembly that enables improved capture of condensate formed during operation of an HVAC system. For example, the condensate collection assembly may include one or more components configured to enable capture of condensate that may be susceptible to lateral discharge from an evaporator via an air flow directed across the evaporator in a lateral (e.g., horizontal, sideways) direction. As described in further detail below, the condensate collection assembly may include a drain pan and a condensate capture receptacle (e.g., a condensate shield, a condensate trough, a condensate covering) with one or more condensate ports (e.g., discharge ports, drainage ports). The condensate capture receptacle may be positioned at a downstream end of a heat exchanger (e.g., an evaporator) and may be configured to capture condensate generated during operation of the heat exchanger. To this end, the condensate collection assembly may include one or more support brackets configured to couple the condensate capture receptacle to the heat exchanger. In particular, the one or more support brackets may support and suspend the condensate capture receptacle, such as above the drain pan relative to gravity. In this way, present embodiments enable capture of condensate dislodged from the heat exchanger, while also reducing or limiting air flow obstruction or interference caused by the condensate collection assembly.
The condensate capture receptacle may be positioned on a lateral side (e.g., laterally adjacent to) the heat exchanger, such that the condensate capture receptacle may overlap with (e.g., shield) a lateral end of the heat exchanger relative to a direction of air flow across the heat exchanger. Further, the condensate capture receptacle may be configured to block discharge of condensate in an outward (e.g., laterally outward) direction. In particular, the condensate capture receptacle may block discharge of condensate from a region or area generally defined by a perimeter of the drain pan. Additionally, the condensate capture receptacle may define a cavity configured to capture the discharged condensate blocked by the condensate capture receptacle. Condensate captured within the cavity may be directed toward the one or more condensate ports, and the one or more condensate ports may direct the condensate toward the drain pan for collection and discharge in a suitable manner. In this way, present embodiments enable improved capture and collection of condensate generated during operation of the HVAC system. Additional details and benefits enabled by the present embodiments are described in further detail below.
Turning now to the drawings,
In the illustrated embodiment, a building 10 is air conditioned by a system that includes an HVAC unit 12 with a reheat system in accordance with present embodiments. The building 10 may be a commercial structure or a residential structure. As shown, the HVAC unit 12 is disposed on the roof of the building 10; however, the HVAC unit 12 may be located in other equipment rooms or areas adjacent the building 10. The HVAC unit 12 may be a single package unit containing other equipment, such as a blower, integrated air handler, and/or auxiliary heating unit. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may be part of a split HVAC system, such as the system shown in
The HVAC unit 12 is an air cooled device that implements a refrigeration cycle to provide conditioned air to the building 10. Specifically, the HVAC unit 12 may include one or more heat exchangers across which an air flow is passed to condition the air flow before the air flow is supplied to the building. In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 12 is a rooftop unit (RTU) that conditions a supply air stream, such as environmental air and/or a return air flow from the building 10. After the HVAC unit 12 conditions the air, the air is supplied to the building 10 via ductwork 14 extending throughout the building 10 from the HVAC unit 12. For example, the ductwork 14 may extend to various individual floors or other sections of the building 10. In certain embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may be a heat pump that provides both heating and cooling to the building with one refrigeration circuit configured to operate in different modes. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include one or more refrigeration circuits for cooling an air stream and a furnace for heating the air stream.
A control device 16, one type of which may be a thermostat, may be used to designate the temperature of the conditioned air. The control device 16 also may be used to control the flow of air through the ductwork 14. For example, the control device 16 may be used to regulate operation of one or more components of the HVAC unit 12 or other components, such as dampers and fans, within the building 10 that may control flow of air through and/or from the ductwork 14. In some embodiments, other devices may be included in the system, such as pressure and/or temperature transducers or switches that sense the temperatures and pressures of the supply air, return air, and so forth. Moreover, the control device 16 may include computer systems that are integrated with or separate from other building control or monitoring systems, and even systems that are remote from the building 10.
As shown in the illustrated embodiment of
The HVAC unit 12 includes heat exchangers 28 and 30 in fluid communication with one or more refrigeration circuits. Tubes within the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may circulate refrigerant, such as R-410A, through the heat exchangers 28 and 30. The tubes may be of various types, such as multichannel tubes, conventional copper or aluminum tubing, and so forth. Together, the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may implement a thermal cycle in which the refrigerant undergoes phase changes and/or temperature changes as it flows through the heat exchangers 28 and 30 to produce heated and/or cooled air. For example, the heat exchanger 28 may function as a condenser where heat is released from the refrigerant to ambient air, and the heat exchanger 30 may function as an evaporator where the refrigerant absorbs heat to cool an air stream. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may operate in a heat pump mode where the roles of the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may be reversed. That is, the heat exchanger 28 may function as an evaporator and the heat exchanger 30 may function as a condenser. In further embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include a furnace for heating the air stream that is supplied to the building 10. While the illustrated embodiment of
The heat exchanger 30 is located within a compartment 31 that separates the heat exchanger 30 from the heat exchanger 28. Fans 32 draw air from the environment through the heat exchanger 28. Air may be heated and/or cooled as the air flows through the heat exchanger 28 before being released back to the environment surrounding the HVAC unit 12. A blower assembly 34, powered by a motor 36, draws air through the heat exchanger 30 to heat or cool the air. The heated or cooled air may be directed to the building 10 by the ductwork 14, which may be connected to the HVAC unit 12. Before flowing through the heat exchanger 30, the conditioned air flows through one or more filters 38 that may remove particulates and contaminants from the air. In certain embodiments, the filters 38 may be disposed on the air intake side of the heat exchanger 30 to prevent contaminants from contacting the heat exchanger 30.
