Refrigeration – Material cooling means including gas-liquid contactor – Cooling heat rejector of refrigeration producer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-07-03
Buiz, Michael Powell (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Material cooling means including gas-liquid contactor
Cooling heat rejector of refrigeration producer
C062S171000, C062S091000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253565
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Residential or home air conditioners include an external condenser unit having a coil wherein a refrigerant is circulated through the coil for heat exchange purposes. During operation, the coils are cooled by a fan which draws external air over the condenser coil.
There have been numerous attempts in the past to use water to cool condenser coils to thereby enhance the efficiency. See the following patents:
Patent No.
Inventor and Title
2,278,242
Chapman
For: EVAPORATIVE COOLER
4,028,906
Gingold et al
For: FOGGING DEVICE FOR COOLING A
CONDENSER COIL
4,170,117
Faxon
For: MIST SPRAY APPARATUS FOR AIR
CONDITIONER CONDENSER
4,240,265
Faxon
For: MIST SPRAY APPARATUS FOR AIR
CONDITIONER CONDENSER
4,274,266
Shires
For: WATER COOLING SYSTEM FOR AIR COOLED
AIR CONDITIONERS
5,003,789
Gaona
For: MIST AIR CONDITIONER FOR EVAPORATIVE
COOLER
4,542,627
Welker
For: COOLING APPARATUS FOR AIR CONDITIONER
AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS
4,685,308
Welker
For: TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE COOLING
APPARATUS
5,117,644
Fought
For: CONDENSER COIL COOLING APPARATUS
5,285,651
Marine
For: AIR CONDITIONER COOLING APPARATUS
5,311,747
Pringle et al
For: WATER-ASSISTED CONDENSER COOLER
5,605,052
Middleton et al
For: MIST SPRAY SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATION
CONDENSERS
For the most part, these units are not satisfactory because some unduly block airflow and/or they tend to cause excessive rusting of the condenser coils and the associated hardware in the external condenser unit.
The object of this invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for misting home external condenser units which does not cause excessive rusting and is more efficient and less costly and is easy to install.
According to the present invention, a fine spray mist is formed in the airflow stream about twelve inches up-stream or spaced away from the condenser unit so as to cool the air being drawn into the condenser unit. This cooled air allows the fluid in the condensing unit to change state much easier and faster. On very hot summer days, the present invention removes some super heat from the air and lowers the suction pressure; for instance, by removing this extreme heat when the temperature is in the high 90's and the heat index is 110° or above. The flash gases returning on the suction side of the condenser can condense back to liquid form much easier thus lowering the current drawn by the condensing unit and the air conditioning unit plus reduce running time on the condensing unit and also on days which have extreme heat will allow the unit to cycle on and off in synchronism with the thermostat.
Moreover, by making the water spray in the form of a mist, less water is required because of the size of the spray heads and this is the only time the water is being used, e.g. when the thermostat calls for cooling. Because the water is in the form of a cloud or mist, there is less tendency for water to collect in the condenser unit so that the condenser unit does not rust out. In other words, no pool of water or water droplets are retained within the condensing unit.
If the heating unit has a heat pump and underground wiring going to a coil on the solenoid valve, for installation unscrew the water line at the spigot where the water supply was picked up and attach the one-quarter inch outside dimension plastic tubing. Before starting up in the spring, it is preferable that the spray orifice be washed in warm soapy or soda water to remove encrustation and the like and then rub a little Vaseline® (petroleum jelly) on the rubber orifice and screw them back into the three tees. Hook up the ground wire and this prepares the unit to be ready for next Spring.
It must be remembered that the invention is not sucking or drawing water through the condensing unit. The mist generated by the spray orifices just cools the air down to make the heat exchange process more efficient, and this is the process which makes the unit operate exceptionally well.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2278242 (1942-03-01), Chapman
patent: 4028906 (1977-06-01), Gingold et al.
patent: 4170117 (1979-10-01), Faxon
patent: 4193269 (1980-03-01), Barry
patent: 4240265 (1980-12-01), Faxon
patent: 4266406 (1981-05-01), Ellis
patent: 4274266 (1981-06-01), Shires
patent: 4542627 (1985-09-01), Welker
patent: 4576012 (1986-03-01), Luzenberg
patent: 4685308 (1987-08-01), Welker
patent: 5003789 (1991-04-01), Gaona
patent: 5074124 (1991-12-01), Chapman
patent: 5117644 (1992-06-01), Fought
patent: 5285651 (1994-02-01), Marine
patent: 5311747 (1994-05-01), Pringle et al.
patent: 5605052 (1997-02-01), Middleton et al.
patent: 5701748 (1997-12-01), Phelps et al.
patent: 5950445 (1999-09-01), Wang
patent: 6006538 (1999-12-01), Prueitt
Buiz Michael Powell
Jiang Chen-Wen
Zegeer Jim
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