Conditioning device of the free cooling type

Abstract

A free cooling conditioning device for climate controlling of an enclosed space comprising, inside a box-like containment body, a first main fan for aspirating air from the enclosed/outside space, an evaporator, to which the first fan sends aspirated air to introduce it in the enclosed space, a condenser associated with the evaporator, a second fan for air flow over the condenser, a compressor, associated with the condenser and the evaporator to form a refrigeration circuit for aspirated air cooling, a first shutter, upstream of the first fan, for selecting the air stream aspirated by the first fan, from either ambient air, for a direct-cooling conditioning, or external air for free cooling conditioning, and a second shutter for redirecting the air stream in output from the enclosed space either toward the second fan, in the second free cooling mode, or toward the first shutter, at least partly open toward the first fan, for aspiration of ambient air, in the cooling mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional side view of a device according to the invention in a first configuration for a first operating mode;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional side view of a device according to the invention in a second configuration for a second operating mode;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional side view of a device according to the invention in the same configuration as in FIG. 2, for a third operating mode;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention in the configuration of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of a device according to the invention.

Claims

1. A free cooling conditioning device for climate-controlling of an enclosed space comprising a box-like containment body and thereinside: a first main fan for aspirating air from an enclosed or outside space;an evaporator, to which said first fan sends aspirated air in order to introduce the aspirated air in the enclosed space to be climate-controlled;a condenser operatively connected with said evaporator;a second fan for air flow passing over said condenser;a compressor, which is operatively connected with said condenser and said evaporator to form a refrigeration circuit for cooling aspirated air;and comprising a first shutter, provided upstream of said first fan, for selecting a stream of air aspirated by said first fan, from either ambient air, for a first direct-cooling conditioning mode, or external air for a second free cooling conditioning mode; and a second shutter, which is adapted to redirect air stream in output from said enclosed space either toward said second fan, when the device operates in the second free cooling mode, or toward said first shutter, which is at least partly open toward said first fan, for aspiration, at least partly, by said first fan of ambient air, in the first direct-cooling mode with ambient air recirculation.

2. The conditioning device of claim 1, wherein said first shutter is a basket shutter, being constituted by a first basket, by at least one complementarily shaped second basket which is inserted inside said first basket and by rotation means, said first basket being open onto the first fan and being provided with first front ports on a bottom thereof and second lateral ports on a lateral surface thereof, said at least one second internal basket being adapted to form flow control means for flow control of the first shutter, being connected to said rotation means for rotating with respect to the first basket and being shaped so as to have bottom and lateral surface portions thereof which alternately block the first front ports and the second lateral ports.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said first shutter is constituted by two baskets, with a second basket thereof being selectively actuatable so as to be located in a position such as to provide one among the following three configurations: a first configuration, in which the first ports are closed and the second ports are open;a second configuration, in which the first ports are open and the second ports are closed;a third configuration, in which the first ports and the second ports are partially open,said first configuration allowing operation of the device in the first cooling mode with ambient air recirculation and active refrigeration circuit, said second configuration allowing operation of the device in the second free cooling mode, connecting the outside space to said first fan.

4. The device of claim 2, comprising a first outflow port for outflow of air from the enclosed space and a redirection wall arranged in front of the first port, said second shutter being formed by a louver which is arranged so as to open/close a corresponding opening which is formed in said redirection wall.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said redirection wall is inclined so that when said opening is closed, air is redirected toward the first shutter and toward the first fan, whereas when the louver is open internal air can pass through said opening toward the outside space through said second fan.

6. The device of claim 5, comprising an electronic control unit and electromechanical movement means, said louver being actuated by said electromechanical movement means, which are actuated by said electronic control unit which also manages said first shutter and said two fans.

7. The device of claim 6, operatable selectively in one of three modes: a first direct-cooling conditioning mode;a second free cooling conditioning mode;a third forced free cooling conditioning mode.

8. The device of claim 7, comprising a second emission port for emission into environment, the refrigeration circuit being active in said first direct-cooling conditioning mode, and the first shutter being in said first configuration, in which the first ports are closed and the second ports are open, and the first fan drawing air from the enclosed space through the first port; the second shutter being closed, and the air aspirated by the first port being redirected entirely toward the first fan and from there toward the evaporator, from which cooled air then is allowed to reach the enclosed space through said second port; the refrigeration circuit being active, and so being the second fan, which forces air flow from the outside space to outside space over said condenser.

9. The device of claim 7, comprising a third port which is open onto the outside, in said second free cooling conditioning mode, with the refrigeration circuit off, the first shutter being in the second configuration, in which the first ports are open and the second ports are closed, and the first fan aspirates air from the outside space through said third port, the second shutter being open and air rising from the first port and being redirected entirely toward the second fan, which is inactive and to so arrive in the outside space.

10. The device of claim 7, having said third forced free cooling conditioning mode in which: the first shutter is in the second configuration, in which the first ports are open and the second ports are closed, and the first fan aspirates air from the outside through the third port which is open onto the outside;the second shutter is open, and the air rises through the first port toward the second fan, which is active and by means of which it is forced outside;the refrigeration circuit is off.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said opening is suitable, in said third mode, to connect the first port, for outflow of the air from the enclosed space, to the second fan, whereby an efficiency and effectiveness increase of the free cooling operating mode and of air rate replacement in the enclosed space are achieved.