REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE HAVING A CENTRAL RETURN AIR DUCT
A refrigerated display case includes a base. A first wall extends from the base and has a first supply air duct defined therein. A second wall extends from the base and has a second supply air duct defined therein. The first wall and the second wall define a product area therebetween. A return air duct is disposed in the product area between the first supply air duct and the second supply air duct. An evaporator coil is disposed in an equipment space defined between the product area and the base. The equipment space is fluidly coupled to the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the return air duct. A first circulation fan is disposed in the equipment space proximate the first supply air duct. A second circulation fan disposed in the equipment space proximate the second supply air duct.
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The present disclosure relates generally to refrigerated display cases and more particularly, but not by way of limitation to refrigerated display cases having a centrally-located return air duct and dual supply ducts.
BACKGROUNDThis section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Display cases that are capable of refrigerating contents are common features in many retail outlets. Refrigerated display cases often include a fan that circulates refrigerated air over the contents of the refrigerated display case. Often times, such refrigerated display cases experience significant product temperature variation depending to the positioning of the product within the refrigerated display case. Such a scenario can cause products to fail to meet product safety standards. One approach to ensuring compliance with safety standards is to lower a temperature of an evaporator coil; however, this approach can cause localized product freezing.
SUMMARYVarious aspects of the disclosure relate to a refrigerated display case. The refrigerated display case includes a base. A first wall extends from the base and has a first supply air duct defined therein. A second wall extends from the base and has a second supply air duct defined therein. The first wall and the second wall define a product area therebetween. A return air duct is disposed in the product area between the first supply air duct and the second supply air duct. An evaporator coil is disposed in an equipment space defined between the product area and the base. The equipment space is fluidly coupled to the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the return air duct. A first circulation fan is disposed in the equipment space proximate the first supply air duct. A second circulation fan disposed in the equipment space proximate the second supply air duct.
Various aspects of the disclosure relate to a cooling system. The cooling system includes a first supply air duct and a second supply air duct. A first circulation fan is disposed in the first supply air duct. A second circulation fan is disposed in the second supply air duct. A return air duct is positioned between the first supply air duct and the second supply air duct. An evaporator coil is thermally exposed to the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the return air duct.
Various aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of constructing a refrigerated display case. The method includes forming a first supply air duct in a first wall of the refrigerated display case and forming a second supply air duct in a second wall of the refrigerated display case. A product area is defined between the first wall and the second wall. A return air duct is formed between the first supply air duct and the second supply air duct. A first circulation fan is positioned proximate the first supply air duct. A second circulation fan is positioned proximate the second supply air duct. An evaporator coil is positioned to be thermally exposed to the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the return air duct.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of claimed subject matter.
The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
Various embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
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The low-pressure, low-temperature, super-heated vapor refrigerant is introduced into the compressor 106 via the suction line 114. In a typical embodiment, the compressor 106 increases the pressure of the low-pressure, low-temperature, super-heated vapor refrigerant and, by operation of the ideal gas law, also increases the temperature of the low-pressure, low-temperature, super-heated vapor refrigerant to form a high-pressure, high-temperature, superheated vapor refrigerant. The high-pressure, high-temperature, superheated vapor refrigerant leaves the compressor 106 via the discharge line 116 and enters the condenser coil 104.
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In the metering device 108, the pressure of the high-pressure, high-temperature, sub-cooled liquid refrigerant is abruptly reduced. In various embodiments where the metering device 108 is, for example, a thermostatic expansion valve, the metering device 108 reduces the pressure of the high-pressure, high-temperature, sub-cooled liquid refrigerant by regulating an amount of refrigerant that travels to the evaporator coil 102. Abrupt reduction of the pressure of the high-pressure, high-temperature, sub-cooled liquid refrigerant causes sudden, rapid, evaporation of a portion of the high-pressure, high-temperature, sub-cooled liquid refrigerant, commonly known as “flash evaporation.” The flash evaporation lowers the temperature of the resulting liquid/vapor refrigerant mixture to a temperature lower than a temperature of the air in the conditioned space 112. The liquid/vapor refrigerant mixture leaves the metering device 108 and returns to the evaporator coil 102.
