US20110232859A1 - Air Conditioner Cooling Device - Google Patents
Air Conditioner Cooling Device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110232859A1 US20110232859A1 US13/061,504 US200913061504A US2011232859A1 US 20110232859 A1 US20110232859 A1 US 20110232859A1 US 200913061504 A US200913061504 A US 200913061504A US 2011232859 A1 US2011232859 A1 US 2011232859A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- water
- cooling device
- air conditioner
- manifold
- preheater
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F5/00—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater
- F24F5/0007—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater cooling apparatus specially adapted for use in air-conditioning
- F24F5/001—Compression cycle type
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
- F24S10/00—Solar heat collectors using working fluids
- F24S10/70—Solar heat collectors using working fluids the working fluids being conveyed through tubular absorbing conduits
- F24S10/75—Solar heat collectors using working fluids the working fluids being conveyed through tubular absorbing conduits with enlarged surfaces, e.g. with protrusions or corrugations
- F24S10/755—Solar heat collectors using working fluids the working fluids being conveyed through tubular absorbing conduits with enlarged surfaces, e.g. with protrusions or corrugations the conduits being otherwise bent, e.g. zig-zag
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25B49/02—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F25B49/027—Condenser control arrangements
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2339/00—Details of evaporators; Details of condensers
- F25B2339/04—Details of condensers
- F25B2339/041—Details of condensers of evaporative condensers
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2339/00—Details of evaporators; Details of condensers
- F25B2339/04—Details of condensers
- F25B2339/047—Water-cooled condensers
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25B2700/21—Temperatures
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25B2700/21—Temperatures
- F25B2700/2106—Temperatures of fresh outdoor air
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
- Y02E10/44—Heat exchange systems
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a device for cooling condenser coils of an air conditioner system, where the condenser coils are located along with a compressor within a suitable housing. Cooling is made efficient by providing a manifold located adjacent to the housing for controllably carrying water and dispensing it through a set of nozzles, which create a mist of water droplets adjacent to side walls of the housing.
- An air conditioning unit typically includes a cabinet located exterior to a building to be cooled, and is connected to the building's central heating and air conditioner system.
- the cabinet serves as a condenser, and includes a housing enclosing a compressor operated as a pump and heat exchanging or condenser coils.
- a heat absorbing fluid is directed through the coils, and expansion and contraction of the fluid serve to remove heat from the building's interior, which heat is discharged into ambient air exterior to the building through the coils.
- a fan is typically included in the cabinet to move air across the coils in order to improve heat transfer.
- Certain embodiments of the invention relate to a device for cooling condenser coils of an air conditioner system, such as one that is air-cooled.
- the system includes a condenser that includes a compressor and the coils located within a housing.
- the housing includes side walls joined at a seam to a top, and also includes a fan for expelling air from within the housing and causing air to be drawn through the side walls past heat exchanging fins located adjacent to the coils.
- the device includes a manifold that is located adjacent to the seam for controllably carrying water and dispensing it through a set of nozzles, which create a mist of water droplets adjacent to the side walls.
- the device also includes a preheater for heating water introduced into the manifold.
- the configuration of the device allows effective separation of smaller water droplets from larger water droplets by gravitational force, and allows the smaller water droplets to be drawn into the condenser.
- the device also includes a coding mechanism for selecting lengths of tubes extending between a loop portion of the manifold and the nozzles, according to particular climatic conditions.
- the device further includes a set of sensors for controlling the dispensing of water through the nozzles, and the manifold is connected to the housing via an adjustable mechanism.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a cooling device installed on an air conditioner cabinet located outside of a residence or a commercial building, according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a preheater for heating water carried and dispensed by a cooling device, according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a coding mechanism for selecting lengths of tubes based upon anticipated climactic conditions, according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a set of sensors for controlling the dispensing of water and a windscreen mechanism for reducing a wind sweeping effect, according to an embodiment of the invention.
- a set refers to a collection of one or more objects.
- a set of objects can include a single object or multiple objects.
- Objects that are part of a set also can be referred to as members of the set.
- Objects that are part of a set can be the same or different.
- objects that are part of a set can share one or more common characteristics.
- connection refers to an operational coupling or linking.
- Connected objects can be directly coupled to one another or can be indirectly coupled to one another, such as via another set of objects.
- adjacent refers to being near or adjoining. Adjacent objects can be spaced apart from one another or can be in actual or direct contact with one another. In some instances, adjacent objects can be connected to one another or can be formed integrally with one another.
- the terms “substantially” and “substantial” refer to a considerable degree or extent. When used in conjunction with an event or circumstance, the terms can refer to instances in which the event or circumstance occurs precisely as well as instances in which the event or circumstance occurs to a close approximation, such as accounting for typical tolerance levels or variability of the embodiments described herein.
- the terms “optional” and “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances in which it does not.
- a size of an object that is a spherical can refer to a diameter of the object.
- a size of the object can refer to an average of various orthogonal dimensions of the object.
- a size of an object that is a spheroidal can refer to an average of a major axis and a minor axis of the object.
- the objects can have a distribution of sizes around the specific size.
- a size of a set of objects can refer to a typical size of a distribution of sizes, such as an average size, a median size, or a peak size.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a cooling device 10 installed on an air conditioner cabinet 9 located outside of a residence or a commercial building, according to an embodiment of the invention.
