The present invention relates to a freezer, and more particularly to a freezer comprising an evaporative condensing arrangement which allows cooling of refrigerant to be performed in an outdoor environment.
A conventional freezer usually comprises a housing having a first storage compartment for storing food items, a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in a particular configuration. A predetermined amount of refrigerant is guided to flow through the first compressor, the condenser and the first evaporator for performing heat exchange with air. The goal is to extract heat from the air delivered to the first storage compartment so that the food items stored in the first storage compartment may be stored in a very low temperature environment. The heat extracted from the air may be released to ambient environment in which the freezer locates.
A common disadvantage in association with the above-mentioned conventional freezer is that the entire freezer is usually located in an indoor environment so that the heat released by the condenser will be discharged to nearby indoor space. When there is only one freezer, there may not be much of a problem. However, when several freezers are required in a relatively smaller indoor space, the heat discharged by all freezers as a whole will substantially raise the temperature of that indoor space and this phenomenon is certainly not desirable.
From efficiency standpoint, when the temperature of the ambient environment in which the freezer locates increases, the heat exchange efficiency between the refrigerant circulating in the freezer and ambient air decreases. From practical standpoint, the people working or shopping around the freezers may experience increased ambient temperature which may make them uncomfortable and longing to leave.
As a result, there is a need to develop a freezer which is more energy efficient and may resolve the above-mentioned problem.
Certain variations of the present invention provide a freezer comprising an evaporative condensing arrangement which allows cooling of refrigerant to be performed in an outdoor environment.
Certain variations of the present invention provide a freezer comprising an evaporative condensing arrangement wherein refrigerant may be cooled by cooling water spraying on a heat exchanger, while the cooling water may be cooled by ambient air so that heat from the freezer may be ultimately discharged to ambient environment.
In one aspect of the present invention, it provides a freezer, comprising:
a plurality of connecting pipes;
a first freezer casing having a first storage compartment;
a first compressor;
an first evaporator received in the first freezer casing, the first evaporator being connected to the first compressor through at least one of the connecting pipes; and
an evaporative condensing arrangement comprising an evaporative cooling unit having an air inlet and an air outlet, the evaporative cooling unit being positioned in an outdoor environment and comprising:
a first heat exchanger having a first heat exchanging inlet connected to the first compressor through at least one of the connecting pipes, and a first heat exchanging outlet connected to the first evaporator through at least one of the connecting pipes;
a water pumping device;
a water distribution apparatus connected to the water pumping device through at least one of the connecting pipes, and arranged to distribute a predetermined amount of water to the first heat exchanger;
a water collection basin arranged to collect the water from the heat exchanger; and
a cooling fan provided above the water distribution apparatus for drawing ambient air to flow from the air inlet to the air outlet;
wherein a predetermined amount of refrigerant is guided to circulate between the first evaporator, the first compressor and the heat exchanger, a predetermined amount of cooling water being sprayed on the first heat exchanger for performing heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing therethrough, the cooling water being cooled by the ambient air drawn from the air inlet, the ambient air being guided to flow out of the evaporative cooling unit through the air outlet.
This summary presented above is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is the preferred mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention.
Referring to
The connecting pipes 10 may connect all components of the freezer 1. A predetermined amount of refrigerant may flow through the connecting pipes 10 for performing heat exchange for the relevant mediums described below.
The first evaporator 40 may be received in the first freezer casing 20 and connected to the first compressor 30 through at least one of the connecting pipes 10.
The evaporative condensing arrangement 50 may comprise an evaporative cooling unit 60 having an air inlet 601 and an air outlet 602. The evaporative cooling unit 60 may be positioned in an outdoor environment. The evaporative cooling unit 60 may comprise a first heat exchanger 61, a water pumping device 62, a water distribution apparatus 63, a water collection basin 64, and a cooling fan 65.
