WO2019129601A1

WO2019129601A1 - A water drainage system

Info

Publication number: WO2019129601A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/086043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Husnu Kerpicci; Baris Erdogan; Serkan SOLMAZ
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-12-26
Filing date: 2018-12-20
Publication date: 2019-07-04
Also published as: TR201721937A2; PL3732425T3; EP3732425A1; EP3732425B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water drainage system suitable to be used in water accumulating appliances, comprising in its most basic form, at least one evaporator and a plurality of evaporator coils provided on the evaporator and arranged side-by-side, characterized by at least one engine to position on the evaporator, at least one shaft to connect to the engine, at least one plate connected to the shaft, for extending along the evaporator coils arranged side-by-side, and at least one bracket connected to the shaft and extending from the shaft.

Description

A WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a water drainage system for enhancing operation efficiencies of heat exchanger systems accumulating water from environment.

Prior Art

Applications accumulating water from environment are widely used in heat pump systems. The humidity in the air passing through an evaporator is separated from the air by condensing on evaporator surfaces below condensation temperatures. Water forming due to temperature difference accumulate in droplets between coils and accumulated droplets grow in time and percolate downwards. Water droplets may get jammed between coils due to a narrow distance in between. It has been observed that drainage of water droplets particularly below the evaporator is prevented on these grounds. This also causes reducing the coil area on which water can be condensed and a decrease in system capacity. Along with reducing the condensation area, the droplets accumulating between the coils also lead to a decrease in pressure by inhibiting air passage.

State of the art patent document no. DE 102014001286 relates to a system having an air-conditioning structure in which water droplets accumulating on an evaporator are dropped by applying vibration thereto. Vibration is achieved by means of an actuator connected to the evaporator. Said device is stated as an air-conditioner used in vehicles. A compressor, a condenser and an evaporator are arranged as shown in the figures of the specification. Window fogging in vehicles can be prevented in a low-cost manner thanks to dropping water droplets by vibration.

State of the art patent document no. US 7269967 relates to a system with air-conditioning structure in which the water accumulating on evaporator coils is dropped by a system vibrating said coils. The coils are vibrated by a mechanical system or by an acoustic machine (by a solenoid plunger or an acoustic transducer). It was also noted that hydrophobic coating may be employed to enhance dropping efficiency. Another means that may be employed is a hammer or clapper like structure. In said patent document, a plunger mechanism is placed so as to vibrate evaporator coils. Once the plunger mechanism begins operating, the plunger enables a more rapid draining of water into a drain pan by creating vibration on evaporator tubes. Water can also be drained by creating a separate vibration by means of a clapper-like vibration mechanism. In addition, water drainage can be accelerated by means of impacts applied on the evaporator by a hammer mechanism. Draining of water is obtained by vibrating the evaporator coil, by means of sound waves formed using an acoustic transducer (speaker). A specific evaporator coil structure and suitable acoustic frequency for vibrating said evaporator coil structure can be determined. Various parameters are determined by control means.

State of the art patent document no. KR20140045057 discloses a heat pump system in which an evaporator is vibrated by means of a piezoelectric member, and enabling drainage of water on said evaporator due to said vibration. Whether ice forms on the evaporator is controlled by means of an adherence sensor. A control mechanism is provided, controlling said sensor. The tubes and the coils of the evaporator are vibrated by the piezoelectric member. The assembly can be defined by an exchanger tube, exchanger coils, a piezoelectric member and adherence sensors.

State of the art patent document no. WO 2006/004553 relates to a device producing drinking water from humid air, in which an evaporator provided therein is subjected to vibration at a given amplitude and for a given duration, thus enabling dropping the condensed water more rapidly. Vibrations are applied once for 5-90 sec. (in general for 20 sec.) every 3-7 minutes (in general once every 5 min.). The device is provided with a condenser, an evaporator and a vibration mechanism. An electric engine is supported by an eccentric rotor. The mechanism fitted on a base panel is held in place by a holder and an upper protective cover. Water drainage is accelerated by means of the vibrations subjected to the system in given intervals. Drainage of condensed water vapor increases 20-25% thanks to the vibration mechanism acting on the evaporator.

Problems Solved by the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to realize a water drainage system accelerating drainage of water forming between the evaporator coils, thereby increasing the area on which water can be condensed, wherein the gaps between the coils are cleaned by accelerating dropping of the droplets blocking air passage therethrough.

Another aim of the present invention is to realize a water drainage system averting decrease in pressure likely to occur on air flow due to droplets accumulating in between coils.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In its most basic form, a water drainage system for systems accumulating water from environment, comprises

at least one evaporator,
a plurality of evaporator coils provided on the evaporator and arranged side-by-side,
at least one engine to position on the evaporator,
at least one shaft to connect to the engine,
at least one plate connected to the shaft, for extending along the evaporator coils arranged side by side,
at least one bracket for connecting to the shaft, extending from the shaft, at least one protrusion for extending on the plate,
at least one duct for opening on the plate, and
a control unit adapted to control the engine.

