PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER FOR LOW MICROBE AND LOW PARTICULATE ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

A low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner includes a housing, the housing having an ambient air entry grill, a cold air discharge grate, a condenser air inlet gill and a warm air discharge grill disposed therein. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner also includes a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels affixed to the housing and an evaporator positioned within the housing. In addition, the low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner has an evaporator chamber positioned within the housing and abutting the evaporator, the evaporator chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air entry grill and the cold air discharge grate, the evaporator chamber coated with smooth surface insulation, a condenser positioned within the housing, wherein the condenser and condenser air stream are isolated from the evaporator chamber and evaporator air stream.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application which claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 62/564,533, filed Sep. 28, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD/FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to a portable air conditioner, and specifically to a portable air conditioner for a low microbe/low particulate environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Commercial portable air conditioners have traditionally been used for hot manufacturing environments. These commercial portable air conditioners have found use in a variety of environments to provide temporary, spot, or supplemental cooling for commercial and industrial applications. However, because of the ambient air quality and humid environment within commercial portable air conditioners, microbes may grow and contaminates in the ambient air may be expelled into the surrounding environment. While such microbial growth and normal ambient air qualities present little issue with traditional uses of commercial portable air conditioners, traditional commercial portable air conditioners are restricted from environments where deleterious microbes and/or large airborne particulates are undesirable.

SUMMARY

The disclosure includes a low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner includes a housing, the housing having an ambient air entry grill, a cold air discharge grate, a condenser air inlet grill and a warm air discharge grill disposed therein. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner also includes a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels affixed to the housing and an evaporator positioned within the housing. In addition, the low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner has an evaporator chamber positioned within the housing and abutting the evaporator, the evaporator chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air entry grill and the cold air discharge grate, the evaporator chamber coated with smooth surface insulation, a condenser positioned within the housing, wherein the condenser and condenser air stream are isolated from the evaporator chamber and evaporator air stream.

The disclosure also includes a method of cooling air within a hospital, clinic, clean room, or laboratory. The method includes positioning a low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner within the hospital, clinic, clean room, or laboratory. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner includes a housing, the housing having an ambient air entry grill, a cold air discharge grate, a condenser air inlet grill and a warm air discharge grill disposed therein. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner also includes a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels affixed to the housing and an evaporator positioned within the housing. In addition, the low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner has an evaporator chamber positioned within the housing and abutting the evaporator, the evaporator chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air entry grill and the cold air discharge grate, the evaporator chamber coated with smooth surface insulation, a condenser positioned within the housing, wherein the condenser is isolated from the evaporator chamber. The method also includes drawing ambient room air though the ambient air entry grill, and cooling and cleaning the air in the evaporator chamber to form cool clean air. The method also includes discharging the cool air through the cold air discharge grate.

In addition, the disclosure includes a low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner includes a housing, the housing having an ambient air entry grill, a cold air discharge grate, a condenser air inlet grill and a warm air discharge grill disposed therein. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner also includes a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels affixed to the housing and an evaporator positioned within the housing. In addition, the low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner has an evaporator chamber positioned within the housing and abutting the evaporator, the evaporator chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air entry grill and the cold air discharge grate. Further, the low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner includes a HEPA filter, the HEPA filter positioned between the ambient air entry grill and the evaporator chamber and within the housing and a condenser positioned within the housing, wherein the condenser is isolated from the evaporator chamber and evaporator air stream.

In addition, the disclosure includes a low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner includes a housing, the housing having an ambient air entry grill, a cold air discharge grate, a condenser air inlet grill and a warm air discharge grill disposed therein. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner also includes a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels affixed to the housing and an evaporator positioned within the housing. In addition, the low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner has an evaporator chamber positioned within the housing and abutting the evaporator, the evaporator chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air entry grill and the cold air discharge grate. Further, the low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner includes a UV light, the UV light positioned within the evaporator chamber and a condenser positioned within the housing, wherein the condenser and condenser air stream are isolated from the evaporator chamber and evaporator air stream.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying FIGURE. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

The FIGURE is a schematic depiction of a low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

The FIGURE depicts low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner 100 consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner 100 includes housing 110, housing 110 having ambient air entry grill 120 and cold air discharge grate 130 disposed therein. Housing 110 further includes condenser air entry grill 115 and warm air discharge grill 140 disposed therein. Affixed to housing 110 are a plurality of wheels 150, the wheels adapted to allow movement of commercial portable air conditioner 100.

Positioned within housing 110 are evaporator 160 and condenser 170. Also positioned within housing 110 are HEPA filter 180 and evaporator chamber 190. HEPA filter 180 and evaporator chamber 190 are fluidly connected. Evaporator chamber 190 is in fluid connection with cold air discharge grate 130. HEPA filter 180 removes particulates from ambient room air 182 at least 99.97% of particles that have a size of 0.3 μm.

In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, UV light source 200 is positioned within evaporator chamber 190. UV light source 200 is adapted to kill microbes that grow on coils of evaporator 160, are present within evaporator chamber 190, are within cool clean air 184, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, UV light source 200 emits ultraviolet C light. Evaporator chamber 190 may be coated with smooth surface insulation 210. Smooth surface insulation 210 may be non-porous, such as a foil-faced insulation. Unlike traditional commercial portable air conditioners, which use urethane or fiberglass insulation and have pores where microbes can attach and grow, smooth surface insulation 210 is adapted to retard growth of microbes by denying pores in which the microbes can attach and grow.