The HVAC unit 12 also may include other equipment for implementing the thermal cycle. Compressors 42 increase the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant before the refrigerant enters the heat exchanger 28. The compressors 42 may be any suitable type of compressors, such as scroll compressors, rotary compressors, screw compressors, or reciprocating compressors. In some embodiments, the compressors 42 may include a pair of hermetic direct drive compressors arranged in a dual stage configuration 44. However, in other embodiments, any number of the compressors 42 may be provided to achieve various stages of heating and/or cooling. As may be appreciated, additional equipment and devices may be included in the HVAC unit 12, such as a solid-core filter drier, a drain pan, a disconnect switch, an economizer, pressure switches, phase monitors, and humidity sensors, among other things.
The HVAC unit 12 may receive power through a terminal block 46. For example, a high voltage power source may be connected to the terminal block 46 to power the equipment. The operation of the HVAC unit 12 may be governed or regulated by a control board 48. The control board 48 may include control circuitry connected to a thermostat, sensors, and alarms. One or more of these components may be referred to herein separately or collectively as the control device 16. The control circuitry may be configured to control operation of the equipment, provide alarms, and monitor safety switches. Wiring 49 may connect the control board 48 and the terminal block 46 to the equipment of the HVAC unit 12.
When the system shown in
The outdoor unit 58 draws environmental air through the heat exchanger 60 using a fan 64 and expels the air above the outdoor unit 58. When operating as an air conditioner, the air is heated by the heat exchanger 60 within the outdoor unit 58 and exits the unit at a temperature higher than it entered. The indoor unit 56 includes a blower or fan 66 that directs air through or across the indoor heat exchanger 62, where the air is cooled when the system is operating in air conditioning mode. Thereafter, the air is passed through ductwork 68 that directs the air to the residence 52. The overall system operates to maintain a desired temperature as set by a system controller. When the temperature sensed inside the residence 52 is higher than the set point on the thermostat, or the set point plus a small amount, the residential heating and cooling system 50 may become operative to refrigerate additional air for circulation through the residence 52. When the temperature reaches the set point, or the set point minus a small amount, the residential heating and cooling system 50 may stop the refrigeration cycle temporarily. The outdoor unit 58 includes a reheat system in accordance with present embodiments.
The residential heating and cooling system 50 may also operate as a heat pump. When operating as a heat pump, the roles of heat exchangers 60 and 62 are reversed. That is, the heat exchanger 60 of the outdoor unit 58 will serve as an evaporator to evaporate refrigerant and thereby cool air entering the outdoor unit 58 as the air passes over the outdoor heat exchanger 60. The indoor heat exchanger 62 will receive a stream of air blown over it and will heat the air by condensing the refrigerant.
In some embodiments, the indoor unit 56 may include a furnace system 70. For example, the indoor unit 56 may include the furnace system 70 when the residential heating and cooling system 50 is not configured to operate as a heat pump. The furnace system 70 may include a burner assembly and heat exchanger, among other components, inside the indoor unit 56. Fuel is provided to the burner assembly of the furnace 70 where it is mixed with air and combusted to form combustion products. The combustion products may pass through tubes or piping in a heat exchanger, separate from heat exchanger 62, such that air directed by the blower 66 passes over the tubes or pipes and extracts heat from the combustion products. The heated air may then be routed from the furnace system 70 to the ductwork 68 for heating the residence 52.
In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 72 may use one or more of a variable speed drive (VSDs) 92, a motor 94, the compressor 74, the condenser 76, the expansion valve or device 78, and/or the evaporator 80. The motor 94 may drive the compressor 74 and may be powered by the variable speed drive (VSD) 92. The VSD 92 receives alternating current (AC) power having a particular fixed line voltage and fixed line frequency from an AC power source, and provides power having a variable voltage and frequency to the motor 94. In other embodiments, the motor 94 may be powered directly from an AC or direct current (DC) power source. The motor 94 may include any type of electric motor that can be powered by a VSD or directly from an AC or DC power source, such as a switched reluctance motor, an induction motor, an electronically commutated permanent magnet motor, or another suitable motor.
The compressor 74 compresses a refrigerant vapor and delivers the vapor to the condenser 76 through a discharge passage. In some embodiments, the compressor 74 may be a centrifugal compressor. The refrigerant vapor delivered by the compressor 74 to the condenser 76 may transfer heat to a fluid passing across the condenser 76, such as ambient or environmental air 96. The refrigerant vapor may condense to a refrigerant liquid in the condenser 76 as a result of thermal heat transfer with the environmental air 96. The liquid refrigerant from the condenser 76 may flow through the expansion device 78 to the evaporator 80.
