CONDENSER WITH CAPILLARY COOLING DEVICE
A condenser with capillarity cooling devices provides a condenser that has a plurality of cooling fins with a wick structure and a plurality of capillary water absorption layers of which the lower section is submerged in the water of a water reservoir provided underneath. Through capillarity and the characteristic of the capillary water absorption layers, water will be brought upward to moisturize the fins. When the water evaporates, a great amount of heat will be extracted from the fins, so as to increase the thermal efficiency of the condenser. Further, a pre-wetting water pipe is included, so that when an air conditioner is switched on and the condenser is started, the pre-wetting water pipe moisturizes the capillary water absorption layers immediately, and such moisture extends to the overall wick structures of fins. This will make evaporation take place instantly and thermal efficiency of condenser is increased.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a condenser with a capillary cooling device, and more particularly, to a condenser adapted for a cooling apparatus of high thermal efficiency.
2. Description of Related Art
In the condenser of a conventional air conditioning system, refrigerant turns into a high-pressure and high-temperature state after having been compressed by a compressor. The refrigerant then passes through a coil tube, where air is employed as a cooling medium, such that a cooling effect can be achieved by airflow. However, it is known that the conventional air-cooling condenser has a rather low thermal efficiency.
Further, the air, as employed in air-cooling condensers, has a low thermal conductivity in terms of sensible heat. As such, the thermal efficiency for heat exchange is quite limited. Moreover, in recent years, as influenced by greenhouse effect, global climate changes abnormally. The summer period in many countries is extended and the temperature in summer is rising. Hotter temperatures increase the demand for more air conditioning, and also cause the cooling efficiency of the air-cooling condenser to become much lower. Furthermore, in hotter climates, an air-cooling condenser requires an increased flow of air and greater surface area of cooling fins, in order to operate effectively. Since the resultant larger air-cooling condensers, as a whole, occupy more space and consume more energy, obviously the conventional air-cooling condensers are unsatisfactory. Therefore, the development of a high thermal efficiency, space and energy saving condenser becomes a top priority in the industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a condenser with a capillary cooling device, comprising a plurality of fins, a water reservoir, and a plurality of capillary water absorption layers. The plurality of fins is provided with wick structures on their surfaces thereof, respectively. The water reservoir is configured under the plurality of fins, and includes a water inlet pipe for supplying water into the water reservoir. The plurality of capillary water absorption layers is connected, respectively and correspondingly, at their upper sections, to the wick structures of the plurality of fins, and the plurality of capillary water absorption layers has its lower sections extended and submerged in the water of the water reservoir. As such, according to the present invention, capillarity and the characteristic of the plurality of capillary water absorption layers are utilized such that appropriate water moisturizes the fins having the wick structures. Moreover, a great amount of heat can be extracted from the fins when the water evaporates and a phase change occurs, so as to increase the thermal efficiency of the condenser.
According to the present invention, the condenser with a capillary cooling device may further comprise a pre-wetting water pipe arranged above the plurality of capillary water absorption layers so as to supply a certain amount of water to each individual layer. When the condenser is started, the pre-wetting water pipe moisturizes each individual capillary water absorption layer immediately, and such moisture extends to the overall wick structures of the plurality of fins. This will make evaporation and thermolysis take place instantly, without the need to wait for the occurrence of capillarity from the plurality of capillary water absorption layers, where water will be absorbed slowly and must reach the plurality of fins before thermolysis begins.
Further, according to the present invention, the pre-wetting water pipe may be provided, additionally, with a guiding trough or a solenoid, wherein the guiding trough may be connected at a lower section of the pre-wetting water pipe such that surplus water can flow back into the water reservoir. Alternatively, the plurality of capillary water absorption layers may be received inside the guiding trough, so that a collective and speedy moisturizing effect can be obtained. A solenoid can be connected to the pre-wetting water pipe so as to control a set amount of water into the pre-wetting water pipe.
According to the present invention, a partitioning board may be arranged inside the water reservoir, where the partitioning board divides the water reservoir into a working basin and a water-preparing basin. A valve is arranged on the partitioning board such that the valve can, selectively, communicate with or isolate the working basin from the water-preparing basin. According to the present invention, the water inlet pipe of the water reservoir may also be connected with a check valve for controlling the amount of water flowing into the water reservoir. Further, a water-level sensor may be arranged inside the water reservoir for feeding back a signal of water level to the controller, thereby maintaining a certain water level for the reservoir.
Still further, according to the present invention, the wick structures of the plurality of fins, or the plurality of capillary water absorption layers, may be comprised of, for instance, hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, or a combination thereof, or other equivalents. Each layers of the plurality of capillary water absorption layers may be lapped over with a corresponding wick structure of the plurality of fins, or on the other hand, the plurality of capillary water absorption layers may extend, integrally, from the plurality of fins.
According to the present invention, the plurality of fins may all be arrayed horizontally or vertically. At least one surface of each fin of the plurality of cooling fins may have a wick structure.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed descriptions when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
As shown in
Further, the wick structure 110 of the plurality of fins 11, or the plurality of capillary water absorption layers 3, may be comprised of: hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, or a combination thereof, or other equivalents. Still further, in the present embodiment, the plurality of capillary water absorbent layers 3 may be rolled into lampwick like shapes and extended into the water reservoir 2, such that the characteristic and effect of capillarity can also be obtained.