During operation, ambient room air 182 is drawn through ambient air entry grill 120 and passes through HEPA filter 180. HEPA filter 180 removes microbes and other airborne particles, reducing microbes and contaminates that enter evaporator chamber 190. UV light from UV light 200 source operates to kill microbes that may be present on the evaporator coils of evaporator 160 and in the evaporator chamber 190. Smooth surface insulation 210 insulates evaporator chamber 190 while retarding growth of microbes within evaporator chamber 190. Evaporator 160 cools ambient room air 182, discharging cool clean air 184 through cold air discharge grate 130. As used herein, “cool clean air 184” refers to air that is cooler than ambient room air 182 and has fewer particulates and/or microbes than ambient room air 182. Condenser makeup air 192 may be brought in from outside of the conditioned space utilizing, for example, a duct. Condenser makeup air 192 is then moved through condenser 170 to pick up the heat, and hot air 194 is discharged through warm air discharge grill 140 to outside the conditioned space via, for example, a duct. By transporting condenser makeup air 192 and hot air 194 from a location outside of the conditioned space, hot air 194 is isolated from ambient room air 182 and cool clean air 184.

Unlike traditional commercial portable air conditioners, low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner 100 may be used to cool air within facilities where growth and contaminates within and discharge from the commercial portable air conditioner is particularly undesirable and where ambient room air needs to be treated for contaminates. Further, operation of low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner 100 may act to sterilize the air in the space in which the low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner 100 cools. Also unlike most traditional portable air conditioners, low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner 100 uses an isolated condenser inlet and outlet to exclude the condenser airstream from the ambient room air. Examples include hospitals, clinics, clean rooms, and laboratories.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that a person of ordinary skill in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Such features may be replaced by any one of numerous equivalent alternatives, only some of which are disclosed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner comprising:

a housing, the housing having an ambient air entry grill, a cold air discharge grate, a condenser air inlet grill and a warm air discharge grill disposed therein;

a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels affixed to the housing;

an evaporator positioned within the housing;

an evaporator chamber positioned within the housing and abutting the evaporator, the evaporator chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air entry grill and the cold air discharge grate, the evaporator chamber coated with smooth surface insulation; and

a condenser positioned within the housing, wherein the condenser is isolated from the evaporator chamber.

2. The low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner of claim 1 further comprising a HEPA filter, the HEPA filter positioned between the ambient air entry grill and the evaporator chamber and within the housing.

3. The low-microbe/low particulate portable air conditioner of claim 2 further comprising a UV light, the UV light positioned within the evaporator chamber.

4. The low-microbe/low particulate portable air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the smooth surface insulation is non-porous.

5. The low-microbe/low particulate portable air conditioner of claim 4, wherein the smooth surface insulation is foil-lined insulation.

6. A method of cooling air within a hospital, clinic, clean room, or laboratory comprising: drawing ambient room air though the ambient air entry grill; cooling the air in the evaporator chamber to form cool air; and discharging the cool air through the cold air discharge grate.

positioning a low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner within the hospital, clinic, clean room, or laboratory, the low-microbe/low particulate portable air conditioner comprising:

a housing, the housing having an ambient air entry grill, a cold air discharge grate, a condenser air inlet grill and a warm air discharge grill disposed therein;

a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels affixed to the housing;

an evaporator positioned within the housing,

an evaporator chamber positioned within the housing and abutting the evaporator, the evaporator chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air entry grill and the cold air discharge grate, the evaporator chamber coated with smooth surface insulation; and

a condenser positioned within the housing, wherein the condenser is isolated from the evaporator chamber.

7. The method of cooling air within a hospital, clinic, clean room, or laboratory of claim 6 further comprising;

passing the ambient room air through a HEPA filter, the HEPA filter positioned between the air entry grill and the evaporator chamber; and

removing microbes and contaminates using the HEPA filter.

8. The method of cooling air within a hospital, clinic, clean room, or laboratory of claim 7 further comprising;

irradiating the evaporator and evaporator chamber with a UV light.

9. The method of cooling air within a hospital, clinic, clean room or laboratory of claim 6, wherein the cool air is more sterile than the ambient room air.

10. A low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner comprising:

a housing, the housing having an ambient air entry grill, a cold air discharge grate, a condenser air inlet grill and a warm air discharge grill disposed therein;

a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels affixed to the housing;

an evaporator positioned within the housing,

an evaporator chamber positioned within the housing and abutting the evaporator, the evaporator chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air entry grill and the cold air discharge grate;

a HEPA filter, the HEPA filter positioned between the ambient air entry grill and the evaporator chamber and within the housing; and

a condenser positioned within the housing, wherein the condenser and condenser air stream are isolated from the evaporator chamber and evaporator air stream.

11. The low-microbe/low particulate portable air conditioner of claim 10 further comprising a UV light, the UV light positioned within the evaporator chamber.

12. A low-microbe/low particulate commercial portable air conditioner comprising:

a housing, the housing having an ambient air entry grill, a cold air discharge grate, a condenser air inlet grill and a warm air discharge grill disposed therein;

a plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels affixed to the housing;

an evaporator positioned within the housing,

an evaporator chamber positioned within the housing and abutting the evaporator, the evaporator chamber in fluid communication with the ambient air entry grill and the cold air discharge grate;

a UV light, the UV light positioned within the evaporator chamber; and

a condenser positioned within the housing, wherein the condenser and condenser air stream are isolated from the evaporator chamber and evaporator air stream.