The liquid refrigerant delivered to the evaporator 80 may absorb heat from another air stream, such as a supply air stream 98 provided to the building 10 or the residence 52. For example, the supply air stream 98 may include ambient or environmental air, return air from a building, or a combination of the two. The liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 80 may undergo a phase change from the liquid refrigerant to a refrigerant vapor. In this manner, the evaporator 80 may reduce the temperature of the supply air stream 98 via thermal heat transfer with the refrigerant. Thereafter, the vapor refrigerant exits the evaporator 80 and returns to the compressor 74 by a suction line to complete the cycle.
In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 72 may further include a reheat coil. In the illustrated embodiment, the reheat coil is represented as part of the evaporator 80. The reheat coil is positioned downstream of the evaporator heat exchanger relative to the supply air stream 98 and may reheat the supply air stream 98 when the supply air stream 98 is overcooled to remove humidity from the supply air stream 98 before the supply air stream 98 is directed to the building 10 or the residence 52.
It should be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be incorporated with the HVAC unit 12, the residential heating and cooling system 50, or other HVAC systems. Additionally, while the features disclosed herein are described in the context of embodiments that directly heat and cool a supply air stream provided to a building or other load, embodiments of the present disclosure may be applicable to other HVAC systems as well. For example, the features described herein may be applied to mechanical cooling systems, free cooling systems, chiller systems, or other heat pump or refrigeration applications.
As noted above, HVAC systems typically include a drain pan configured to collect condensate that may form during operation of the HVAC system. Unfortunately, conventional systems generally rely on the force of gravity to direct condensate from a heat exchanger to the drain pan, which may not adequately facilitate desirable collection of condensate. For example, HVAC systems oriented to direct air flow across a heat exchanger in a lateral direction (e.g., horizontal right configuration, horizontal left configuration) may be susceptible to peripheral or external discharge of condensate. In other words, conventional drain pans may not adequately capture condensate generated during operation of the HVAC system, and condensate may undesirably travel (e.g., via air flow directed across the heat exchanger) to regions or areas external to the drain pan. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a condensate collection assembly that is configured to more efficiently capture condensate generated during HVAC system operation.
With the foregoing in mind,
In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 100 includes a housing 108 defining an air flow path 110 therethrough. A heat exchanger 112 is disposed within the housing 108 and along the air flow path 110. The HVAC unit 100 is configured to direct an air flow 114 through the housing 108 and across the heat exchanger 112 to enable conditioning of the air flow 114. For example, the heat exchanger 112 may be an evaporator or other cooling coil configured to cool the air flow 114 directed through the housing 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 108 and the heat exchanger 112 are arranged in a generally horizontal flow configuration. In other words, the housing 108 is configured to direct the air flow 114 in a generally horizontal direction (e.g., along the longitudinal axis 102) along the air flow path 110 and across the heat exchanger 112. In some embodiments, the air flow 114 may be directed in through the housing 108 and across the heat exchanger 112 in a first direction 116 (e.g., in a horizontal left configuration of the heat exchanger 112) or in a second direction 118 (e.g., in a horizontal right configuration of the heat exchanger 112). In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 100 includes a blower 120 configured to draw the air flow 114 into the housing 108 and across the heat exchanger 112 and to discharge the air flow 114 from the housing 108. The air flow 114 may enter the housing 108 as a pre-conditioned air flow, a return air flow, an ambient air flow, any combination thereof, or another suitable air flow. The air flow 114 discharged from the HVAC unit 100 may be directed toward a conditioned space, such as via ductwork fluidly coupled to the air flow path 110.
As mentioned above, the heat exchanger 112 is configured to condition the air flow 114 directed through the housing 108 and across the heat exchanger 112. For example, the heat exchanger 112 may be an evaporator configured to cool the air flow 114. In some instances, the housing 108 may also include an additional heat exchanger disposed within the air flow path 110, such as a heating coil. In certain operating modes of the HVAC unit 100, the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., evaporator, cooling coil) and additional heat exchanger (e.g., heating coil) may operate in conjunction with one another to dehumidify the air flow 114. During cooling and/or dehumidification of the air flow 114, moisture within the air flow 114 may condense to form condensate in the form of liquid droplets. For example, condensate may form and/or collect on the heat exchanger 112.
As will be appreciated, it is desirable to collect and discharge condensate generated during operation of the HVAC unit 100 in a suitable manner. For example, it is desirable to capture the condensate and drain the condensate along a suitable flow path, as well as mitigate transfer of condensate to unintended areas or region (e.g., within the housing 108, external to the housing 108). Accordingly, the HVAC unit 100 includes a condensate collection assembly 122 configured to capture and collect condensate generated from the air flow 114 during operation of the HVAC unit 100. For example, the condensate collection assembly 122 is configured to capture and collect condensate that may form on the heat exchanger 112 and may fall from the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., along vertical axis 104) due to force of gravity. The condensate collection assembly 122 is also configured to capture condensate that may be dislodged from the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., at least partially along longitudinal axis 102) via the air flow 114 directed across the heat exchanger 112. As described herein, condensate dislodged from the heat exchanger 112 by the air flow 114 and traveling at least partially in a direction of the air flow 114 may be referred to as “condensate blowoff” or “condensate carryover.” The condensate collection assembly 122 of the present disclosure is configured to capture condensate blowoff or carryover and block condensate exposure to unintended areas, such as certain areas within the housing 108, the blower 120, filters (e.g., filter 38) within the housing 108, ductwork (e.g., ductwork 14 and 68) fluidly coupled to the housing 108, and/or other unintended areas associated with the HVAC unit 100 (e.g., building 10, residence 52).