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The term “substantially” is defined as largely but not necessarily wholly what is specified (and includes what is specified; e.g., substantially 90 degrees includes 90 degrees and substantially parallel includes parallel), as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In any disclosed embodiment, the terms “substantially,” “approximately.” “generally,” and “about” may be substituted with “within 10% of” what is specified.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others. “can.” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices or algorithms illustrated can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. As will be recognized, the processes described herein can be embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features can be used or practiced separately from others. The scope of protection is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Claims
1. A refrigerated display case, comprising:
- a base;
- a first wall extending from the base and having a first supply air duct defined therein;
- a second wall extending from the base and having a second supply air duct defined therein, the first wall and the second wall defining a product area therebetween;
- a return air duct disposed in the product area between the first supply air duct and the second supply air duct;
- an evaporator coil disposed in an equipment space defined between the product area and the base, the equipment space being fluidly coupled to the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the return air duct;
- a first circulation fan disposed in the equipment space proximate the first supply air duct; and
- a second circulation fan disposed in the equipment space proximate the second supply air duct.
2. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, wherein:
- the first wall is a front wall of the refrigerated display case; and
- the second wall is a rear wall of the refrigerated display case.
3. The refrigerated display case of claim 2, comprising a glass pane disposed in the front wall.
4. The refrigerated display case of claim 3, wherein the glass pane is substantially transparent.
5. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, wherein the product area comprises a floor.
6. The refrigerated display case of claim 5, wherein the equipment space is defined between the base and the floor.
7. The refrigerated display case of claim 1, comprising:
- a first diffuser disposed at an exit of the first supply air duct; and
- a second diffuser disposed at an exit of the second supply air duct.
8. The refrigerated display case of claim 7, wherein:
- the first diffuser comprises a honeycomb structure; and
- the second diffuser comprises a honeycomb structure.
9. A cooling system, comprising:
- a first supply air duct;
- a second supply air duct;
- a first circulation fan disposed in the first supply air duct;
- a second circulation fan disposed in the second supply air duct;
- a return air duct positioned between the first supply air duct and the second supply air duct; and
- an evaporator coil thermally exposed to the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the return air duct.
10. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the cooling system is incorporated in a refrigerated display case.
11. The cooling system of claim 10, wherein discharge of air from the first supply air duct and the second supply air duct creates a thermal barrier to ambient air infiltrating the refrigerated display case.
12. The cooling system of claim 10, wherein positioning of the return air duct between the first supply air duct and the second supply air duct prevents spillage of air over a wall of the refrigerated display case.
13. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the first circulation fan and the second circulation fan are positioned on opposite sides of the evaporator coil.
14. The cooling system of claim 9, comprising:
- a first diffuser disposed at an exit of the first supply air duct; and
- a second diffuser disposed at an exit of the second supply air duct.
15. The cooling system of claim 14, wherein:
- the first diffuser comprises a honeycomb structure; and
- the second diffuser comprises a honeycomb structure.
16. A method of constructing a refrigerated display case, the method comprising:
- forming a first supply air duct in a first wall of the refrigerated display case;
- forming a second supply air duct in a second wall of the refrigerated display case, a product area being defined between the first wall and the second wall;
- forming a return air duct between the first supply air duct and the second supply air duct;
- positioning a first circulation fan proximate the first supply air duct;
- positioning a second circulation fan proximate the second supply air duct; and
- positioning an evaporator coil to be thermally exposed to the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the return air duct.
17. The method of claim 16, comprising positioning the evaporator coil between the first circulation fan and the second circulation fan.
18. The method of claim 16, comprising disposing the first circulation fan, the second circulation fan, and the evaporator coil in an equipment space.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the equipment space is fluidly coupled to the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the return air duct.
20. The method of claim 16 comprising:
- positioning a first diffuser in an exit of the first supply air duct; and
- positioning a second diffuser in an exit of the second supply air duct.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 21, 2018
Publication Date: Jun 25, 2020
Applicant: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products, LLC (Richardson, TX)
Inventors: Pavan Kumar PUTTALINGARAJU (Bangalore), Ajay Chidambaram Pillai SWORNALATHA (Tamilnadu), Jon DOUGLAS (Lewisville, TX)
Application Number: 16/229,844