Refrigerated display cabinet including microchannel heat exchangers

A refrigerated merchandiser comprising:

• a product display area comprising a plurality of shelves;
• an air return passage defined below the plurality of shelves;
• a first fan disposed at a downstream end of the air return passage, wherein the first fan includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the first surface and the second surface are arranged on different positions along a circumference of the first fan, the circumference extending around an axis of rotation of the first fan;
• an air distribution passage connected to an outlet of the first fan and disposed behind the plurality of shelves and a top passage disposed above the plurality of shelves;
• at least one microchannel evaporator including a first bend such that a first valley is defined by a first section of the at least one microchannel evaporator on a first side of the first bend, the first bend, and a second section of the at least one microchannel evaporator on a second side of the first bend, and wherein the first fan is disposed in the first valley such that the at least one microchannel evaporator at least partially surrounds the first fan around a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation of the first fan with the first section facing the first surface of the first fan and the second section facing the second surface of the first fan, and the at least one microchannel evaporator defines a profile extending around multiple sides of the first fan;
• a second fan at the downstream end of the air return passage, wherein the at least one microchannel evaporator at least partially surrounds opposing sides of the second fan;
• and
• wherein the at least one microchannel evaporator comprises a single microchannel evaporator including the first bend defining the first valley, a second bend defining a second valley, and a third bend defining a third valley between said first bend and said second bend, and wherein the first valley comprises a first peak and the second valley comprises a second peak that each extend upward toward the top passage and the third bend extends downward toward the air return passage.

A method for cooling a refrigerated merchandiser comprising:

• driving air through at least one microchannel evaporator using at least one axial flow fan, and wherein the at least one axial flow fan includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the first surface and the second surface are arranged on different positions along a circumference of the at least one axial flow fan, the circumference extending around an axis of rotation of the at least one axial flow fan, the at least one microchannel evaporator including a bend such that a valley is defined by a first section of the at least one microchannel evaporator on a first side of the bend, the bend, and a second section of the at least one microchannel evaporator on a second side of the bend, and wherein the at least one axial flow fan is disposed in the valley such that the at least one microchannel evaporator defines a profile extending around multiple sides of the at least one axial flow fan with the first section facing the first surface of the at least one axial flow fan and the second section facing the second surface of the at least one axial flow fan, such that the at least one microchannel evaporator at least partially surrounds the at least one axial flow fan around a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation of the at least one axial flow fan;
• and
• the at least one microchannel evaporator defining a flow profile at least partially matching a localized airflow generated by the at least one axial flow fan, and wherein the localized airflow is a swirl imparted on air exiting the at least one axial flow fan, and wherein the localized airflow of the at least one axial flow fan is a swirl imparted on the airflow by the at least one axial flow fan.

A method for cooling a refrigerated merchandiser comprising:

• driving air through at least one microchannel evaporator using at least one axial flow fan, and wherein the at least one axial flow fan includes a first surface and a second surface facing opposite the first surface, the at least one microchannel evaporator including a bend such that a valley is defined by a first section of the at least one microchannel evaporator on a first side of the bend, the bend, and a second section of the at least one microchannel evaporator on a second side of the bend, and wherein the at least one axial flow fan is disposed in the valley such that the at least one microchannel evaporator defines a profile extending around multiple sides of the at least one axial flow fan with the first section facing the first surface of the at least one axial flow fan and the second section facing the second surface of the at least one axial flow fan, wherein the at least one microchannel evaporator includes a single microchannel evaporator including a first bend defining a first peak, a second bend defining a second peak, and a third bend defining a valley between said first bend and said second bend, and wherein the first peak and the second peak extend upward toward a top passage disposed above a plurality of shelves and the third bend extends downward toward an air return passage defined below the plurality of shelves.