In the illustrated embodiment, the condensate collection assembly 122 includes components disposed beneath (e.g., relative to vertical axis 104) the heat exchanger 112. The condensate collection assembly 122 also includes components disposed on or adjacent one or more lateral sides 124 (e.g., vertically-extending sides) of the heat exchanger 112. In other words, the condensate collection assembly 122 includes components disposed laterally outward (e.g., relative to longitudinal axis 102 and/or lateral axis 106) from the heat exchanger 112. In the manner described below, the components of the condensate collection assembly 122 enable capture and collection of condensate that may fall from the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., along vertical axis 104), as well as condensate that may be dislodged by the air flow 114 directed across the heat exchanger 112. The condensate captured and collected by the condensate collection assembly 122 may then be discharged or drained from the HVAC unit 100 in a desirable manner.
The embodiments discussed below with reference to
In the illustrated A-coil configuration, the heat exchange slabs 202 (e.g., a first heat exchange portion 206 of the heat exchanger 112, a second heat exchange portion 208 of the heat exchanger 112) are disposed at an angle relative to one another and relative to the first direction 116 of the air flow 114 through the housing 108. The first heat exchange portion 206 extends along the longitudinal axis 102 in the first direction 116 at a downward slope or angle relative to the vertical axis 104, and the second heat exchange portion 208 extends along the longitudinal axis 102 in the first direction 116 at an upward slope or angle relative to the vertical axis 104. Thus, the heat exchange slabs 202 converge towards one another in the first direction 116 along the longitudinal axis 102, such that respective downstream ends 210 (e.g., relative to the first direction 116 of air flow 114) of the first heat exchange portion 206 and the second heat exchange portion 208 define an apex 212 (e.g., a vertex of the A-coil configuration) of the heat exchanger 112. During operation of the HVAC unit 100, the air flow 114 may initially flow along the air flow path 110 between (e.g., relative to vertical axis 104) respective upstream ends 214 (e.g., relative to the first direction 116 of air flow 114) of the first heat exchange portion 206 and the second heat exchange portion 208. As the air flow 114 travels along the air flow path 110, the air flow 114 may pass across the heat exchange slabs 202. Thereafter, the air flow 114 may continue traveling along the air flow path 110 through the housing 108 (e.g., toward the blower 120).
As mentioned above, each heat exchange slab 202 may include rows of tubes configured to direct refrigerant or working fluid therethrough. Each heat exchange slab 202 may also include fins coupled to and extending between the respective tubes. The fins may support or reinforce the arrangement of tubes and may also be configured to increase a heat transfer surface area of the heat exchange slabs 202. During operation of the HVAC unit 100 to cool the air flow 114 via the heat exchanger 112, heat may be transferred from the air flow 114 to the refrigerant circulated through the tubes of the heat exchange slabs 202. As a result, moisture within the air flow 114 may condense to form condensate (e.g., water droplets) that may collect on heat exchange slabs 202 (e.g., tubes, fins, and/or the delta plates 204). In some instances, the velocity and/or turbulence of the air flow 114 may cause condensate formed on one or more of the heat exchange slabs 202 to travel at least partially in the first direction 116. That is, the air flow 114 may drive or force condensate formed on the heat exchange slabs 202 to become dislodged from the heat exchange slabs 202 and migrate in the first direction 116 (e.g., along the fins and/or tubes, toward the apex 212 of the heat exchanger 112).
To capture and collect condensate generated via operation of the heat exchanger 112, the HVAC unit 100 includes the condensate collection assembly 122. As shown, the condensate collection assembly 122 may be configured to couple to one or more of the heat exchange slabs 202, one or more of the delta plates 204, or both. In the illustrated embodiment, the condensate collection assembly 122 includes a drain pan 220 disposed within the housing 108 and beneath the heat exchanger 112 relative to the vertical axis 104. The condensate collection assembly 122 also includes a condensate capture receptacle 222 disposed within the housing 108 and adjacent one or more lateral sides 124 of the heat exchanger 112. Additionally, the condensate collection assembly 122 may include one or more support brackets 226 configured to couple the condensate capture receptacle 222 to one or more of the heat exchange slabs 202, one or more of the delta plates 204, or both. That is, the support brackets 226 may support and suspend the condensate capture receptacle 222 from the drain pan 220. In this way, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be suspended above the drain pan 220 relative to the vertical axis 104, and the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be disposed within the air flow path 110.
