Evaporator shroud and assembly for a direct current air conditioning system
An evaporator shroud for a direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air conditioning system having an evaporator assembly and a condenser assembly. The system further includes an air intake opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into the evaporator assembly and an air output opening for outputting air from the evaporator assembly into the enclosed environment. The evaporator shroud includes a single seamless structure positioned adjacent the air intake opening and the air output opening and defining an air passage between the air intake opening and the air output opening.
This invention was made with Government support under contract DE-FC26-04NT42106, awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The Government may have certain rights in this invention.
FIELDThe present disclosure relates to direct current (DC) air conditioning systems including an evaporator shroud and evaporator assembly for a DC air conditioning system.
BACKGROUNDThe statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Direct current (DC) environmental temperature control systems (ETCSs), also referred to as air conditioning systems, are often used to control the temperature within enclosed environments where alternating current (AC) ETCSs are not feasible, desirable or reliable. For example, in environments enclosed by structures that are remotely located where AC power is not available or conveniently accessible, or where a backup air conditioning system is necessary in case AC power is interrupted, or where a DC air conditioning system is more desirable than an AC air conditioning system. Generally, DC air conditioning systems have a capacity suitable for efficiently controlling the temperature of environments enclosed by smaller structures or buildings. For example, DC air conditioning systems are very suitable for controlling the temperature within utility sheds, portable or mobile structures, and electronics cabinets and utility or equipment structures such as cellular wireless communication electronic cabinets and battery backup closets.
Such smaller structures can be located in a wide variety of outdoor locations that present a myriad of rigorous exterior environmental conditions that affect the temperature within the structures. That is, the structures can be exposed to a wide range of external temperatures, e.g., −30° C. to 55° C., varying solar loads and various forms of precipitation that can all affect the internal environmental temperature. In the case of equipment cabinets, temperature control requirements can be stringent in order to prevent damage to the often expensive and not terribly rugged equipment inside. Thus, employment of DC air conditioning systems is often desirable for actively controlling the temperature enclosed environment of such smaller structures. And in many cases, efficiency, consistency and reliability are critical necessities of the DC air conditioning system.
Typically, DC air conditioning systems include a condenser assembly and an evaporator assembly. In operation, the evaporator assembly receives air from an enclosed environment, and an air mover pushes the air across a heater or an evaporator heat exchanger to condition the air (i.e., to heat or cool the air) before outputting the air back into the enclosed environment. The evaporator assembly typically is mounted in a sheet metal box, the exterior of which is exposed to external environmental elements such as water, humidity, salty air, insects, dust, pollen, and/or electromagnetic radiation. Insulating the enclosed environment from such external environmental elements is important, since the ingress of such elements can damage equipment inside the enclosed environment as well as the evaporator assembly.
As recognized by the inventors, however, mounting the evaporator in a sheet metal box provides disadvantages. For example, sheet metal boxes are formed first by bending and folding sheet metal to form sides having edges, the edges are then sealed using a sealant, such as a room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) sealant. These seals are time consuming to apply, costly and prone to failure. Over time the seals may tear or break causing leaks, which may lead to the ingress of the external environmental elements discussed above.
In addition, the sheet metal box, due to its rectangular shape, may provide poor airflow through the evaporator assembly, thus compromising its heating and/or cooling performance.
SUMMARYAccording to one aspect of the present disclosure, an evaporator shroud for a direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air conditioning system having an evaporator assembly and a condenser assembly. The system further includes an air intake opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into the evaporator assembly and an air output opening for outputting air from the evaporator assembly into the enclosed environment. The evaporator shroud includes a single seamless structure positioned adjacent the air intake opening and the air output opening and defining an air passage between the air intake opening and the air output opening.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air conditioning system having an evaporator assembly and a condenser assembly. The system further includes an air intake opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into the evaporator assembly and an air output opening for outputting air from the evaporator assembly into the enclosed environment. Additionally, the system includes a housing defining the air intake opening and the air output opening, and an evaporator shroud. The evaporator shroud is secured in the housing and positioned adjacent the air intake opening and the air output opening and defines an air passage between the air intake opening and the air output opening. The evaporator shroud further comprises a single piece seamless structure.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air conditioning system having an evaporator assembly and a condenser assembly. The system further includes an air intake opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into the evaporator assembly and an air output opening for outputting air from the evaporator assembly into the enclosed environment. Additionally, the system includes a housing defining the air intake opening and the air output opening, an evaporator heat exchanger, an evaporator air mover and an evaporator shroud. The evaporator shroud includes an evaporator heat exchanger section positioned adjacent the evaporator heat exchanger and an evaporator air mover section positioned adjacent the evaporator air mover. The evaporator air mover section is configured for channeling air from the air intake opening to the evaporator heat exchanger section. The evaporator heat exchanger section is configured for channeling the air substantially uniformly across the evaporator to the air output opening.