- the cabinet 9 serves as a condenser, and includes a housing 1 enclosing a compressor 52 and condenser coils 53 , which are illustrated with dashed lines.
- the housing 1 is provided with side walls 11 that are connected to a top 12 at a seam 13 .
- a fan 51 is also included within the housing 1 for expelling air through an opening 50 in the top 12 . In doing so, air is drawn through the side walls 11 for cooling the condenser coils 53 located within the housing 1 .
- the cooling device 10 includes a manifold 14 that is wrapped adjacent to the seam 13 and is fed municipal water through a conduit 17 , such as a tube or a water line that is connected to a conventional water outlet. Water passing through the manifold 14 is fed through a set of tubes 15 for dispensing the water through a set of nozzles 16 , which create a mist of water droplets adjacent to the side walls 11 .
- the nozzles 16 are connected to respective ends of the tubes 15 , which, in turn, are connected to a loop portion 2 of the manifold 14 via T-shaped joints 3 .
- the manifold 14 can be implemented in a number of other ways, such as with the tubes 15 directly connected to the loop portion 2 or formed integrally with the loop portion 2 .
- FIG. 1 illustrates a preheater 20 implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a preheater 20 implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- the preheater 20 can optionally include a mechanism to absorb thermal energy from a heat absorbing fluid or a hot refrigerant circulating in the condenser coils 53 as a heat source to heat the water.
- the hot refrigerant which carries heat from inside the residence or the commercial building, can be tapped as a heat source to heat the water, without requiring the inclusion of another heat source.
- Portion 23 can be implemented in a number of ways, such as including a blackened or dark straight tube or, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , a blackened or dark coiled tube that is mounted on a blackened or dark plate 24 .
- heat from a heat absorbing fluid or a hot refrigerant within the compressor 52 also can be tapped as a heat source to heat the water by using a heat transfer jacket or a heat transfer plate mechanism.
- Such a mechanism can be implemented in a similar manner as a water heating jacket or a hot plate, but with cooling and heating substances swapped, and this mechanism can be positioned at a thermally efficient and convenient place adjacent to the compressor 52 .
- an effective area of the preheater 20 to collect solar thermal energy is such as to provide between about 100 Watts (“W”) to about 400 W of heating power for each gallon of water misting per hour (or for each 1.05 milliliter of water misting per second), which can elevate water temperature from at or below about 60° F. as received from a conventional water outlet up to about 211° F., with a nominal temperature of about 125° F. Desirable resulting water temperatures can be in the range of about 122° F. to about 140° F. or about 120° F. to about 140° F. Heating the water can reduce the dynamic viscosity of the water passing through the portion 23 from about 1.1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 3 Pascal-seconds (“Pa ⁇ s”) at about 60° F.
- Pa ⁇ s Pascal-seconds
- the viscosity of the water can be reduced by at least a factor of about 2, such as at least a factor of about 2.1, at least a factor of about 2.2, or at least a factor of about 2.3, and up to a factor of about 3 or more.
- Table 1 and Table 2 below set forth examples of resulting water temperatures and viscosities in accordance with various thermal energy inputs.
- the resulting preheated water with reduced viscosity and at a typical household tap water pressure can be highly mobile and can be accelerated through the nozzles 16 , where it is dispersed into fine droplets through micro-orifices normally configured to operate at pressures above about 100 psi and having sizes in the range of about 0.01 millimeter (“mm”) to about 1 mm, such as from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm or from about 0.1 mm to about 0.3 mm.
- the dispersed water is a cross between a fog or a very fine mist, which would normally involve a high pressure pump to achieve, and a mist. This fog or mist is drawn into the side walls 11 to cool cooling fins adjacent to the condenser coils 53 .
- the manifold 14 and the orientations of the tubes 15 and the nozzles 16 are advantageously configured to serve as a sieve to allow smaller water droplets to be substantially separated from larger ones by gravity, and to allow the smaller water droplets to be drawn into the cabinet 9 .
- An optimal orientation of the tubes 15 can be pointing upwards and away from the ground for some implementations, and can be pointing downwards and towards the ground for other implementations.
- the orientation of the tubes 15 is such that their angles ⁇ relative to a horizontal plane are in the range of about ⁇ 25 degrees to about 70 degrees, such as from about ⁇ 20 degrees to about 20 degrees, from about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees, or from about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees, where positive values denote an upward orientation, and negative values denote a downward orientation.
- Ambient temperature and ambient humidity can affect the rate at which water droplets dispensed from the nozzles 16 evaporate and are reduced in size. Also, a sweep rate can be affected by the velocity of water droplets dispensed from the nozzles 16 and a suction created by the fan 51 within the cabinet 9 .
- another improvement of the illustrated embodiment is to select or optimize lengths of the tubes 15 so as to regulate sizes of water droplets that reach the cooling fins and the condenser coils 53 , if at all, for various climatic conditions.
- the illustrated embodiment allows a user to “fine tune” the lengths of the tubes 15 , or, in other words, to set appropriate distances of the nozzles 16 from the condenser coils 53 to be cooled.
