GB2529461A

GB2529461A - A refrigerating air conditioning unit

Info

Publication number: GB2529461A
Application number: GB1414860.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yassir Badawi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-21
Filing date: 2014-08-21
Publication date: 2016-02-24
Also published as: GB201414860D0; WO2016027067A1

Abstract

A refrigerating air conditioning unit comprises a chamber 3 configured to hold a volume of ice, and a refrigeration system 2 configured to freeze water within the chamber 3. The unit has a passage 4 which allows atmospheric air to pass through the chamber, and air circulating means 5 such as a fan which drives or draws air through the passage 4. The chamber 3 preferably has a base plate 7 which moves downwardly against springs under the weight of accumulated ice, and is stopped by a height adjustment plate 9. The position of the height adjustment plate 9 may be varied by a user, to vary the volume of ice which can be contained by the chamber 3.

Description

A refrigerating air conditioning unit

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air conditioning unit that uses ambient air passed over ice created using the refrigeration cycle to cool the ambient air.

Background

Air conditioning iswidely used In hot countries and countries with hot summers, and it's use ensures that a modern standard of lMng is achievable in areas that would otherwise be inhospitable or difficult for people to settle in. Modern air conditioning units are inefficient and require large amounts of input energy in order to cool a space or a certain volume of air.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: U820080104971 describes and shows a thermal storage and transfer system that includes a cooling system and which allows a method of producing a cool airstream using ice or other frozen material. The ice is disposed in a container with the con- densers and evaporators of the heat pipes respectively inside and outside the con-tamer. A fan blows air across the evaporator sections through a duct to circulate within an enclosed airspace to be cooled. A separate refrigeration system which may be used to independently cool the airspace also freezes water or another liquid to produce the ice or other frozen material in the container. The cooling system is broadly applicable, including use on motor vehicles to provide cooling for several hours when the vehicle engine is off. A heating system includes an adsorbent heat exchanger for extracting heat from exhaust gases of an engine and heating an en-closed airspace.

W020061 35177 describes and shows a cold air and hot air discharging refrigerator, and an operating method and apparatus thereof. The refrigerator includes a cold air generating device adapted to cool air by use of cold air within a freezing chamber so as to discharge the cooled air, or a hot air generating device adapted to heat air by use of waste heat of the refrigerator or electric heater so as to discharge the heated air. The refrigerator functions as a cold air generator or hot air generator, and thus, eliminates the necessity for installing a separate cold air generator or hot air genera-tor in a narrow kitchen.

W020061 10022 describes and shows a cooler that uses ice to provide environ-mental cooling, wherein the outer surface of an air pipe is directly exposed to the ice or ice water stored in the cooler. The pipe extends over the entire length of the cooler between an inlet in one of the side walls and an outlet in the opposite wall, and is secured to the walls to prevent water or air ingress or egress between the pipe and the ice in the cooler. An electric fan provided in the pipe inlet causes warm air to flow into the pipe, where it is cooled as it moves towards the pipe outlet.

In contrast the present invention provides a refrigerating air conditioning unit where ice is used as a cooling medium, the ice created via a refrigeration cycle, and where the volume of ice can be varied to alter the volume or temperature of the cooled air produced as required by a user.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a refrigerating air conditioning unit, comprising: a chamber configured to hold a volume of ice; a refrigeration means configured to freeze water within the chamber; a chamber passage configured to allow atmospheric air to pass therethrough, the passage and chamber at least partly contiguous; an air circulating means configured to either drive and/or draw air from atmosphere through the chamber passage, and wherein; the refrigerating air conditioning unit is configured so that a user can change the volume of the chamber.

Using ice to cool the air allows the ice to be created using a refrigeration cycle, which is more energy-efficient than using an air conditioning unit to cool the air directly immediately before it is required, and having a chamber where the volume can be altered allows a user to choose how much ice they require for any particular use.

In an embodiment, the refrigeration means is a vapour-compression refrigeration system, configured to add ice incrementally to the chamber as the ice is formed.