As illustrated in
In addition to efficiently capturing condensate generated during operation of the HVAC unit 100, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may also improve overall heat exchange efficiency of the HVAC unit 100 by blocking portions of the air flow 114 from exiting the heat exchanger 112 through the apex 212 of the heat exchanger 112 and diverting (e.g., redirecting) the portions of the air flow 114, such that the portions of the air flow 114 flow across other portions of the first and/or second heat exchange slabs 202 instead of through the apex 212 of the heat exchanger 112. In particular, as described above, each of the heat exchange slabs 202 may include heat exchange tubes configured to direct refrigerant therethrough, and the heat exchange slabs 202 may include fins extending between the heat exchange tubes. The fins extending from and between the heat exchange tubes may be configured to increase a heat transfer surface area of the heat exchange slabs 202, and thus increase the amount of total heat transfer of the heat exchanger 112.
However, the apex 212 of the heat exchanger 112, or any point at which two or more heat exchange slabs 202 converge (e.g., such as convergent points of the V″, “N”, or “Z” configurations), may include a gap without heat exchange tubes between respective converging heat exchange slabs 202. For example, two separate heat exchange slabs 202 may converge at the apex 212 and may define a gap or space of the heat exchanger 112 at the apex 212. Alternatively, some embodiments of the heat exchanger 112 may include a section of heat exchange tubes that do not include fins. For example, the heat exchanger 112 may include microchannel tubes that form multiple heat exchange slabs 202. That is, microchannel tubes may extend along both the first heat exchange portion 206 and the second heat exchange portion 208 to define multiple heat exchange slabs 202 that are fluidly coupled to one another at the apex 212. To this end, the microchannel tubes extending from the first heat exchange portion 206 to the second heat exchange portion 208 may be bent or curved at the apex 212. In such an embodiment, the heat exchanger 112 may not include fins extending between the heat exchange tubes (e.g., microchannel tubes) at the apex 212 to facilitate bending of the heat exchange tubes extending from one heat exchange slab 202 to another heat exchange slab 202. As a result, portions of the air flow 114 that travel through the apex 212 of the heat exchanger 112 may experience less efficient heat transfer as compared to portions of the air flow 114 that flow across the heat exchange slabs 202 at locations having heat exchange tubes with fins. As illustrated in
By covering or overlapping with the apex 212 of the heat exchanger 112, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may block portions of the air flow 114 from exiting the heat exchanger 112 through the apex 212 and may instead divert (e.g., redirect) those portions of the air flow 114 to exit the heat exchanger 112 by flowing across the first and/or second heat exchange slabs 202 instead of through the apex 212. Therefore, including the condensate capture receptacle 222 to the heat exchanger 112 may increase the overall heat transfer efficiency of the heat exchanger 112 by causing a greater percentage of the air flow 114 to travel across (e.g., interact with) portions of heat exchange tubes having fins as compared to an HVAC unit operating without the condensate capture receptacle 222. Thus, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may improve the performance of the heat exchanger 112 during operation in addition to efficiently and effectively capturing condensate generated by the heat exchanger 112.
The bent portions 302 of the plurality of microchannel tubes 308 may define an apex 304 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300. To facilitate manufacturing of the microchannel heat exchanger 300, the bent portions 302 of the microchannel tubes 308 may not include fins extending therebetween. Specifically, the microchannel tubes 308 may be bent at the bent portions 302 and may be angled, twisted, or otherwise manipulated to enable desired packaging or arrangement of the microchannel tubes 308 relative to one another in the “A” configuration without compromising (e.g., blocking, restricting) internal flow paths (e.g., microchannels) of the microchannel tubes 308. As a result, the microchannel tubes 308 may not include fins extending therebetween at the bent portions 302 (e.g., the apex 304). However, the first section 306 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300 may include fins extending between the first portions 310 of the microchannel tubes 308, and the second section 312 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300 may include fins extending between the second portions 314 of the microchannel tubes 308.
As similarly discussed above, the first and second sections 306, 312 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300 may be disposed at an angle relative to one another and relative to the first direction 116 of the air flow 114 directed through the housing 108 and across the microchannel heat exchanger 300. The first portions 310 of the microchannel tubes 308 in the first section 306 may extend along the longitudinal axis 102 at a downward slope or angle relative to the vertical axis 104, and the second portions 314 of the microchannel tubes 308 in the second section 312 may extend along the longitudinal axis 102 at an upward slope or angle relative to the vertical axis 104. Thus, the first and second sections 306, 312 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300 converge towards one another in the first direction 116 along the longitudinal axis 102, such that respective downstream ends 316 (e.g., relative to the first direction 116 of air flow 114) of the first and second sections 306, 312 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300 may partially define the apex 304 (e.g., a vertex of the “A” configuration) of the microchannel heat exchanger 300.