- appropriate distances of the nozzles 16 from the side walls 11 are in the range of about 0.3 feet to about 3.5 feet, such as from about 0.3 feet to about 3 feet or from about 0.3 feet to about 2.5 feet, and appropriate sizes of water droplets to be drawn into or near the cabinet 9 are in the range of about 1 micrometer (“ ⁇ m”) to about 300 ⁇ m, such as from about 1 ⁇ m to about 100 ⁇ m, from about 1 ⁇ m to about 50 ⁇ m, or from about 1 ⁇ m to about 20 ⁇ m.
- ⁇ m micrometer
- larger water droplets can be substantially separated by gravity, and the larger water droplets can fall and become dissipated or spread out on the ground.
- a surface area of the larger water droplets can be increased, and the larger water droplets can more readily evaporate and cool the surrounding air, thereby contributing to cooling efficiency while safeguarding the condenser coils 53 from scaling and corrosion.
- Specific climactic conditions can affect an optimal distance or an optimal range of distances between the nozzles 16 and the condenser coils 53 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates a coding mechanism for selecting distances based upon anticipated climactic conditions, according to an embodiment of the invention.
- a user can be provided with a menu card 37 broken down by climatic or geographical regions. For example, a first region with lower temperatures and higher humidity, such as Boston, can exhibit a prolonged evaporation process, relative to a second region with higher temperatures and lower humidity, such as Phoenix.
- a larger distance or a larger range of distances can be provided between the nozzles 16 and the condenser coils 53 to compensate for the prolonged evaporation process.
- a shorter distance or a shorter range of distances can be provided between the nozzles 16 and the condenser coils 53 according to the shortened evaporation process.
- Climatic regions can be specified in a number of ways, such as according to the Bergeron classification, the Köppen classification, or the Thornthwaite classification.
- the tubes 15 can be marked with suitable indicia, such as using color-coded markings 31 , 32 , and 33 , and can be sized at different lengths according to various regions as provided in the menu card 37 . In such manner, the user can select appropriate ones of the tubes 15 to allow the nozzles 16 to be optimally spaced from the condenser coils 53 .
- the tubes 15 can be single sized to a length according to the marking 33 for use in Boston, and, during assembly or installation, the tubes 15 are then cut to a length according to the marking 32 for use in Northern California (where humidity is lower) and cut to a length according to the marking 31 for use in Phoenix (where humidity is lower and temperatures are elevated).
- FIG. 4 illustrates a set of sensors 45 and 46 for controlling the dispensing of water, according to an embodiment of the invention.
- an air conditioner system includes a cabinet 40 , which is provided with side walls 41 and a top 42 .
- the top 42 has an opening 43 for exhausting air in the general direction of arrows 44 .
- the cabinet 40 serves as a condenser, and encloses a compressor and condenser coils (not illustrated) within the sides walls 41 and the top 42 .
- One mechanism to determine heat exchanger effectiveness is to measure the ambient temperature.
- High ambient temperatures can reduce the heat exchanging capacity of the cabinet 40 with its surrounding air, and an elevated temperature of the compressor can be an indication that the compressor is overworked.
- a cooling fog or mist can be effective at ambient temperatures at or above about 85° F.
- a controller 47 controls the introduction of water, and is activated when the air conditioner system is operating and when the ambient temperature is at least a predetermined set point or a threshold value, such as in the range of about 85° F. to about 90° F.
- the controller 47 can avoid the adverse effect of starving a refrigerant expansion loop and running the air conditioner system inefficiently, while consuming water needlessly and possibly scaling cooling fins.
- the controller 47 can be implemented in a number of ways, such as mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electronic, or a combination thereof.
- the controller 47 operates in conjunction with and is connected to the sensors 45 and 46 .
- the controller 47 and the sensors 45 and 46 are powered by a solar collector 60 , which can be a solar panel including a set of photovoltaic cells, although it is contemplated that other power sources also can be used.
- the sensor 45 serves to detect operation of the air conditioner system and the compressor within the cabinet 40 , and includes a pressure sensitive plate or a flapper switch that is placed adjacent to the opening 43 to detect fan discharge. Unless fan discharge is detected, the controller 47 is not activated, and, regardless of ambient conditions, no cooling fog or mist is dispensed adjacent to the cabinet 40 .
- the sensor 46 serves to detect the ambient temperature and to determine if the ambient temperature is sufficiently elevated to justify dispensing a cooling fog or mist.
- the sensor 46 can be implemented in a number of ways, and, for example, can include a thermocouple or another type of temperature sensor. If both of the sensors 45 and 46 have suitable indications, a valve within, or connected to, the controller 47 is activated accordingly, and a cooling fog or mist is dispensed adjacent to the cabinet 40 .
- a water temperature sensor can be optionally included to detect the temperature of water that passes through a preheater, such as previously described with reference to FIG. 2 .
- the water temperature is at least a predetermined set point or a threshold value, such as in the range of about 120° F. to about 125° F., no cooling fog or mist is dispensed adjacent to the cabinet 40 .
- the threshold water temperature can be suitably adjusted according to various climatic conditions, and, for example, can be lowered for a climatic region with elevated temperatures.
- FIG. 4 also illustrates a windscreen mechanism 61 for reducing an influence of wind and its sweeping effect on dispensed water droplets, according to an embodiment of the invention.
- the windscreen mechanism 61 serves to avoid or reduce instances in which wind alters a direction of dispensed water droplets away from an optimal orientation, carries smaller water droplets away from the cabinet 40 , or carries larger water droplets near or into the cabinet 40 .
