Refrigerated display cabinet utilizing a radial cross flow fan
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorArindom Joardar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerated display case includes a housing surrounding multiple shelves. An air distribution gap is defined behind the shelves. An air return passage is defined below the shelves. A radial cross-flow fan is disposed in a fan region of the air return passage. The radial cross-flow fan includes an output connected to the air distribution gap. A primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger is disposed in the fan region downstream of the radial cross-flow fan such that air output from the radial cross-flow fan to the air distribution gap passes through the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger. A pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger.
Claims19
A refrigerated display case comprising:
- a housing surrounding a plurality of shelves;
- an air distribution gap defined behind the plurality of shelves;
- an air return passage defined below the plurality of shelves;
- a radial cross-flow fan disposed in a fan region of the air return passage, the radial cross-flow fan having an output connected to the air distribution gap;
- a primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger disposed in the fan region downstream of the radial cross-flow fan such that air output from the radial cross-flow fan to the air distribution gap passes through the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger;
- a pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger disposed upstream of the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger;
- and
- the pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger having a first saturation temperature and the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger having a second saturation cooling temperature, and where the second saturation temperature is lower than the first saturation temperature.
A method of cooling shelves in a refrigerated display cabinet comprising:
- driving air through a cooling circuit using a radial cross-flow fan;
- passing the air through a primary microchannel heat exchanger, thereby cooling the air below a minimum cooling temperature of at least one shelf;
- and
- extracting moisture from the air using a pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger prior to passing the air through the primary microchannel heat exchanger;
- and
- operating the primary microchannel heat exchanger at a saturation temperature below a frost point and operating the pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger at a temperature above the frost point and below a condensation point.
A method of cooling shelves in a refrigerated display cabinet comprising:
- driving air through a cooling circuit using a radial cross-flow fan;
- passing the air through a primary microchannel heat exchanger, thereby cooling the air below a minimum cooling temperature of at least one shelf;
- extracting moisture from the air using a pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger prior to passing the air through the primary microchannel heat exchanger;
- and
- deactivating the pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger in response to a controller determining a low load period.
A refrigerated display case comprising:
- a housing surrounding a plurality of shelves;
- an air distribution gap defined behind the plurality of shelves;
- an air return passage defined below the plurality of shelves;
- a radial cross-flow fan disposed in a fan region of the air return passage, the radial cross-flow fan having an output connected to the air distribution gap;
- a primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger disposed in the fan region downstream of the radial cross-flow fan such that air output from the radial cross-flow fan to the air distribution gap passes through the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger;
- a pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger disposed upstream of the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger;
- and
- a controller configured to deactivate the pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger during a low load period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.