Thermoelectirc cooling for a refrigerated display case
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorAbbas A. Alahyari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerated display case (10) is provided with an open face (25) and an air flow (30) across the open face (25), which is cooled by a primary refrigeration system (20) and a thermoelectric heat pump (60).
Claims20
A method of cooling a display case (10) having an open face (25) comprising:
- providing air flow (30) across the open face (25);
- directing a first portion (40) of said air flow (30) into an air return (35) in fluid communication with a vapor-compression refrigeration system (20);
- providing a thermoelectric heat pump (60) in thermal communication with said first portion (40);
- cooling said first portion (40) with said thermoelectric heat pump (60);
- returning said first portion (40) to said vapor-compression refrigeration system (20) for cooling;
- and
- returning said first portion (40) to said air flow (30) across the open face (25).
A refrigeration system operably connected to a display case (10) having an open face (25), the system comprising:
- a primary refrigeration system (20) that provides an air flow (30) across the open face (25), said air flow (30) being cooled by said primary refrigeration system (20), said air flow (30) comprising a first portion (40) of air flow (30) that is returned to said primary refrigeration system (20) and a second portion (45) of air flow (30) that is released from the display case (10);
- and
- a thermoelectric heat pump (60) in thermal communication with said first portion (40) of air flow (30) for cooling said first portion (40) prior to said first portion (40) being returned to said primary refrigeration system (20).
A refrigerated display case (10) comprising:
- a support structure (15) having an open face (25);
- a vapor-compression refrigeration system (20) that provides an air flow (30) across said open face (25), said air flow (30) being cooled by said vapor-compression refrigeration system (20), said air flow (30) comprising a first portion (40) of air flow (30) that is returned to said vapor-compression refrigeration system (20) and a second portion (45) of air flow (30) that is released from said display case (10);
- and
- a thermoelectric heat pump (60) in fluid communication with said first portion (40) of air flow (30) for cooling said first portion (40) prior to said first portion (40) being returned to said vapor-compression refrigeration system (20).
A method of cooling a display case (10) having an open face (25) as herein before described with reference to any one of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
An apparatus for cooling a display case (10) having an open face (25) as herein before described with reference to any one of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.