- the windscreen mechanism 61 can be implemented in a number of ways, such as a lattice, a netting, or other types of windscreen materials, and can extend along at least a subset of the side walls 41 of the cabinet 40 .
- yet a further improvement relates to an adjustable mechanism 4 that allows the cooling device 10 to be readily mounted on air conditioner cabinets of various sizes.
- the manifold 14 is maintained adjacent to the seam 13 between the side walls 11 and the top 12 by the adjustable mechanism 4 , which secures the manifold 14 to appropriate guide rails.
- the adjustable mechanism 4 can be implemented in a number of ways, and, for example, can include an adjustable lanyard line including an elastic band.
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Abstract
Described herein is a device for cooling condenser coils of an air conditioner system, where the condenser coils are located along with a compressor within a suitable housing. Cooling is made efficient by providing a manifold located adjacent to the housing for controllably carrying water and dispensing it through a set of nozzles, which create a mist of water droplets adjacent to side walls of the housing.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/092,666, filed on Aug. 28, 2008, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/142,831, filed on Jan. 6, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- The present invention relates to a device for cooling condenser coils of an air conditioner system, where the condenser coils are located along with a compressor within a suitable housing. Cooling is made efficient by providing a manifold located adjacent to the housing for controllably carrying water and dispensing it through a set of nozzles, which create a mist of water droplets adjacent to side walls of the housing.
- An air conditioning unit, whether residential or commercial, typically includes a cabinet located exterior to a building to be cooled, and is connected to the building's central heating and air conditioner system. The cabinet serves as a condenser, and includes a housing enclosing a compressor operated as a pump and heat exchanging or condenser coils. A heat absorbing fluid is directed through the coils, and expansion and contraction of the fluid serve to remove heat from the building's interior, which heat is discharged into ambient air exterior to the building through the coils. A fan is typically included in the cabinet to move air across the coils in order to improve heat transfer.
- Attempts have been made to increase the efficiency of an air conditioner system by dispensing a water mist adjacent to condenser coils. Such a mist can promote faster heat exchange from the coils to ambient air. Water on the coils can cool the coils and a heat absorbing fluid contained therein, thereby resulting in a fluid pressure reduction. This fluid pressure reduction can lead to a reduction in back pressure experienced by a compressor and a reduction in energy consumption by the compressor, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the air conditioner system. This, in turn, can result in a lowering of the temperature at an evaporator coil inside a building, thereby yielding further efficiency gains.
- Although the delivery of a water mist can improve the efficiency of an air conditioner system, previous devices incorporating such functionality have suffered from certain deficiencies that have impeded their widespread adoption. Some of the previous devices include complicated mechanisms such as pumps, specialized valves, evaporative filters or other media, and specialized nozzle arrangements. Such mechanisms and their constant operation can increase costs and maintenance requirements to undesirable levels. Also, use of evaporative media to bring down ambient air to wet bulb temperatures can result in scaling and biological growth. While simplified devices have been proposed, these simplified devices can be unreliable. For example, simple, relatively inexpensive nozzle arrangements have been proposed, but these arrangements can sometimes produce large water droplets that are deposited on condenser coils, which can lead to scaling, bacterial growth, corrosion, extensive maintenance, and costly repairs. It would be desirable to provide a reliable device that avoids or reduces the deposition of large water droplets on condenser coils, thereby avoiding or reducing scaling, biological growth, and corrosion.
- It is against this background that a need arose to develop the cooling devices and related systems and methods described herein.
- Certain embodiments of the invention relate to a device for cooling condenser coils of an air conditioner system, such as one that is air-cooled. The system includes a condenser that includes a compressor and the coils located within a housing. The housing includes side walls joined at a seam to a top, and also includes a fan for expelling air from within the housing and causing air to be drawn through the side walls past heat exchanging fins located adjacent to the coils. The device includes a manifold that is located adjacent to the seam for controllably carrying water and dispensing it through a set of nozzles, which create a mist of water droplets adjacent to the side walls. The device also includes a preheater for heating water introduced into the manifold. The configuration of the device allows effective separation of smaller water droplets from larger water droplets by gravitational force, and allows the smaller water droplets to be drawn into the condenser. The device also includes a coding mechanism for selecting lengths of tubes extending between a loop portion of the manifold and the nozzles, according to particular climatic conditions. The device further includes a set of sensors for controlling the dispensing of water through the nozzles, and the manifold is connected to the housing via an adjustable mechanism.
- Other aspects and embodiments of the invention are also contemplated. The foregoing summary and the following detailed description are not meant to restrict the invention to any particular embodiment but are merely meant to describe some embodiments of the invention.
- For a better understanding of the nature and objects of some embodiments of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers denote like components, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a cooling device installed on an air conditioner cabinet located outside of a residence or a commercial building, according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 2 illustrates a preheater for heating water carried and dispensed by a cooling device, according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 3 illustrates a coding mechanism for selecting lengths of tubes based upon anticipated climactic conditions, according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a set of sensors for controlling the dispensing of water and a windscreen mechanism for reducing a wind sweeping effect, according to an embodiment of the invention. - The following definitions apply to some of the aspects described with respect to some embodiments of the invention. These definitions may likewise be expanded upon herein.