This is a well-known, reliable, economical and apparatus suitable for freezing water.

In an embodiment, the chamber has a vertically movable base, the volume of the chamber changed by altering the vertical position of the base. This allows the volume of the chamber to be altered, and altering the position of the base provides a simple way to achieve this without having to also move equipment at the top of the unit.

In an embodiment, the chamber passage passes substantially through the centre of the chamber. This provides an efficient position for maximising exposure of atmospheric air to the cooler ice.

In an embodiment, the chamber passage is aligned substantially vertically. This allows temperature differentials and convection to be effectively harnessed.

In an embodiment, the refrigerating air conditioning unit further comprises a housing, the base movably connected to the housing via a spring means. This provides a simple and effective mechanism.

In an embodiment, the housing further comprises a height adjustment plate vertically movable within the housing to contact the base and hold this at substantially the same height as the height adjustment plate. This provides an effective way to control the volume of the chamber and the amount of ice.

In an embodiment, the refrigerating air conditioning unit further comprises a crank connected to the height adjustment plate and manipulable by a user to alter the height of the plate. This is a simple and effective mechanism for adiusting the height of the plate.

In an embodiment, the housing is configured such that an outer passage is formed between the housing and the chamber, and so that atmospheric air entering the chamber must pass through both the chamber passage and the outer passage before exiting to atmosphere. This maximises exposure of air to the ice.

In an embodiment, the air circulating means is a fan. This is a well-known, simple and effective mechanism for air circulation.

In an embodiment, the refrigerating air conditioning unit further comprises a recirculating means configured to receive meltwater from the ice below the chamber and re-circulate this to the top of the chamber of re-freezing. This helps to maintain the overall volume of ice so that efficiency of air cooling is maintained.

In an embodiment, the recirculating means comprises pipes and a pump. These are well-known, simple and effective pieces of apparatus for water circulation.

In an embodiment, the refrigeration means is configured for connection to a mains power source. This allows to refrigeration means to be used in a domestic or industrial location.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one side and above of an embodiment of the refrigerating air conditioning unit of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the refrigerating air conditioning unit of figure 1 with the outer casing removed, the refrigerating air conditioning unit having a chamber that holds a volume of ice, and which is configured so that a user can change the volume of the chamber, a refrigeration means configured to freeze water within the chamber, a chamber passage that allows atmospheric air to pass therethrough and where the passage and chamber at least partly contiguous, and an air circulating means that either drives or draws air from atmosphere through the chamber passage.

Figures 3a and 3b show stylised cutaway side views of the refrigerating air conditioning unit of figure 2, the volume of the ice chamber in figure 3b greater than that of figure 3a.

Detailed Description of Figures

An embodiment of refrigerating air conditioning unit according to the invention will now be described with reference to the figures.

The refrigerating air conditioning unit 1 has main parts as follows: a refrigeration mechanism 2 for freezing water, a chamber 3 that holds ice created by the refrigeration mechanism 2, and a chamber passage 4, the passage 4 formed through the chamber 3 so that the wall of the passage is formed from the wall of the chamber -the passage wall and chamber wall are common. Air passing through the passage 4 is in contact with the chamber wall. The wall is chilled from the ice that is contained in the chamber 3, and as the air flows over the walt this becomes chilled also. A fan is located at one end of the passage to either drive or draw air through the passage 4. Using ice to cool the air allows the ice to be created using a refrigeration cycle, which is more energy-efficient than using an air conditioning unit to cool the air directly immediately before it is required, and having a chamber where the volume can be altered allows a user to choose how much ice they require for any particular use. The chamber can be filled with ice ovemight or when power draw is low, and when it tends to be cooler, and the refrigerating air conditioning unit I will then be ready foruse in the morning.

In this embodiment, the refrigeration mechanism 2 is a vapour-compression refrigeration system. This mechanism is substantially the same as that used on domestic refrigerator/freezers, and is a well-known, reliable, economical apparatus suitable for freezing water. The refrigeration meôhanism 2 adds ice incrementally to the chamber 3 as the ice is formed until the chamber is filled. The refrigeration mechanism 2 is connected to and powered by a mains power source. This allows to refrigeration means to be used in a domestic or industrial location.