The first heat exchanger 61 may have a first heat exchanging inlet 611 connected to the first compressor 30 through at least one of the connecting pipes 10, and a first heat exchanging outlet 612 connected to the first evaporator 40 through at least one of the connecting pipes 10.
The water pumping device 62 may be connected between the water collection basin 64 and the water distribution apparatus 63.
The water distribution apparatus 63 may be connected to the water pumping device 62 through at least one of the connecting pipes 10, and may be arranged to distribute a predetermined amount of water to the first heat exchanger 61. The water collection basin 64 may be arranged to collect the water from the first heat exchanger 61.
The cooling fan 64 may be provided above the water distribution apparatus 63 for drawing ambient air to flow from the air inlet 601 to the air outlet 602.
A predetermined amount of refrigerant may be guided to circulate between the first evaporator 40, the first compressor 30 and the first heat exchanger 61. At the same time, a predetermined amount of cooling water may be sprayed on the first heat exchanger 61 for performing heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing therethrough. The cooling water may then be cooled by the ambient air drawn from the air inlet 601. The ambient air may be guided to flow out of the evaporative cooling unit 60 through the air outlet 602.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the freezer 1 of the present invention may be used for producing very low temperature environment in the first storage compartment 21. The first storage compartment 21 may be used to store foods or other items that need low temperature, such as frozen items.
The first freezer casing 20 may be positioned in an indoor environment and may provide a protective housing for the first compressor 30, the first evaporator 40, and other components as well. The first storage compartment 21 is the primary space for requiring low temperature. Refrigerant may act as a medium to extract heat from the first storage compartment 21.
The first compressor 30 may be connected to the first storage compartment 21 through at least one connecting pipe 10. The first compressor 30 may also be connected to the first heat exchanger 61 of the evaporative cooling unit 60 through at least one connecting pipe 10. Refrigerant may flow from the first storage compartment 21 to the first compressor 30 which may convert the refrigerant into high-pressure vaporous state. The refrigerant leaving the first compressor 30 may be guided to flow into the first heat exchanger 61.
The first evaporator 40 may be provided in the first freezer casing 20 and may thermally communicate with the first storage compartment 21. Refrigerant may flow through the first evaporator 40 and extract heat from the first storage compartment 21. In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first evaporator 40 may comprise at least one heat exchanging pipe 401 configured to form a manifold structure for thermally communicating with the air circulating in the first storage compartment 21. When air from the first storage compartment 21 comes into contact with the heat exchanging pipe 401, heat may be extracted from the air and transferred to the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanging pipe 401.
The evaporative cooling unit 60 of the evaporative condensing arrangement 50 may be positioned in an outdoor environment so that heat from the first storage compartment 21 may eventually be discharged to ambient environment (and will not be trapped in the indoor space in which the first freezer casing 20 is located).
The first heat exchanger 61 may comprise a first heat exchanging tube 613 configured to form a manifold structure in which the first heat exchanging inlet 611 and the first heat exchanging outlet 612 may be connected to or formed on the first heat exchanging tube 613. Refrigerant from the first compressor 30 may be guided to flow through the first heat exchanging tube 613 through the first heat exchanging inlet 611.
As shown in
The cooling water spraying on the first heat exchanging tube 613 may perform heat exchange with the refrigerant circulating therein so as to absorb the heat from the refrigerant. Some of the cooling water may be evaporated while the remaining cooling water may be dripped down along the first heat exchanging tube 613 and may be collected by the water collection basin 64. The cooling water collected in the water collection basin 64 may be have been cooled by the ambient air drawing from the air inlet 601. The evaporative cooling unit 60 may have two air inlets 601 forming on two sides of the first heat exchanger 61 while the air outlet 602 may be formed on top of the cooling fan 64.
The water pumping device 62 may be connected between the water collection basin 64 and the water distributing basin 631 so that the cooling water collected in the water collection basin 64 may be pumped back into the water distributing basin 631 for another cycle of cooling the first heat exchanging tube 613.