- As used herein, the singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to an object can include multiple objects unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
- As used herein, the term “set” refers to a collection of one or more objects. Thus, for example, a set of objects can include a single object or multiple objects. Objects that are part of a set also can be referred to as members of the set. Objects that are part of a set can be the same or different. In some instances, objects that are part of a set can share one or more common characteristics.
- As used herein, the terms “connect,” “connected,” and “connection” refer to an operational coupling or linking. Connected objects can be directly coupled to one another or can be indirectly coupled to one another, such as via another set of objects.
- As used herein, the term “adjacent” refers to being near or adjoining. Adjacent objects can be spaced apart from one another or can be in actual or direct contact with one another. In some instances, adjacent objects can be connected to one another or can be formed integrally with one another.
- As used herein, the terms “substantially” and “substantial” refer to a considerable degree or extent. When used in conjunction with an event or circumstance, the terms can refer to instances in which the event or circumstance occurs precisely as well as instances in which the event or circumstance occurs to a close approximation, such as accounting for typical tolerance levels or variability of the embodiments described herein.
- As used herein, the terms “optional” and “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances in which it does not.
- As used herein, the term “size” refers to a characteristic dimension of an object. Thus, for example, a size of an object that is a spherical can refer to a diameter of the object. In the case of an object that is non-spherical, a size of the object can refer to an average of various orthogonal dimensions of the object. Thus, for example, a size of an object that is a spheroidal can refer to an average of a major axis and a minor axis of the object. When referring to a set of objects as having a specific size, it is contemplated that the objects can have a distribution of sizes around the specific size. Thus, as used herein, a size of a set of objects can refer to a typical size of a distribution of sizes, such as an average size, a median size, or a peak size.
- Attention first turns to
FIG. 1 , which illustrates acooling device 10 installed on an air conditioner cabinet 9 located outside of a residence or a commercial building, according to an embodiment of the invention. The cabinet 9 serves as a condenser, and includes a housing 1 enclosing acompressor 52 and condenser coils 53, which are illustrated with dashed lines. The housing 1 is provided with side walls 11 that are connected to a top 12 at a seam 13. A fan 51 is also included within the housing 1 for expelling air through an opening 50 in the top 12. In doing so, air is drawn through the side walls 11 for cooling the condenser coils 53 located within the housing 1. - Still referring to
FIG. 1 , thecooling device 10 includes a manifold 14 that is wrapped adjacent to the seam 13 and is fed municipal water through aconduit 17, such as a tube or a water line that is connected to a conventional water outlet. Water passing through the manifold 14 is fed through a set oftubes 15 for dispensing the water through a set ofnozzles 16, which create a mist of water droplets adjacent to the side walls 11. In the illustrated embodiment, thenozzles 16 are connected to respective ends of thetubes 15, which, in turn, are connected to a loop portion 2 of the manifold 14 via T-shaped joints 3. However, it is contemplated that the manifold 14 can be implemented in a number of other ways, such as with thetubes 15 directly connected to the loop portion 2 or formed integrally with the loop portion 2. - The embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1 is improved in a number of ways over previous devices, and one of these improvements can be appreciated in conjunction withFIG. 2 , which illustrates a preheater 20 implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In order to reduce the need for or completely eliminate the need for a high pressure pump, water entering through oneend 21 of theconduit 17 is heated within aheating portion 23, which absorbs thermal energy from ambient radiation to raise the temperature of the water once it is introduced to the manifold 14 through another end 22. Alternatively, or in conjunction, the preheater 20 can optionally include a mechanism to absorb thermal energy from a heat absorbing fluid or a hot refrigerant circulating in the condenser coils 53 as a heat source to heat the water. In such manner, the hot refrigerant, which carries heat from inside the residence or the commercial building, can be tapped as a heat source to heat the water, without requiring the inclusion of another heat source.Portion 23 can be implemented in a number of ways, such as including a blackened or dark straight tube or, as illustrated inFIG. 2 , a blackened or dark coiled tube that is mounted on a blackened ordark plate 24. Alternatively, or in conjunction, heat from a heat absorbing fluid or a hot refrigerant within thecompressor 52 also can be tapped as a heat source to heat the water by using a heat transfer jacket or a heat transfer plate mechanism. Such a mechanism can be implemented in a similar manner as a water heating jacket or a hot plate, but with cooling and heating substances swapped, and this mechanism can be positioned at a thermally efficient and convenient place adjacent to thecompressor 52. - For certain implementations, an effective area of the preheater 20 to collect solar thermal energy is such as to provide between about 100 Watts (“W”) to about 400 W of heating power for each gallon of water misting per hour (or for each 1.05 milliliter of water misting per second), which can elevate water temperature from at or below about 60° F. as received from a conventional water outlet up to about 211° F., with a nominal temperature of about 125° F. Desirable resulting water temperatures can be in the range of about 122° F. to about 140° F. or about 120° F. to about 140° F. Heating the water can reduce the dynamic viscosity of the water passing through the