DRAWINGSThe drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating various preferred embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the features, functions, and advantages of the present disclosure can be achieved independently in various embodiments or may be combined in yet other embodiments.
The VCACS 10 generally includes a housing 12 enclosing a condenser assembly 34 and an evaporator assembly 38 and a variable speed compressor 42 connected to the condenser and evaporator assemblies 34 and 38 via refrigerant lines 46. The housing 12 defines an air intake opening 17 for intaking air from the enclosed environment 18 into the evaporator assembly 38 (indicated generally by an arrow 16), and an air output opening 19 for outputting air from the evaporator assembly 38 into the enclosed environment 18 (indicated generally by an arrow 20). The evaporator shroud 32, described in more detail below, defines an air passage 24 between the air intake opening 17 and the air output opening 19.
Referring to
The housing 12 can include a housing panel 70 and a housing hood 74. The housing panel 70, in various embodiments, is mounted over the evaporator air mover 58, evaporator heat exchanger 50, heating mechanism 54 and circuit board 62 and coupled to the evaporator shroud 32 and/or a housing hood 74. The housing panel 70 includes the air intake opening 17 and a plurality of grated or finned apertures that generally form the air output opening 19. In various embodiments, an evaporator air mover cover 60 can be positioned over the housing panel 70, thereby covering at least a portion of the air intake opening 17.
In various embodiments, the evaporator shroud 32 is formed or fabricated as a single piece, seamless structure. For example, the evaporator shroud 32 can be molded using thermal forming or injection molding, cast, stamped or pressed to form a single piece structure without folded edges or joint seams.
In addition, the evaporator shroud 32 can be fabricated from any suitable material such as any suitable plastic polymer or composite, any suitable reinforced polyurethane or epoxy resin or any other material suitable for fabricating a single piece seamless evaporator shroud 32.
Referring now to
The evaporator air mover 58, the circuit board 62, the evaporator heat exchanger 50, and the heating mechanism 54 can be secured to the mounts 86, 90, 94 and 98, respectively, via a plurality of fasteners 102, as best shown in
In various embodiments, the evaporator air mover section 78 receives air from the air intake opening 17 and channels the air to the evaporator heat exchanger section 82. The evaporator heat exchanger section 82 then channels the air received from the evaporator air mover section 78 substantially uniformly, as best shown in
The evaporator heat exchanger section 82 can include a curved surface 118 having a bump portion 122 and a tapered portion 126. The bump portion 122 allows the evaporator shroud 32 to output air through an upper portion of the evaporator heat exchanger 50, while the tapered portion 126 allows the evaporator shroud 32 to output air through middle and bottom portions of the evaporator heat exchanger 50. Substantially uniform airflow through the evaporator heat exchanger 50 generally increases the performance of the evaporator heat exchanger 50.
Although, the curved surface 118 includes a bump portion 122 and a tapered portion 126, in various other embodiments, the curved surface 118 may include a single smooth curved contour absent the bump portion 122 and/or the tapered portion 126 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
The evaporator air mover section 78, in various embodiments, includes a curved portion 130 which surrounds the evaporator air mover 58. When air enters the evaporator assembly 38 through the air intake opening 17, the evaporator air mover 58 pushes the air radially away from the center of the evaporator air mover 58. The air subsequently collects in, and is then channeled downwardly by the curved portion 130 of the evaporator air mover section 78 to the evaporator heat exchanger section 82. The curved portion 130 allows air to flow from the air intake opening 17 downwardly through the evaporator shroud 32 smoothly.