In the water drainage system of the invention, a plurality of evaporator coils with a flat surface shape are placed in the evaporator with narrow gaps in between. The water vapor forming by being condensed gets jammed in these narrow gaps between the evaporator coils. An engine is placed below the evaporator coils of the evaporator to enable drainage of the water droplets in between the coils. A shaft is connected to the rotating end of the engine. A plate is connected to an end of the shaft. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate has a structure which can be combined with various coatings, textiles and similar structures enabling water drainage by interacting with water droplets. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a duct is provided on the plate for the water collected thereon to flow to a chamber. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a protrusion is provided on the plate, facilitating drainage of the water collected below the evaporator coils. A bracket is connected to the shaft, extending from the shaft vertically to the central axis of the shaft. The bracket is employed to block the movement of the shaft rotatable about its central axis. A sensor is provided, adapted to measure the temperature of the evaporator. A control unit is provided, adapted to control the sensor and the engine.

The plate connected to the electric engine placed below the evaporator creates an effect so as to enable a more rapid drainage of accumulating water. The rotational motion of the shaft is enabled by the electric engine or a similar structure. The rotational motion of the shaft is performed periodically with angles of 45 and 90 degrees. The plate integrated to the shaft by means of various methods, contacts the evaporator coils from below in given intervals. The monolithic plate integrated to the shaft accelerates water drainage by contacting the evaporator coils in given intervals. The plate has a structure accelerating drainage of the water accumulating in between the evaporator coils. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate is coated with hydrophilic coating which has good contact affinity with water. A hydrophilic material has narrow contact angles with water. When it contacts water resting on materials having large contact angles therewith, it attracts water on its surface, thereby accelerating water drainage. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate may be made of various materials such as metal or plastic.

An increase in relative humidity of the environment leads to an increase in the amount of condensed water and therefore the amount of water accumulating on the evaporator coils. The temperature of the evaporator is determined by the sensor provided thereon in order to identify the increase in the amount of water. The temperature measurement is transmitted to the control unit. Upon identifying an increase in temperature, the control unit raises the revolutions of the engine and increases the continuous contact state duration of the plate to the evaporator coils which is normally stated to be applied for 2-10 seconds and in average for 5 seconds. The cluster of water mass accumulating on the evaporator coils is thus enabled to contact for a longer duration with the plate. In addition, a more effective result is achieved by decreasing the periodical operation duration stated as 5 to 30 seconds and in average 20 seconds. This periodical operation may be described as the plate having continuous contact with the evaporator coils for 2 to 10 seconds (preferably 5 seconds) once every 5 to 30 seconds (preferably 20 seconds). An increase in relative humidity of the environment leads to an increase in the amount of condensed water and therefore the amount of water accumulating on the evaporator coils. The capacity is thus utilized more effectively, increasing the obtained amount of water and reducing decreases in pressure. In case of a decrease in the temperature on the evaporator, the control unit reduces the revolutions of the engine, decreasing the contact between the plate and the evaporator coils.

Since evaporation temperature increases direct proportionally with the amount of water being condensed and the system's capacity, the amount of water being condensed increases together with evaporation temperature. The plate and the coating thereon having good contact affinity with water, may adhere below the evaporator when there is a high amount of accumulated water. This adherence is caused by the high surface tension between the droplets and the coils. In order to overcome this tension, the plate should be turned over in opposite direction or should be produced of a given weight. The amount of drained water is observed to increase as a result of the above-mentioned operations.

The water drainage system accelerates drainage of water forming between the evaporator coils, thereby increasing the area on which water can be condensed, and enabling cleaning the gaps between the evaporator coils by accelerating drainage of the droplets blocking air passage therethrough. Furthermore, the water drainage system averts decrease in pressure likely to occur on air flow due to droplets accumulating in between evaporator coils.

Claims

A water drainage system suitable to be used in appliances accumulating water from environment, comprising at least one evaporator and a plurality of evaporator coils provided on the evaporator and arranged side-by-side, characterized by

- at least one engine to position on the evaporator,

- at least one shaft to connect to the engine,

- at least one plate connected to the shaft, for extending along the evaporator coils arranged side-by-side, and by

- at least one bracket connected to the shaft and extending from the shaft.
A water drainage system according to claim 1, comprising at least one protrusion extending from the plate.
A water drainage system according to claim 1, comprising at least one duct opened on the plate.
A water drainage system according to claim 1 or 3, comprising a plate having a structure which can be combined with various coatings, textiles and similar structures enabling water drainage by interacting with water droplets.
A water drainage system according to claim 1 or 3, comprising a plate coated with a hydrophilic coating having good contact affinity with water.
A water drainage system according to claim 1 or 3, comprising a plate made of metal material.
A water drainage system according to claim 1 or 3, comprising a plate made of plastic material.
A water drainage system according to claim 1, comprising at least one sensor adapted to measure the temperature on the evaporator.
A water drainage system according to claim 1, comprising a control unit adapted to control the sensor and the engine.