portion 23 from about 1.1×10−3 Pascal-seconds (“Pa·s”) at about 60° F. to about 0.53×10−3 Pa·s at about 125° F., or less if the water temperature is higher than 125° F. In such manner, the viscosity of the water can be reduced by at least a factor of about 2, such as at least a factor of about 2.1, at least a factor of about 2.2, or at least a factor of about 2.3, and up to a factor of about 3 or more. Table 1 and Table 2 below set forth examples of resulting water temperatures and viscosities in accordance with various thermal energy inputs. -
TABLE 1 Thermal Dynamic Energy Input Preheater Size Temperature Temperature Viscosity (W/gal/hr) (m2/gal/hr) (° F.) (° C.) (10−3 Pa · s) 50 10 1.308 24 0.029 68 20 1.003 68 0.081 86 30 0.7978 112 0.132 104 40 0.6531 157 0.184 122 50 0.5471 200 0.235 140 60 0.4668 245 0.288 158 70 0.4044 288 0.339 176 80 0.355 332 0.391 194 90 0.315 -
TABLE 2 Thermal Tem- Energy Preheater per- Temper- Dynamic Kinematic Input Size ature ature Viscosity (lb Viscosity (W/gal/hr) (m2/gal/hr) (° F.) (° C.) s/ft2 × 10−5) (ft2/s × 10−5) 5 0.006 60 16 2.344 1.21 29 0.035 70 21 2.034 1.052 54 0.063 80 27 1.791 0.926 78 0.092 90 32 1.5 0.823 103 0.120 100 38 1.423 0.738 127 0.178 120 49 1.164 0.607 200 0.235 140 60 0.974 0.511 249 0.293 160 71 0.832 0.439 298 0.351 180 82 0.721 0.383 347 0.408 200 93 0.634 0.339 - Referring back to
FIG. 1 , the resulting preheated water with reduced viscosity and at a typical household tap water pressure (e.g., about 40 psi to about 80 psi) can be highly mobile and can be accelerated through thenozzles 16, where it is dispersed into fine droplets through micro-orifices normally configured to operate at pressures above about 100 psi and having sizes in the range of about 0.01 millimeter (“mm”) to about 1 mm, such as from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm or from about 0.1 mm to about 0.3 mm. The dispersed water is a cross between a fog or a very fine mist, which would normally involve a high pressure pump to achieve, and a mist. This fog or mist is drawn into the side walls 11 to cool cooling fins adjacent to the condenser coils 53. - Still referring to
FIG. 1 , the manifold 14 and the orientations of thetubes 15 and thenozzles 16 are advantageously configured to serve as a sieve to allow smaller water droplets to be substantially separated from larger ones by gravity, and to allow the smaller water droplets to be drawn into the cabinet 9. An optimal orientation of thetubes 15 can be pointing upwards and away from the ground for some implementations, and can be pointing downwards and towards the ground for other implementations. For certain implementations, the orientation of thetubes 15 is such that their angles α relative to a horizontal plane are in the range of about −25 degrees to about 70 degrees, such as from about −20 degrees to about 20 degrees, from about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees, or from about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees, where positive values denote an upward orientation, and negative values denote a downward orientation. - Ambient temperature and ambient humidity can affect the rate at which water droplets dispensed from the
nozzles 16 evaporate and are reduced in size. Also, a sweep rate can be affected by the velocity of water droplets dispensed from thenozzles 16 and a suction created by the fan 51 within the cabinet 9. Given these factors, another improvement of the illustrated embodiment is to select or optimize lengths of thetubes 15 so as to regulate sizes of water droplets that reach the cooling fins and the condenser coils 53, if at all, for various climatic conditions. In particular, the illustrated embodiment allows a user to “fine tune” the lengths of thetubes 15, or, in other words, to set appropriate distances of thenozzles 16 from the condenser coils 53 to be cooled. Establishing the appropriate distances can maximize the cooling effectiveness of low micron-sized droplets of water by allowing the droplets to be swept through and evaporated in close proximity to the cooling fins adjacent to the condenser coils 53, with little or no scaling of the cooling fins. Insufficient water dispersion can result in inefficient cooling and low energy savings. However, excessive water droplets beyond a certain size can result in water residue on the cooling coils, thereby causing scaling and possibly corrosion. For certain implementations, appropriate distances of thenozzles 16 from the side walls 11 (as measured along a horizontal plane) are in the range of about 0.3 feet to about 3.5 feet, such as from about 0.3 feet to about 3 feet or from about 0.3 feet to about 2.5 feet, and appropriate sizes of water droplets to be drawn into or near the cabinet 9 are in the range of about 1 micrometer (“μm”) to about 300 μm, such as from about 1 μm to about 100 μm, from about 1 μm to about 50 μm, or from about 1 μm to about 20 μm. In such manner, larger water droplets can be substantially separated by gravity, and the larger water droplets can fall and become dissipated or spread out on the ground. In such manner, a surface area of the larger water droplets can be increased, and the larger water droplets can more readily evaporate and cool the surrounding air, thereby contributing to cooling efficiency while safeguarding the condenser coils 53 from scaling and corrosion. - Specific climactic conditions can affect an optimal distance or an optimal range of distances between the
nozzles 16 and the condenser coils 53. In accordance with this dependence, another improvement can be appreciated in conjunction withFIG. 3 , which illustrates a coding mechanism for selecting distances based upon anticipated climactic conditions, according to an embodiment of the invention. In particular, a user can be provided with amenu card 37 broken down by climatic or geographical regions. For example, a first region with lower temperatures and higher humidity, such as Boston, can exhibit a prolonged evaporation process, relative to a second region with higher temperatures and lower humidity, such as Phoenix. In the first region, a larger distance or a larger range of distances can be provided between thenozzles 16 and the condenser coils 53 to compensate for the prolonged evaporation process. In the second region, a shorter distance or a shorter range of distances can be provided between thenozzles 16 and the condenser coils 53 according to the shortened evaporation process. Climatic regions can be specified in a number of ways, such as according to the Bergeron classification, the Köppen classification, or the Thornthwaite classification. - Referring to