Now referring to
In the present embodiment, the pre-wetting water pipe 4 is connected, underneath, with a guiding trough 41, where a lower section of the pre-wetting water pipe 4 extends into the water reservoir 2 such that surplus water can flow through the pre-wetting water pipe 4 and into the water reservoir 2 without any waste of water.
In the present embodiment, the water reservoir 2 includes a water inlet pipe 21, a partitioning board 22, a working basin 23, a water-preparing basin 24, a check valve 25, and a water-level sensor 26. As shown in
It is understood from the present embodiment that when running the condenser 1, as shown in
In the present embodiment, when the condenser 1 is shut down, the controller 5 governs to close the valve 221 provided on the partitioning board 22 in the water reservoir 2 such that the valve 221 will isolate the working basin 23 from the water-preparing basin 24. This makes only the water in the working basin 23 left for evaporation, without continuous inflow of water from the water-preparing basin 24, so that the water in the working basin 23 can be consumed by evaporation in a relatively short time, and that the condenser 1 can be maintained in a dry state when not in use.
Further, for a large-scale condenser, there will be a large number of fins, significantly increasing the time required for the capillarity of water upward to the upper-layer fins. As such, the number of water reservoirs may be increased such that the capillary water absorption layers, which are incorporated with the upper-layer fins, can submerge into upper water reservoirs.
Now references may be made to
As shown in
Further, referring to
In the present embodiment, the water reservoir 7 includes a water inlet pipe 71, a partitioning board 72, a working basin 73, a water-preparing basin 74, a check valve 75, and a water-level sensor 76. As shown in
It is understood from the present embodiment that, as shown in
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A condenser with a capillary cooling device, comprising:
- a plurality of fins, being provided with wick structures on the surfaces thereof respectively;
- a water reservoir, being configured under the plurality of fins, and including a water inlet pipe for supplying water into the water reservoir; and
- a plurality of capillary water absorption layers, being connected, respectively and correspondingly, at their upper sections, to the wick structures of the plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of capillary water absorption layers has its lower sections extended and submerged in the water of the water reservoir.
2. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pre-wetting water pipe arranged above the plurality of capillary water absorption layers so as to supply a certain amount of water to the plurality of capillary water absorption layers.
3. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pre-wetting water pipe is further provided, with a guiding trough, and the plurality of capillary water absorption layers is received inside the guiding trough.
4. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a solenoid is connected to the pre-wetting water pipe so as to control the amount water entering the pre-wetting water pipe.
5. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a partitioning board is arranged inside the water reservoir, and the partitioning board divides the water reservoir into a working basin and a water-preparing basin, and wherein a valve is arranged on the partitioning board such that the valve can, selectively, communicate with or isolate the working basin from the water-preparing basin.
6. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a partitioning board is arranged inside the water reservoir, and the partitioning board divides the water reservoir into a working basin and a water-preparing basin, and wherein a valve is arranged on the partitioning board such that the valve can, selectively, communicate with or isolate the working basin from the water-preparing basin.
7. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a partitioning board is arranged inside the water reservoir, and the partitioning board divides the water reservoir into a working basin and a water-preparing basin, and wherein a valve is arranged on the partitioning board such that the valve can, selectively, communicate with or isolate the working basin from the water-preparing basin.
8. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a partitioning board is arranged inside the water reservoir, and the partitioning board divides the water reservoir into a working basin and a water-preparing basin, and wherein a valve is arranged on the partitioning board such that the valve can, selectively, communicate with or isolate the working basin from the water-preparing basin.
9. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water inlet pipe of the water reservoir is connected with a check valve for controlling the amount of water flowing into the water reservoir.
10. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 9, wherein a water-level sensor is further configured inside the water reservoir.
11. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wick structure of the plurality of fins is selected from a group consisting of hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, and a combination thereof.
12. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wick structure of the plurality of fins is selected from a group consisting of hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, and a combination thereof.
13. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wick structure of the plurality of fins is selected from a group consisting of hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, and a combination thereof.
14. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wick structure of the plurality of fins is selected from a group consisting of hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, and a combination thereof.
15. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of capillary water absorption layers is selected from a group consisting of hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, and a combination thereof.
16. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of capillary water absorption layers is selected from a group consisting of hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, and a combination thereof.
17. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of capillary water absorption layers is selected from a group consisting of hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, and a combination thereof.
18. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of capillary water absorption layers is selected from a group consisting of hydrophilic fiber layers, glass fiber layers, metal fiber layers, absorbent polymer layers, flocked layers, bump structure layers, sand structure layers, and a combination thereof.
19. The condenser with a capillary cooling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of capillary water absorption layers is lapped over with a corresponding wick structure of the plurality of fins.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 4, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 21, 2013
Inventor: Joung-Wen HONG (Taipei City)
Application Number: 13/487,319
International Classification: F28D 15/00 (20060101);