The freezer 1 may further comprise a first flow regulator 70 connected between the first evaporator 40 and the first heat exchanger 61 for regulating the flow rate of the refrigerant between the first heat evaporator 40 and the first heat exchanger 61.
In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the freezer 1 may further comprise a second freezer casing 200 which may comprise a second storage compartment 22. The first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22 may share a single evaporative cooling unit 60 for extracting heat. Accordingly, the freezer 1 may further comprise a second evaporator 41 provided in the second freezer casing 200. The second evaporator may thermally communicate with the second storage compartment 22.
The second freezer casing 200 may also be positioned in an indoor environment and may provide a protective housing for the second evaporator 41, and other components as well. The freezer 1 may further comprise a second compressor 31 connected between the second evaporator 41 and the evaporative cooling unit 60. In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second evaporator 41 may comprise at least one second heat exchanging pipe 411 configured to form a manifold structure for thermally communicating with the air circulating in the second storage compartment 22. When air from the second storage compartment 22 comes into contact with the second heat exchanging pipe 411, heat may be extracted from the air and transferred to the refrigerant flowing through the second heat exchanging pipe 411.
The evaporative cooling unit 60 may further comprise a second heat exchanger 66 provided underneath the first heat exchanger 61. The second heat exchanger 66 may comprise a first heat exchanging tube 663 configured to form a manifold structure in which the second heat exchanging inlet 661 and the second heat exchanging outlet 662 may be connected to or forming on the second heat exchanging tube 663. Refrigerant from the second compressor 31 may be guided to flow through the second heat exchanging tube 663 through the second heat exchanging inlet 661.
The second compressor 31 may be connected to the second storage compartment 22 through at least one connecting pipe 10. The second compressor 31 may also be connected to the second heat exchanger 66 of the evaporative cooling unit 60 through at least one connecting pipe 10. Refrigerant may flow from the second storage compartment 22 to the second compressor 31 which may convert the refrigerant into high-pressure vaporous state. The refrigerant leaving the second compressor 31 may be guided to flow into the second heat exchanger 66.
As shown in
Moreover, the first heat exchanging inlet 611 may be positioned above the first heat exchanging outlet 612 so that refrigerant may flow from an elevated position to a lower altitude. Similarly, the second heat exchanging inlet 661 may be positioned above the second heat exchanging outlet 662 so that refrigerant may flow from an elevated position to a lower altitude.
The cooling water spraying on the first heat exchanging tube 613 may perform heat exchange with the refrigerant circulating therein so as to absorb the heat from the refrigerant. Some of the cooling water may be evaporated while the remaining cooling water may be dripped down along the first heat exchanging tube 613 and may reach the second heat exchanging tube 663. At the same time, ambient air drawn from the air inlets 601 may cool down the cooling water on the first heat exchanging tube 613.
The cooling water dripping from the first heat exchanging tube 613 may perform heat exchange with the refrigerant circulating in the second heat exchanging tube 663 so as to absorb the heat from the refrigerant. Some of the cooling water may be evaporated while the remaining cooling water may be dripped down along the second heat exchanging tube 663 and may be collected by the water collection basin 64. The cooling water traveling along the first heat exchanging tube 613 and the second heat exchanging tube 663 may be eventually collected in the water collection basin 64 may have been cooled by the ambient air drawing from the air inlet 601. The air inlets 601 may be formed on two sides of the first heat exchanger 61 and the second heat exchanger 66, while the air outlet 602 may be formed on top of the cooling fan 65.
The water pumping device 62 may be connected between the water collection basin 64 and the water distributing basin 631 so that the cooling water collected in the water collection basin 64 may be pumped back into the water distributing basin 631 for another cycle of cooling the first heat exchanging tube 613 and the second heat exchanging tube 663.
The freezer 1 may further comprise a second flow regulator 71 connected between the second evaporator 41 and the second heat exchanger 66 for regulating the flow rate of the refrigerant between the second heat evaporator 41 and the second heat exchanger 66.