In various embodiments, the circuit board 62 is supported in the evaporator shroud 32 and is positioned in the air passage 24 downstream of the evaporator air mover 58. The circuit board 62 includes a plurality of components 134, as best shown in
Although the circuit board 62 is positioned downstream of the evaporator air mover 58, it should be understood that the circuit board 62 may be positioned elsewhere in the air passage 24 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
The components 134 of the circuit board 62 may be various electrical elements, including a DC power supply bus, a processor and/or an electronic storage device. Furthermore, the components 134 may be used to control one or more elements of the DC VCACS 10, including, for example, the evaporator assembly 38 and/or the condenser assembly 34.
Referring now to
The condensation collected in the collectors 110 simply drips out of the collectors 110 via the openings 114. In addition, the condensation remaining in the collectors 110 work to prevent outside external elements, such as water, humidity, salty air, insects, dust, pollen, etc., from infiltrating the evaporator assembly 38. More specifically, the water remaining within the collectors 110 prior to dripping out provide a barrier through which such external elements may not be able to penetrate.
Additionally, although
Although the condensation collectors 110 are formed in the evaporator shroud 32, it should be understood that the condensation collectors 110 could be a separate part positioned on the bottom of the evaporator shroud without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
The evaporator assembly 38 can include an evaporator air deflector 138, which is mounted above the evaporator heat exchanger 50, as best shown in
In various embodiments, the housing panel 70 includes a terminal block 142 for connecting a direct current power supply to one or more elements of the VCACS 10 including, for example, the evaporator assembly 38 and the condenser assembly 34.
Claims
1. An evaporator shroud for a direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air conditioning system having an evaporator assembly, a condenser assembly, an air intake opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into the evaporator assembly, and an air output opening for outputting air from the evaporator assembly into the enclosed environment, the evaporator shroud comprising:
- a single piece seamless structure positioned adjacent the air intake opening and the air output opening and defining an air passage between the air intake opening and the air output opening.
2. The evaporator shroud of claim 1 wherein the evaporator shroud includes mounts for supporting an evaporator heat exchanger.
3. The evaporator shroud of claim 1 wherein the evaporator shroud includes mounts for supporting an evaporator air mover.
4. The evaporator shroud of claim 1 wherein the evaporator shroud includes mounts for supporting a circuit board.
5. The evaporator shroud of claim 4 wherein the mounts are configured for supporting the circuit board in the air passage.
6. The evaporator shroud of claim 1 wherein the evaporator shroud includes mounts for supporting an evaporator air mover positioned adjacent the air intake opening, mounts for supporting an evaporator heat exchanger positioned adjacent the air output opening, and mounts for supporting a circuit board positioned between the mounts supporting the evaporator air mover and the mounts supporting the evaporator heat exchanger.
7. The evaporator shroud of claim 1 wherein the evaporator shroud has an evaporator air mover section positioned adjacent the air intake opening and an evaporator heat exchanger section positioned adjacent the air output opening, the evaporator air mover section configured for channeling air from the air intake opening to the evaporator heat exchanger section, and the evaporator heat exchanger section configured for channeling the air substantially uniformly to the air output opening.
8. The evaporator shroud of claim 7 wherein the evaporator heat exchanger section defines at least one curved surface for channeling the air substantially uniformly to the air output opening.
9. The evaporator shroud of claim 7 wherein the evaporator heat exchanger section defines a plurality of curved surfaces for channeling the air substantially uniformly to the air output opening.
10. The evaporator shroud of claim 1 wherein the evaporator shroud has at least one condensation collector for collecting condensation produced by an evaporator.
11. The evaporator shroud of claim 10 wherein the at least one condensation collector is a depression formed in the evaporator shroud.
12. The evaporator shroud of claim 10 wherein the at least one condensation collector defines an opening for removing condensation from the condensation collector.
13. The evaporator shroud of claim 1 wherein the evaporator shroud comprises a plurality of condensation collectors.
14. The evaporator shroud of claim 1 wherein the single piece seamless structure is a molded piece of plastic.
15. A direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air conditioning system having an evaporator assembly, a condenser assembly, an air intake opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into the evaporator assembly, and an air output opening for outputting air from the evaporator assembly into the enclosed environment, the system comprising:
- a housing defining the air intake opening and the air output opening,
- an evaporator shroud secured in the housing and positioned adjacent the air intake opening and the air output opening and defining an air passage between the air intake opening and the air output opening, the evaporator shroud comprising a single piece seamless structure.