As mentioned above, each microchannel tube 308 may include a plurality of channels or flow paths (e.g., internal flow paths, microchannels) formed therethrough to direct a flow of refrigerant through the microchannel tubes 308 (e.g., through the first portion 310, the bent portion 302, and the second portion 314). During operation, the refrigerant may flow into the first portions 310 of the microchannel tubes 308, and may be directed generally in a first direction of flow 320 through the first section 306 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300 toward the apex 304 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300. The refrigerant may then flow generally in a second direction of flow 322 through the bent segments 302 of the microchannel tubes 308 that curves around the apex 304 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300. Thereafter, the refrigerant may flow into the second portions 314 of the microchannel tubes 308, and may be directed generally in a third direction of flow 324 through the second section 312 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300. Thereafter, the refrigerant may be discharged from the microchannel heat exchanger 300. It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the refrigerant may be directed to flow through the microchannel tubes 308 in an direction opposite that described above. For example, the refrigerant may flow into the second portions 314 of the microchannel tubes 308, flow along the second section 312 toward the bent portions 302 the microchannel tubes 308, flow around the apex 304 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300, and then flow through the first portions 310 of the microchannel tubes 308 and along the first section 306 before discharged from the microchannel heat exchanger 300.
In the illustrated embodiment, each microchannel tube 308 may have a generally ribbon shape (e.g., a width of the microchannel tube 308 is greater than a thickness or height of the microchannel tube 308), and each microchannel tube 308 may be positioned within the first and second sections 306, 312 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300 such that a width of each microchannel tube 308 extends along the vertical axis 104. Additionally, each microchannel tube 308 may extend continuously from an upstream end 326 of the first section 306 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300, around the apex 304, and to an upstream end 326 of the second section 312 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300. To this end, a portion of each microchannel tube 308 at the bent portion 302 that is bent around the apex 304 may be additionally rotated (e.g., twisted) so as to prevent crimping (e.g., closing) one or more of the fluid channels within the bent portions 302 of the microchannel tubes 308 at the apex 304. Furthermore, as mentioned above, each the first and second sections 306, 312 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300 may include a respective sets of fins 328 extending from and between the microchannel tubes 308 to increase heat transfer efficiency of the microchannel heat exchanger 300. The fins 328, 330 may additionally support and/or provide structural reinforcement to the microchannel tubes 308. However, the bent portions 302 of the microchannel tubes 308 may be fin-less or bare so as to facilitate the rotation and bending of the bent portions 302 of the microchannel tubes 308 around the apex 304 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300.
Furthermore, during operation of the HVAC unit 100, and with additional reference to
Due to the additional benefits of improved (e.g., increased) overall heat transfer of the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., microchannel heat exchanger 300), it should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the condensate collection assembly 122 (e.g., the condensate capture receptacle 222) may be included in HVAC units 100 oriented in any suitable direction. For example, in some embodiments, the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., microchannel heat exchanger 300) may be oriented in a vertical configuration, in which the heat exchanger 112 may be positioned such that the apex 212 (e.g., apex 304) of the heat exchanger 112 is facing up and is positioned at a top of the heat exchanger 112 with respect to the vertical axis 104. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the apex 212 of the heat exchanger 112 may be facing down and is positioned at a bottom of the heat exchanger 112 with respect to the vertical axis 104. It should be appreciated that the condensate collection assembly 122 (e.g., the condensate capture receptacle 222) may increase overall heat transfer, and thus improve the performance of the heat exchanger 112 oriented in any direction.
The drain pan 220 also includes a plurality of walls 414 (e.g., side walls) extending from the body portion 400. In particular, the drain pan 220 includes a first wall 416 extending from the body portion 400 at the first end portion 406, a second wall 418 extending from the body portion 400 at the second end portion 408, a third wall 420 extending from the body portion 400 at the third end portion 410, and a fourth wall 422 extending from the body portion 400 at the fourth end portion 412. The first, second, third, and fourth walls 416, 418, 420, and 422 may generally define the outer perimeter 224 of the drain pan 220. The body portion 400 and the plurality of walls 414 cooperatively define a basin 424 (e.g., reservoir, cavity, container, receptacle) of the drain pan 220 that is configured to capture and collect condensate generated during operation of the heat exchanger 112. For example, condensate may fall from the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., along vertical axis 104, via gravity) into the basin 424. Additionally, in the manner described in further detail below, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may capture condensate (e.g., dislodged from the heat exchanger 112 via the air flow 114) and direct the condensate into the basin 424.
The body portion 400 of the drain pan 220 defines or includes a draining surface 430. The first, second, third, and fourth walls 416, 418, 420, and 422 extend from the draining surface 430 and are configured to retain condensate directed into the basin 424. The drain pan 220 further includes a drain port 426 (e.g., condensate port, discharge port) configured to enable discharge of condensate collected within the basin 424. For example, the drain port 426 may be fluidly coupled to a discharge conduit configured to direct condensate toward a location external to the HVAC unit 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the drain port 426 is formed in and/or coupled to the fourth wall 420 of the drain pan 220, but in other embodiments the drain port 426 may be disposed in another suitable location of the drain pan 220.