FIG. 3 , thetubes 15 can be marked with suitable indicia, such as using color-coded markings 31, 32, and 33, and can be sized at different lengths according to various regions as provided in themenu card 37. In such manner, the user can select appropriate ones of thetubes 15 to allow thenozzles 16 to be optimally spaced from the condenser coils 53. Alternatively, or in conjunction, thetubes 15 can be single sized to a length according to the marking 33 for use in Boston, and, during assembly or installation, thetubes 15 are then cut to a length according to the marking 32 for use in Northern California (where humidity is lower) and cut to a length according to the marking 31 for use in Phoenix (where humidity is lower and temperatures are elevated). - Another set of improvements can be appreciated with reference to
FIG. 4 , which illustrates a set ofsensors FIG. 4 , an air conditioner system includes acabinet 40, which is provided withside walls 41 and a top 42. The top 42 has anopening 43 for exhausting air in the general direction ofarrows 44. Thecabinet 40 serves as a condenser, and encloses a compressor and condenser coils (not illustrated) within thesides walls 41 and the top 42. - One mechanism to determine heat exchanger effectiveness is to measure the ambient temperature. High ambient temperatures can reduce the heat exchanging capacity of the
cabinet 40 with its surrounding air, and an elevated temperature of the compressor can be an indication that the compressor is overworked. For certain implementations, a cooling fog or mist can be effective at ambient temperatures at or above about 85° F. To account for these variables and to ensure that a cooling fog or mist is dispensed when appropriate, acontroller 47 controls the introduction of water, and is activated when the air conditioner system is operating and when the ambient temperature is at least a predetermined set point or a threshold value, such as in the range of about 85° F. to about 90° F. In such manner, thecontroller 47 can avoid the adverse effect of starving a refrigerant expansion loop and running the air conditioner system inefficiently, while consuming water needlessly and possibly scaling cooling fins. Thecontroller 47 can be implemented in a number of ways, such as mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electronic, or a combination thereof. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
controller 47 operates in conjunction with and is connected to thesensors controller 47 and thesensors solar collector 60, which can be a solar panel including a set of photovoltaic cells, although it is contemplated that other power sources also can be used. Thesensor 45 serves to detect operation of the air conditioner system and the compressor within thecabinet 40, and includes a pressure sensitive plate or a flapper switch that is placed adjacent to theopening 43 to detect fan discharge. Unless fan discharge is detected, thecontroller 47 is not activated, and, regardless of ambient conditions, no cooling fog or mist is dispensed adjacent to thecabinet 40. Once operation of the compressor is acknowledged by detecting fan discharge, thesensor 46 serves to detect the ambient temperature and to determine if the ambient temperature is sufficiently elevated to justify dispensing a cooling fog or mist. Thesensor 46 can be implemented in a number of ways, and, for example, can include a thermocouple or another type of temperature sensor. If both of thesensors controller 47 is activated accordingly, and a cooling fog or mist is dispensed adjacent to thecabinet 40. Alternatively, or in conjunction, a water temperature sensor can be optionally included to detect the temperature of water that passes through a preheater, such as previously described with reference toFIG. 2 . Unless the water temperature is at least a predetermined set point or a threshold value, such as in the range of about 120° F. to about 125° F., no cooling fog or mist is dispensed adjacent to thecabinet 40. The threshold water temperature can be suitably adjusted according to various climatic conditions, and, for example, can be lowered for a climatic region with elevated temperatures. -
FIG. 4 also illustrates a windscreen mechanism 61 for reducing an influence of wind and its sweeping effect on dispensed water droplets, according to an embodiment of the invention. In particular, the windscreen mechanism 61 serves to avoid or reduce instances in which wind alters a direction of dispensed water droplets away from an optimal orientation, carries smaller water droplets away from thecabinet 40, or carries larger water droplets near or into thecabinet 40. The windscreen mechanism 61 can be implemented in a number of ways, such as a lattice, a netting, or other types of windscreen materials, and can extend along at least a subset of theside walls 41 of thecabinet 40. - Finally, referring back to
FIG. 1 , yet a further improvement relates to an adjustable mechanism 4 that allows thecooling device 10 to be readily mounted on air conditioner cabinets of various sizes. In particular, the manifold 14 is maintained adjacent to the seam 13 between the side walls 11 and the top 12 by the adjustable mechanism 4, which secures the manifold 14 to appropriate guide rails. The adjustable mechanism 4 can be implemented in a number of ways, and, for example, can include an adjustable lanyard line including an elastic band. - While the invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, method, or process to the objective, spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto. In particular, while the methods disclosed herein have been described with reference to particular operations performed in a particular order, it will be understood that these operations may be combined, sub-divided, or re-ordered to form an equivalent method without departing from the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, the order and grouping of the operations are not limitations of the invention.