The passage 4 and chamber 3 are arranged so that the passage 4 passes vertically upwards through the chamber, at the centre of the chamber. The fan 5 is located at the top of the passage and can either blow air through the passage or be reversed to suck air upwards through the passage The chamber 3 and refrigerating mechanism 2 are enclosed by a housing 6. The refrigerating air conditioning unit 1 is configured so that a user can change the volume of the chamber 2 in use, so that the volume of ice it will hold can be changed.

This is achieved by having the base 7 of the chamber moveable vertically upwards and downwards, the base 7 supported by springs 8 that extend from the top of the housing to support the base and which extend as the ice builds up in the chamber and the weight increases. A height adjustment plate 9 is connected to the housing and is vertically movable within the housing. The plate contacts and supports the base from underneath, and holds this at substantially the same height as the height adjustment plate. This provides an effective way to control the vertical position of the base and therefore the volume of the chamber and the amount of ice.

The vertical position of the height adjustment plate 9 is altered via a crank 10 connected to the height adjustment plate 9 and which can be rotated by a user to after the height of the plate 9.

It is preferred that the housing is formed such that an outer passage 11 is formed between the housing and the chamber, and so that atmospheric air entering the chamber must pass through both the chamber passage 4 nd the outer passage 9 before exiting to atmosphere. This maximises exposure of air to the ice.

In use, the ice will melt as heat is transferred from the air to the ice, cooling the air by causing the ice to melt. The water from the ice drains through the bottom of the base and is collected in a drip tray at the bottom of the housing, where it flows into pipes and is pumped back or re-circulated to the top of the housing to be re-frozen and added back to the chamber at the top. This is achieved by pipes and pump 12, 13.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further,

B

since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, failing within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A refrigerating air conditioning unit, comprising: a chamber configured to bold a volume of ice; a refrigeration means configured to freeze water within the chamber; a chamber passage configured to allow atmospheric air to pass therethrough, the passage and chamber at least partly contiguous; an air circulating means configured to either drive andfor draw air from atmosphere through the chamber passage; the refrigerating air conditioning unit configured so that a user can change the volume of the chamber.
2. A refrigerating air conditioning unit as: claimed in claim 1 wherein the refrigeration means is a vapour-compression refrigeration system, configured to add ice incrementally to the chamber as the ice is formed.
3, A refrigerating air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the chamber has a vertically movable base, the volume of the chamber changed by altering the vertical position of the base.
4. A refrigerating air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the chamber passage passes substantially through the centre of the chamber.
5. A refrigerating air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the chamber passage is aligned substantially vertically.
6. A refrigerating air conditioning unit as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 further comprising a housing, the base movably connected to the housing via a spring means.
7. A refrigerating air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein the housing further comprises a height adjustment plate vertically movable within the housing to contact the base and hold this at substantially the same height as the height adjustment plate.
8. A refrigerating air conditioning unit as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a crank connected to the height adjustment plate and manipulable by a user to alter the height of the plate.
9. A refrigerating air conditioning unit as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the housing is configured such that an outer passage is formed between the housing and the chamber, and so that atmospheric air entering the chamber must pass through both the chamber passage and the outer passage before exiting to atmosphere.
10. A refilgerating air conditioning unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the air circulating means is a fan.
11. A refrigerating air conditioning unit as claimed in aiy one of claims ito 10 further comprising a recirculating means configured to receive meitwater from the ice below the chamber and re-circulate this to the too of the chamber of re-freezing.
12. A refrigerating air conditioning urit as claimed i-i claim ii wherein the recirculating means comprises pipes and a pump.
13. A refrigerating air conditioning unit as claimed in any one of claims ito 12 wherein the refrigeration means is configured for connection to a mains power source.
14. A refrigerating air conditioning unit substantially as herein described with reference to the figures.