In some embodiments, the draining surface 430 of drain pan 220 may include or define a slope (e.g., a compound slope) that enables drainage of condensate collected with the basin 424. In other words, one or more portions of the draining surface 430 may be disposed at an angle relative to horizontal (e.g., sloped downwardly relative to gravity) to promote flow of condensate along the draining surface 430 generally towards the drain port 426. In this way, condensate collected within the drain pan 220 may be suitably discharged from the HVAC unit 100. For example, the draining surface 430 may be sloped downwardly (e.g., with respect to gravity, relative to vertical axis 104) toward the drain port 426, such that force of gravity may direct condensate accumulated on the draining surface 430 toward the drain port 426. In some embodiments, one or more portions of the draining surface 430 may include a compound slope angled downwardly along the length 402 of the drain pan 220. In some embodiments, the draining surface 430 may be sloped (e.g., downwardly sloped relative to gravity and/or vertical axis 104) along the width 404 of the drain pan 220, such as from the third wall 420 to the fourth wall 422 (e.g., along lateral axis 106). Accordingly, the compound slope of the draining surface 430 may enable condensate collected on the draining surface 430 to flow generally along a direction of decline of the draining surface 430 toward the drain port 426. In such embodiments, the drain port 426 may be located at a lower-most portion (e.g., relative to gravity and/or vertical axis 104) of the draining surface 430. In this manner, the drain pan 220 may be configured to promote drainage and/or discharge of condensate from the basin 424 via the drain port 426.
As illustrated in
Further, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be configured to couple to the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., with the heat exchanger 112 at least partially supporting a weight of the condensate capture receptacle 222). To this end, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be configured to couple (e.g., mount) to one or more components of the heat exchanger 112. The condensate capture receptacle 222 is also configured to capture condensate that may be generated via operation of the heat exchanger 112. In particular, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be configured to capture condensate that forms on heat exchange coils, fins, and/or tubes and is subsequently dislodged from the heat exchanger 112 via the air flow 114 (e.g., traveling in the first direction 116). Condensate captured by the condensate capture receptacle 222 may then be directed (e.g., via features of the condensate capture receptacle 222 and/or via gravity) into the basin 424 of the drain pan 220 positioned beneath the heat exchanger 112.
As illustrated in
Continuing with reference to
The configuration of the support brackets 226 illustrated in
Continuing with reference to
Furthermore, the condensate captured may be directed towards the drain pan 220 via the one or more condensate ports 470 (e.g., discharge ports). In particular, the condensate may flow along the channel 474 and into the one or more condensate ports 470, and then the condensate within the one or more condensate ports 470 may be directed by the force of gravity towards the drain pan 220. In some embodiments, and as illustrated in
Furthermore, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be formed from a single continuous piece of material, in some embodiments. For example, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be formed from a plastic material and may be formed using an injection molding process. In particular, the use of a plastic to form the condensate capture receptacle 222 may improve production cost and, during operation, decrease corrosion of the condensate capture receptacle 222 that may be caused by exposure to condensate (e.g., water). Furthermore, a shape of the condensate capture receptacle 222 may correspond to a geometry (e.g., a shape, a size) of the heat exchanger 112. In particular, a geometry of the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be selected to generally correspond to a shape, geometry, or configuration of the apex 212 of the heat exchanger 112. For example, and with reference to
Moreover, a width 472 of the shield panel 460 may correspond to a width of the apex 212, 304 of the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the microchannel heat exchanger 300). In an installed configuration of the condensate capture receptacle 222 with the heat exchanger 112, the shield panel 460 may be positioned at an offset distance 473 (e.g., a spaced arrangement) from the drain pan 220 along the vertical axis 104. Thus, in the installed configuration, the shield panel 460 may be disposed within the air flow path 110 extending through the housing 108 of the HVAC unit 100, as shown in
It should be understood that the size of the gap 500 may be any suitable size so as to enable capture of condensate formed on an underside (e.g., with respect to the vertical axis 104) of the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the microchannel heat exchanger 300) by the condensate capture receptacle 222. In some embodiments, the size of the gap 500 may be selected by adjusting a mounted position (e.g., via the elongated slots 444 of the support brackets 226) of the condensate capture receptacle 222 with respect to the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the microchannel heat exchanger 300). To this end, the adjustable positioning of the condensate capture receptacle 222 provided by the elongated slots 444 of the support brackets 226 may enable the condensate capture receptacle 222 to maintain the gap 500 at a desired size while also enabling use of the condensate capture receptacle 222 with heat exchangers of varying sizes and/or tonnage. In addition, it should be understood that in some embodiments, an additional gap may be formed on a side of the condensate capture receptacle 222 opposite the gap 500. For example, the additional gap may be formed between the first heat exchange portion 206 of the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the microchannel heat exchanger 300) and the condensate capture receptacle 222. In some embodiments, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be mounted to the heat exchanger 112 such that the gap 500 is not formed. Operation of the condensate capture receptacle 222 is described in further detail below with reference to
As discussed above, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may also block and/or redirect one or more portions, as indicated by arrows 604, 606, of the air flow 114 traveling across the apex 212, 304 of the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the microchannel heat exchanger 300). The redirected air flow portions indicated by arrows 604, 606 may instead flow across the heat exchanger 112 at the first and/or second heat exchange portions 206, 208 of the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the first and/or second portions 310, 314 of the microchannel heat exchanger 300). Further, as discussed above, including the condensate capture receptacle 222 with the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the microchannel heat exchanger 300) may increase the overall heat transfer of the heat exchanger 112 by causing a greater percentage of the air flow 114 to travel across (e.g., interact with) finned portions of the heat exchange coils or tubes (e.g., the first and/or second heat exchange portions 206, 208, the first and/or second portions 310, 314) by blocking the air flow 114 from exiting the heat exchanger 112 via the fin-less portion of heat exchange coils or tubes (e.g., bent portions 302 at the apex 212, 304). Thus, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may improve the performance of the heat exchanger 112 (e.g., the microchannel heat exchanger 300) during operation in addition to efficiently and effectively capturing condensate generated by the heat exchanger 112.
