Apparatus for and method of venting hydrocarbon refrigerant leaks

A hydrocarbon cooling system comprising:

• a housing including a substantially rectangular base, a front wall extending upwardly from said base and defining a first air inlet and a second air inlet, a back defining a first air outlet, a first sidewall extending upwardly from said base and defining a second air outlet, and an opposite second sidewall extending upwardly from said base;
• a condenser mounted within said housing adjacent said first air inlet;
• a compressor mounted within said housing adjacent both said second air inlet and said second air outlet;
• an evaporator mounted within said housing;
• a fan mounted within said housing and defining an axis, said fan creating a first horizontal airflow path, said first horizontal airflow path entering said housing through said first air inlet and exiting said housing through said first air outlet to vent said condenser;
• and
• a partition mounted within said housing and extending upwardly from said base, said partition extending from said front wall between said first and second air inlets to said first sidewall, wherein said partition encloses said compressor and isolates said compressor, said second air inlet and said second air outlet, collectively, from said condenser, said first air inlet and said first air outlet.

A method of venting hydrocarbon refrigerant leaks from the housing of a hydrocarbon cooling system having a compressor disposed within the housing, a condenser disposed within the housing and spaced apart from the compressor, and an evaporator disposed within the housing, comprising the steps of:

• creating a first airflow path through the housing by mounting a fan within the housing, the first airflow path entering the housing through an air inlet located in the front of the housing and exiting the housing through an air outlet located in the back of the housing;
• venting the condenser by positioning the condenser adjacent the air inlet and in the first airflow path;
• and
• inducing a second airflow path about the housing by positioning the fan such that an axis of the fan lies along a vertical plane defining a first non-perpendicular angle relative to a second vertical plane aligned perpendicular to a back of the housing, the second airflow path moving along a line non-perpendicular to the housing.