Claims (22)
1. A cooling device for use with an air conditioner cabinet, the cooling device comprising:
a manifold located adjacent to the air conditioner cabinet and configured to carry water and dispense the water as a mist of water droplets, the manifold including a set of nozzles configured to dispense the mist of water droplets adjacent to side walls of the air conditioner cabinet; and
a preheater connected to the manifold and configured to heat the water prior to introduction of the water into the manifold.
2. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the preheater includes a tube through which the water passes, and the tube is configured to absorb ambient radiation to heat the water.
3. The cooling device of claim 2 , wherein the tube is a coil, the preheater further includes a plate on which the coil is mounted, and the plate is configured to absorb ambient radiation to heat the water.
4. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the preheater includes a tube through which the water passes, and the tube is configured to absorb thermal energy from a hot refrigerant of the air conditioner cabinet to heat the water.
5. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the preheater provides between 100 W to 400 W of heating power for each gallon of the water misting per hour.
6. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the preheater heats the water to a temperature in the range of 122° F. to about 140° F.
7. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the preheater heats the water, such that a viscosity of the water is reduced by at least a factor of 2.
8. The cooling device of claim 7 , wherein the viscosity of the water is reduced by at least a factor of 2.3.
9. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the manifold further includes a set of tubes, the set of nozzles are connected to respective ones of the set of tubes, and lengths of the set of tubes are determined in accordance with an anticipated climatic condition of a location of the cooling device.
10. The cooling device of claim 9 , wherein the set of tubes incorporate a coding mechanism in accordance with the anticipated climatic condition.
11. The cooling device of claim 9 , wherein an orientation of the set of tubes is such that an angle relative to a horizontal plane is in the range of −25 degrees to 70 degrees.
12. The cooling device of claim 11 , wherein the angle relative to the horizontal plane is in the range of −20 degrees to 20 degrees.
13. A cooling device for use with an air conditioner cabinet, the cooling device comprising:
a manifold located adjacent to the air conditioner cabinet and configured to carry water and dispense the water as a mist of water droplets, the manifold including a set of nozzles configured to dispense the mist of water droplets adjacent to side walls of the air conditioner cabinet; and
a set of sensors connected to the manifold and configured to control dispensing of the water, a first sensor of the set of sensors configured to detect operation of the air conditioner cabinet, a second sensor of the set sensors configured to detect ambient temperature.
14. The cooling device of claim 13 , wherein the first sensor includes a pressure sensitive plate configured to detect operation of a fan within the air conditioner cabinet.
15. The cooling device of claim 13 , further comprising a controller connected to the set of sensors, and the controller is configured to activate dispensing of the water through the set of nozzles if the air conditioner cabinet is operating and if the ambient temperature is at least a first threshold value.
16. The cooling device of claim 15 , wherein the first threshold value is in the range of 85° F. to 90° F.
17. The cooling device of claim 15 , further comprising a preheater connected to the manifold and configured to heat the water prior to introduction of the water into the manifold.
18. The cooling device of claim 17 , wherein a third sensor of the set of sensors is configured to detect a temperature of the water passing through the preheater, and the controller is configured to activate dispensing of the water through the set of nozzles if the temperature of the water is at least a second threshold value.
19. The cooling device of claim 18 , wherein the second threshold value is in the range of 120° F. to 125° F.
20. The cooling device of claim 13 , further comprising an adjustable mechanism connected to the manifold and configured to mount the manifold to the air conditioner cabinet.
21. The cooling device of claim 20 , wherein the adjustable mechanism includes an adjustable lanyard line including an elastic band.
22. The cooling device of claim 13 , further comprising a windscreen mechanism located adjacent to the air conditioner cabinet and configured to reduce an influence of wind on the mist of water droplets.
Priority Applications (1)
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US13/061,504 US20110232859A1 (en) | 2008-08-28 | 2009-08-28 | Air Conditioner Cooling Device |
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US9266608P | 2008-08-28 | 2008-08-28 | |
US14283109P | 2009-01-06 | 2009-01-06 | |
US13/061,504 US20110232859A1 (en) | 2008-08-28 | 2009-08-28 | Air Conditioner Cooling Device |
PCT/US2009/055399 WO2010025388A2 (en) | 2008-08-28 | 2009-08-28 | Air conditioner cooling device |
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US20110232859A1 true US20110232859A1 (en) | 2011-09-29 |
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US13/061,504 Abandoned US20110232859A1 (en) | 2008-08-28 | 2009-08-28 | Air Conditioner Cooling Device |
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US20160375740A1 (en) * | 2014-03-17 | 2016-12-29 | Mahle International Gmbh | Heating and cooling module |
US10717338B2 (en) * | 2014-03-17 | 2020-07-21 | Mahle International Gmbh | Heating and cooling module |
WO2016148600A1 (en) * | 2015-03-13 | 2016-09-22 | Общество С Ограниченной Ответственностью "Интехэнерго" | Device for pre-cooling air in air-cooling units |
RU2614623C2 (en) * | 2015-03-13 | 2017-03-28 | Общество С Ограниченной Ответственностью "Интехэнерго" | Air precooler in the air cooling devices |
US11094872B2 (en) | 2015-05-08 | 2021-08-17 | Eliot Ahdoot | Apparatus for thermoelectric generation on HVAC pipes |
CN111089374A (en) * | 2019-12-19 | 2020-05-01 | 广东恒净建设工程有限公司 | Energy-saving and environment-friendly industrial air conditioner |
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