The operation of the present invention is as follows: the heat extracted from the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22 may be carried by the refrigerant to the evaporative cooling unit 60. The evaporative cooling unit 60 may comprise the first heat exchanger 61 and the second heat exchanger 66 for cooling the refrigerant circulating from the first evaporator 40 and the second evaporator 41 respectively. The heat exchange medium is the cooling water described above. The cooling water may be pumped to the water distribution apparatus 63 and sprayed first on the first heat exchanger 61 for absorbing heat from the first heat exchanging tube 613. Part of the cooling water may be evaporated while remaining cooling water may be cooled by ambient air drawn from the air inlet 601, and eventually drop down to the second heat exchanging tube 663. Again, some of the cooling water may be evaporated while remaining cooling water may be cooled by ambient air and eventually be collected in the water collection basin 64. The cooling water may then be pumped back to the water distributing basin 631 and undergo another cycle of cooling as described above.
In the first preferred embodiment, the first heat exchanger 61 and the second heat exchanger 66 may be arranged in a vertical up-and-down manner in which the first heat exchanger 61 may be provided on top of the second heat exchanger 66.
Referring to
Referring to
The advantage of having a side-by-side configuration of the first heat exchanger 61′ and the second heat exchanger 66′ is that the evaporative cooling unit 60′ may be suitable to be located in an outdoor environment in which height may be a limiting factor. The structures of the first heat exchanger 61′ and the second heat exchanger 66′ may be identical to those disclosed in the first preferred embodiment.
Thus, in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cooling water from the water distribution apparatus 63 may be sprayed on the first heat exchanging tube 613′ and the second heat exchanging tube 663′ at the same time. The refrigerant flowing through the first heat exchanging tube 613′ and the second heat exchanging tube 663′ may be cooled down by the cooling water. The cooling water may then flow down exterior surfaces of the first heat exchanging tube 613′ and the second heat exchanging tube 663′. Some of the cooling water may be evaporated while the remaining cooling water may be collected in the water collection basin 64 and pumped back to the water distributing basin 631 by the water pumping device 62 performing another cycle of cooling.
The first heat exchanging inlet 611′ may be positioned above the first heat exchanging outlet 612′ so that refrigerant may flow from an elevated position to a lower altitude. Similarly, the second heat exchanging inlet 661′ may be positioned above the second heat exchanging outlet 662′ so that refrigerant may flow from an elevated position to a lower altitude.
Referring to
The advantage of having a front-and-rear configuration of the first heat exchanger 61″ and the second heat exchanger 66″ is that the evaporative cooling unit 60″ may be suitable to be located in an outdoor environment in which width may be a limiting factor. The structures of the first heat exchanger 61″ and the second heat exchanger 66″ may be identical to those disclosed in the first preferred embodiment.
Thus, in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cooling water from the water distribution apparatus 63 may be sprayed on the first heat exchanging tube 613″ and the second heat exchanging tube 663″ at the same time. The refrigerant flowing through the first heat exchanging tube 613″ and the second heat exchanging tube 663″ may be cooled down by the cooling water. The cooling water may then flow down exterior surfaces of the first heat exchanging tube 613″ and the second heat exchanging tube 663″. Some of the cooling water may be evaporated while the remaining cooling water may be collected in the water collection basin 64 and pumped back to the water distributing basin 631 by the water pumping device 62 performing another cycle of cooling.
The first heat exchanging inlet 611″ may be positioned above the first heat exchanging outlet 612″ so that refrigerant may flow from an elevated position to a lower altitude. Similarly, the second heat exchanging inlet 661″ may be positioned above the second heat exchanging outlet 662″ so that refrigerant may flow from an elevated position to a lower altitude.
The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could also be used to practice the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201510045303.X | Jan 2015 | CN | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15317415 | Dec 2016 | US |
Child | 16038156 | US |