In some embodiments, a portion or an entirety of the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be formed from a material that is generally or substantially impervious to water or liquid, but enables transmission of at least a portion of the air flow 114 therethrough. In another embodiment, a portion or an entirety of the condensate capture receptacle 222 may be formed from a material that blocks flow of both liquid and gas therethrough. In any case, the condensate 600 that impinges against the condensate capture receptacle 222 is diverted downwards, due to gravity, along a height 602 of the condensate capture receptacle 222 towards the channel 474.
In addition, as discussed above, the condensate capture receptacle 222 may include the shield panel 460 (e.g., condensate barrier, capture panel, blocking plate), the first side panel 462 (e.g., on the first lateral side 450), the second side panel 465 (e.g., on the second lateral side 452), the head panel 464, the base panel 466 opposite the head panel 464, with respect to the vertical axis 104, the one or more condensate ports 470 (e.g., drainage ports) fluidly coupled to the base panel 466 and formed therethrough, and the one or more flanges 468 (e.g., barrier flanges) extending from the base panel 466 and between the first and second side panels 462, 465. Furthermore, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first and second side panels 462, 465 may include one or more elongated slots 712 formed therethrough. In particular, the one or more elongated slots 712 may enable adjustability of a mounting position of the condensate capture receptacle 222 relative to the heat exchanger 112.
Furthermore,
The angled arrangement of the first and second sets 746, 748 of the one or more second holes 742 enables the first translational piece 706 to be secured (e.g., attached, fastened, connected) to the second translational piece 708 at multiple different extension (e.g., height, translational) arrangements (e.g., configurations), which enables formation of the condensate capture receptacle 222 in varying sizes (e.g., shapes). As discussed above, the size adjustability of the condensate capture receptacle 222 enables the condensate capture receptacle 222 to overlap with the apex 212, 304 of different heat exchangers (e.g., microchannel heat exchangers) of varying sizes. For example,
In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the first translational piece 706 and the second translational piece 708 may be positioned relative to one another in a second extension arrangement 802 of the condensate capture receptacle 222. The second extension arrangement 802 includes the first translational piece 706 and the second translational piece 708 arranged such that a first and second middle holes 806, 808 of the second translational piece 708 align respectively with a first and second middle hole 814, 816 of the first and second sets 732, 734 of the one or more first holes 730 of the first translational piece 706. In the second extension arrangement 802, the first and second translational pieces 706, 708 may be fastened together by extending a fastener (e.g., a screw, a pin) through each respective alignment of the first middle hole 806 of the first set 746 of the one or more second holes 742 with the first middle hole 814 of the first set 732 of the one or more first holes 730 and the second middle hole 808 of the second set 748 of the one or more second holes 742 with the second middle hole 816 of the second set 734 of the one or more first holes 730.
Furthermore, for the illustrated embodiment, a third extension arrangement 804 of the condensate capture receptacle 222 may include the first translational piece 706 and the second translational piece 708 positioned relative to one another such that the first and second proximal holes 752, 760 of the second translational piece 708 align respectively with a first and second proximal hole 818, 820, with respect to the center 754, of the first and second sets 732, 734 of the one or more first holes 730 of the first translational piece 706. In the third extension arrangement 804, the first and second translational pieces 706, 708 may be fastened together by extending a fastener (e.g., a screw, a pin) through each respective alignment of the first proximal hole 752 of the first set 746 of the one or more second holes 742 with the proximal hole 818 of the first set 732 of the one or more first holes 730 and the second proximal hole 760 of the second set 748 of the one or more second holes 742 with the second proximal hole 820 of the second set 734 of the one or more first holes 730.
It should be appreciated that while
As set forth above, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide one or more technical effects useful for efficiently capturing and/or collecting condensate that forms and/or accumulates on a heat exchanger and is dislodged from the heat exchanger by an air flow directed across the heat exchanger (e.g., in a generally horizontal direction). In particular, the condensate collection assembly discussed herein is configured to capture condensate, including condensate blowoff, that may be generated during operation of the heat exchanger, as well as provide improved heat exchange efficiency for the heat exchanger in an HVAC unit. It should be understood that the technical effects and technical problems in the specification are examples and are not limiting. Indeed, it should be noted that the embodiments described in the specification may have other technical effects and can solve other technical problems.
While only certain features and embodiments have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art, such as variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, such as temperatures and pressures, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, and so forth, without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.
Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described, such as those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode, or those unrelated to enablement. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.
The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).