16. The system of claim 15 further comprising an evaporator heat exchanger, wherein the evaporator shroud includes mounts for supporting the evaporator heat exchanger.
17. The system of claim 15 further comprising an evaporator air mover wherein the evaporator shroud includes mounts for supporting the evaporator air mover.
18. The system of claim 15 further comprising a circuit board, wherein the evaporator shroud has mounts for supporting the circuit board.
19. The evaporator shroud of claim 18 wherein the mounts are configured for supporting the circuit board in the air passage.
20. The system of claim 15 wherein the evaporator includes mounts supporting an evaporator air mover positioned adjacent the air intake opening, mounts for supporting an evaporator heat exchanger positioned adjacent the air output opening, and mounts for supporting the circuit board positioned between the mounts supporting the evaporator air mover and the mounts supporting the evaporator.
21. The system of claim 15 wherein the evaporator shroud has an evaporator air mover section positioned adjacent the air intake opening and an evaporator heat exchanger section positioned adjacent the air output opening, the evaporator air mover section configured for channeling air from the air intake opening to the evaporator heat exchanger section, and the evaporator heat exchanger section configured for channeling the air substantially uniformly to the air output opening.
22. The system of claim 21 wherein the evaporator heat exchanger section has at least one curved surface for channeling the air substantially uniformly to the air output opening.
23. The system of claim 21 wherein the evaporator heat exchanger section has a plurality of curved surfaces for channeling the air substantially uniformly to the air output opening.
24. The system of claim 23 further comprising an evaporator heat exchanger positioned adjacent the evaporator heat exchanger section and the air output opening such that the plurality of curved surfaces channels air substantially uniformly across the evaporator to the air output opening.
25. The system of claim 24 further comprising an evaporator air mover positioned adjacent the evaporator air mover section and the air intake opening.
26. The system of claim 15 wherein the evaporator shroud has at least one condensation collector for collecting condensation produced by an evaporator heat exchanger.
27. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one condensation collector is a depression formed in the evaporator shroud.
28. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one condensation collector defines an opening for releasing condensation from the collector.
29. The system of claim 15 wherein the evaporator shroud comprises a plurality of condensation collectors.
30. The system of claim 15 wherein the single piece seamless structure is a molded piece of plastic.
31. A direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air conditioning system having an evaporator assembly, a condenser assembly, an air intake opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into the evaporator assembly, and an air output opening for outputting air from the evaporator assembly into the enclosed environment, the system comprising:
- a housing defining the air intake opening and the air output opening,
- an evaporator heat exchanger,
- an evaporator air mover,
- an evaporator shroud having an evaporator heat exchanger section positioned adjacent the evaporator heat exchanger and an evaporator air mover section positioned adjacent the evaporator air mover,
- the evaporator air mover section configured for channeling air from the air intake opening to the evaporator heat exchanger section, and the evaporator heat exchanger section configured for channeling the air substantially uniformly across the evaporator to the air output opening.
32. The system of claim 31 wherein the evaporator heat exchanger section has at least one curved surface for channeling the air substantially uniformly across the evaporator heat exchanger.
33. The system of claim 31 wherein the evaporator heat exchanger section has a plurality of curved surfaces for channeling the air substantially uniformly across the evaporator heat exchanger.
34. The system of claim 31 wherein the evaporator shroud defines an air passage between the air intake opening and the air output opening, the evaporator shroud including mounts for positioning a circuit board in the air passage.
35. The system of claim 34 wherein the circuit board is a controller for the system.
36. The system of claim 34 wherein the board is positioned downstream of the evaporator air mover.
37. The system of claim 31 wherein the evaporator shroud includes at least one condensation collector formed integrally with the evaporator shroud and configured for collecting condensation produced by an evaporator.
38. The system of claim 37 wherein the at least one condensation collector is a depression formed in the evaporator shroud.
39. The system of claim 37 wherein the at least one condensation collector defines an opening for releasing condensation from the collector.
40. The system of claim 37 wherein the evaporator shroud comprises a plurality of condensation collectors.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 4, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2007
Inventors: Eduardo Leon (Woodridge, IL), Matthew Cowling (Elmhurst, IL), Rabbi Farraj (Algonquin, IL), Bisher Rayyahin (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/397,262
International Classification: F25D 17/06 (20060101); F25B 1/00 (20060101);